HISTORIC DAY AT HEADINGLEY

 By Brian Sanderson,

  Today was the first day of the Championship match between Yorkshire and Somerset. After Yorkshire had won the league against Nottingham, this gave the Yorkshire faithful chance to see the trophy and to have your photograph taken with the Yorkshire captain and the cup.

Yorkshire won the toss and batted which surprised me at 10.30 on a green wicket. Lyth and Ballance were soon out  to Thomas ,one of the better South African players.Lees had a couple of chances but it was Root to go next to a loose shot against Overton. He seems to have shorten his run up but still produced some bounch and movement..Bairtow was soon out to Trego playing another loose shot.

During the afternoon it was left Jack Leaning to play a steady innings which he did. At tea Yorkshire were 206 for 8 and then I had a chance to talk to Gerald Smithson family about his cricketing career. They brought some private photographs and his tour with the M.C.C to West Indies in 1947-48. It was great to go back to the 1940,s.Gerald played 39 matches for Yorkshire from 1946-50. The above photograph is of Gerald on the left.

While we were talking , Yorkshire lost ten overs due to bad light and finished on 241 for 9 with Leaning not out 50. During the morning Alex Lees was given his county cap but it would have been nice to be able to take a photograph of the presentation.