End of season review

Posted by Tony Hutton

Before this end of season review turns into my usual rant about all the things that annoy me about first class cricket in this country, I would like to send sincere best wishes on behalf of all our contributors and followers to John Winn, who will be undergoing heart surgery later this week. Get well soon John and we all look forward to reading your scholarly comments on all things cricket in the near future.

For me personally it has been an excellent season after the problems I had during the previous two years. My season started at the end of March with pre-season friendlies at Trent Bridge and Loughborough University and did not end until last Sunday 11th October at Arthington, where the sun still shone despite the cool autumnal breeze.

End of season shadows at Arthington

I saw Yorkshire at Worcester in their first match of an amazing season for them and more University cricket than ever at Weetwood, Leeds in April and May.
No chance of seeing Joe Root performing for Yorkshire due to his England commitments, but young brother Billy was in the runs in a big way for Leeds/Bradford MCCU and later for Sheffield Collegiate and Notts 2nd XI. With over 3,000 runs in the season, including a stunning century at Lord's in the University Final, he eventually made his first class debut for Notts in their final match of the season.

Billy Root's innings at Lord's

                                            

Another game at Lord's stands out in early May when Durham were heavily beaten by Middlesex with James Harris taking an amazing 9-34 in Durham's second innings.
Later in May I visited Oundle School in Northamptonshire with a wonderful new pavilion full of cricket memorabilia and some lovely village grounds in Bedfordshire.
I returned home via Worcester (again), Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire re-visiting old haunts and finding a few new ones.

Southill Park, Bedfordshire

I saw cricket of some sort every single day during June, starting off with the best food available on the circuit at Feethams, Darlington. I didn't travel too far afield no further than Chester le Street and Nottingham anyway. Much to see near to home - the University still going strong in the early part of the month as well as Yorkshire Academy and schools matches. I must also mention Yorkshire 2nd XI, which was virtually the Academy all season, due to so many first teamers being absent with England. Their match with Derbyshire at Scarborough was specially memorable for me.

July brought an epic tour de Britain brought on by a brand new car and a chance to prove I can still travel the length and breadth of England to watch cricket despite my advancing years. It all worked out so well, even the weather, as I travelled from Northampton to Banbury to Blenheim Palace to Merchant Taylor's School, Preston Nomads in Sussex, the Isle of Wight, Cheltenham, Hereford and finally Colwyn Bay.

Preston Nomads Ground, Fulking, Sussex

                                  

August started with a good win by Cumberland at Carlise which put them in line for their Minor Counties Division title and then another first - cricket in France where my son's family now reside. Suddenly towards the end of August you feel that it is all going to come to an end, hurried visits to Trent Bridge, Derby, Chesterfield, Stamford Bridge, Honley, Chester le Street and Harrogate all come in a rush.

Cricket in Paris

                                                     

Soon we are into September. Yorkshire steamroller Somerset at Headingley on their way to a second successive title, York win the Yorkshire premier league at Harrogate, but loose the following day to the Academy in the cup final. Cumberland win the Minor Counties title beating Oxfordshire in a day and a half of the four day game.
Then off to Lord's again for a Schools game then the dramatic first over by Ryan Sidebottom which destroyed Middlesex's top order. Bonus points take Yorkshire to the title and we see the trophy presented to Andrew Gale.

Yorkshire - county champions

Cumberland - Minor Counties champions

Then it suddenly all quietens down and the end of season games at Arthington, in Lower Wharfedale, in late September and early October are so relaxing and enjoyable. We meet again the veterans still performing well into their seventies and wonder at their durability. We remember old friends no longer with us and depart to go our separate ways to face the winter months ahead.

Now for the rant. We seem to have achieved a small victory in that county championship matches will not be reduced in 2016, but we still wonder what will happen in 2017. The money men are still in control and anyone who has seen the wonderful film 'Death of a Gentleman' must wonder about the people in charge of the game. Those of us who love county cricket have had so much to put up with due to changes in what was the familiar pattern of the year.

What probably iritates me more than anything is the staging of the first match of the English season in Abu Dhabi. The traditional MCC v County Champions match was always at Lord's, giving county members the opportunity to see their team in action and to enjoy the facilities of the Lord's pavilion. Those of us who were there to see the championship won would I am sure have welcomed the chance to start the new season there as well.

Possibly even worse, I have recently read that the play off final for the new Yorkshire Premier Leagues (North and South) will also be played in Abu Dhabi. A truly Yorkshire occasion now to be staged far away rather than at Scarbrough or Headingley. What nonsense!

The ridiculous cramming in of championship games during the coldest months of April, May and September is a nightmare for the predominately elderly population which attends these games. Most of the time at Headingley for instance people are watching behind glass just to keep warm and miss not only the atmosphere of the game but the public address announcements as well.

Most of us traditionalists do not want one day coloured clothing games. They have their part to play and of course bring in valuable income to support the game, but please can someone bring some common sense to bear on the continually changing fixture pattern.

Those who plan the fixtures have never seemed to have any knowledge whatsoever of geography. Time and again there are fixture clashes which defy belief. Notts and Derby both at home together endlessly. Yorkshire and Durham likewise and no doubt this happens in the south of England too.

County second XI cricket is very much the poor relation. Trying to find overnight scores in three day matches almost impossible and often second elevens at home at the same time as first elevens - ridiculous. This may only be a northern problem as people do turn up to watch these games, unlike in the south. Just send someone to Todmorden or Stamford Bridge when second eleven games are taking place and see how many people are there.

Watching Second Eleven cricket at Oundle

I could go on, but as they say at Old Trafford 'what's the Point'. I have been banging the drum for years ever since three county championship games took place within a few miles of each other simultaneously at Worksop, Chesterfield and Abbeydale, Sheffield. Why have the ECB never tried to sell county championship cricket? Why is there not a proper match of the day highlights programme on Sky every night rather than just tiny snippets? All they are interested in is Test cricket and one day stuff.

Still as someone once said 'It's only a game' and surely the game will survive us all.

FINAL MATCH IN ENGLAND 2015

By Brian Sanderson,

Unfortunate John Fuller from Yorkshire Cricket was unable  to see the final match at Arthington against St. George cricket club who play in Harewood ground. So I went  to the match with just two people in my car

Again the sun was shining as St. Georges posed for  their photograph.  They bowled first and found it hard going against some big hitting by Vince Greaves-Newall.

One of the sixes was hit over the spectators car and worth a twelve runs.

At one point it took four people to find the ball in the nearby field.

By drinks break Arthington had scored 77 for 1 as the wind had blown off the wickets number. Vince Greaves -Newall scored 54.

By this time there was a cold breeze blowing which caused spectators to their cars and this brought a scene you have not seen before ie Brian Senior in the driving seat. During this time Chris Binks batted very well and after scoring 50 he declared his innings. Arthington went  on to score 174.

After the tea break James Lord opening the bowling a bowled his six overs  for 2-16. This brought in Andy Stoddart  after his fifty yesterday for Cambridge Meths. Today he scored 59 against some tight bowling.

Geoff Barker  bowling figures were 6-1-9-0. Good figures for any team.

By drinks break the score was 65 for 4. It was left to Andy Stoddart to help St. Georges win the match.

They were also helped by the O' Sullivan family who won the match with one over to spare. The time was 5.50 and that was the end of the 2015 cricket season in England.

LORD AND BARKER MATCH

By Brian Sanderson

Driving down to Arthington  were they were playing Cambridge Methodists, the sun was just breaking out to shine on this beautiful village ground.

Arthington batting first Geoff Barker and James Lord opening the batting and played proper cricket against a number of bowlers.

One of the bowlers was Mel Wood now 68 years old and brother of Barry ex Yorkshire, Lancashire and England fame. His figure was for his four overs was 0 for 15.

At drinks break after twenty overs Arthington the score was  77 for no wickets.

After the break Andy Stoddart decided to show his stomach but he stilled played a big part of the match.

During this period a better sight was seen when a gaggle of geese flew over the ground. The Arthington openers put on 114 before  Lord was out for 44.

Geoff Barker carried on in his usual batting style to reach 93 not out  out of a total of 197.

Tea time break is always entertaining and a excellent spread is put outside . By this time there was a cold wind blowing which forced the crowd into theirs cars to watch the match.

Andy Stoddart opened the innings for Cambridge Meths and by drinks the score was 52 for 4. James Lord bowling figures were 3 for 13 whilst Geoff Barker bowling figures were 8-1-23-0.

Andy Stoddart batting well before been caught on the boundary edge for 58.

The other major batsman for the Cambridge Methodist was Zhair Ahmed would at one stage hit three sixes off three balls in his score of 68. Soon after he was out Cambridge were bowled out for 137.

At the end of the match Matrin Binks give one of the umpire his fee for the match. A bottle of wine. At this stage I went home to watch Leeds beat Wigan in the Grand Final. Well done Sir Kevin and the lads. My friend Alan Swaby  will be please from watching  it from the big cricket ground in the sky.

" The Four Binkses "

   The 4 Binkses -from left to right -Chris and Martin Binks ( Arthington ) Chris and Mark Binks ( Doghouse )



Written by Steve Bindman

The annual Arthington Festival has been - to date - favoured with sunshine and good weather even as we reach October. This weekend Hawks beat Arthington on Saturday but Arthington did register their second win of the festival yesterday against  The Doghouse. Doghouse - though perhaps not as strong as usual - through openers Adam Fenby and Richard Hawthorn were going nicely as they reached 72 before loss and then it was 120 for two down but a huge collapse - partly self-inflicted and due to good bowling from Geoff Barker ( 4 for 19 ) and young Will Rich (2 for 11 ) and suddenly it was all out 146.

Arthington had a few big scares despite the intermittent fall of wickets as first Chris Binks with 40 and then James Lord with 37 took the home side close to victory.There was then a small scare as Hawthorn took two wickets in two balls but Geoff Barker and Trevor Lobley saw Arthington home by five wickets.

An interesting feature of the match was that each team had two players called Binks- in each case M.Binks father ( Martin for Arthington and Mark for Doghouse ) and son both Chris ( Christopher ) Binks ! There was also Paul and David Smith ( father and son ) in the Doghouse side. James Lord of Athington,s father, Dave  ( a recent player ) was present carrying drinks and operating the scoreboard and only Joe Nash was not there to accompany his father in the Arthington team.Not quite the family  affair- scorer ( yours truly )  quipped - when asked if  I'm a  father I always reply - ' nothing could be fa(r)ther from the truth '.

The match was hastily dedicated to the memory of Stephanie Hewitt , the sister-in-law of Arthington guest player Richard Wright , who had sadly lost her long battle against a cancerous brain tumour the day before.

A slightly disappointing season

posted by John Winn

I spent a few minutes earlier in the week totting up how much cricket I have seen this season and not surprisingly found the number of days is slightly down on last year. The reasons for this are readily apparent, indifferent weather, a surfeit of hospital appointments and clashes between championship cricket at Headingley and The Riverside, four matches as compared with one in 2014, have all contributed. My Saturday league cricket jaunts have also been a little on the dull side, certainly nothing to compare with those of Brian and Ron Deaton, and despite a late flourish with a trip to the Saddleworth League at the very end of the season the number of new grounds visited has not been much to write home about or indeed write on the blog about.

Mustn't get too gloomy however for there have been days that will sustain good memories throughout the winter including of course being at Lord's on September 9th when the news came through that Yorkshire had retained the championship. Other highlights have been a visit to Great and Little Tew, a first time trip to Southport, floodlight cricket at The Riverside where the lights replaced rather than just enhanced the natural light, an excellent finish to the season at the same ground when Durham got home by three wickets with four overs to spare and the most exciting finish of all when my local side Ouseburn CC lost by just one run to Falkland in the village cup. Enough there to keep the glass more than half full.

Regular readers may be aware of my quest to join the 153 club, the number of matches required to see each county play every other county once in first class cricket. This project which I embarked on in 1990 rather slid into the sidings in 2015 when the only match available to me was Derbyshire v Lancashire which was duly 'knocked off' at the earliest opportunity on a bitterly cold Sunday in April and just in case the belt snapped the reverse fixture supplied the braces when I went to Southport the following month. Alas for the first time in a life time of cricket watching none of the remaining fixtures will be available next year. The list is short enough to merit typing here

                                               Somerset v Gloucestershire
                                               Somerset v Leicestershire
                                               Warwickshire v Gloucestershire
                                               Warwickshire v Leicestershire

So successful completion is dependent on the performance of four counties and whilst I have no axe to grind against Somerset I did harbour malicious thoughts towards the end of the season when even up to the last round of matches their relegation was possible. It was not to be for it was Sussex who slipped through the trap door allowing Hants to escape, rather than the west country men. Don't expect me to buy you a pint if next year Leicestershire and Gloucestershire are promoted and Warwickshire and Somerset go down.

Finally I set a hare running a couple of weeks ago with a question asking for the  names of the 28 surviving  England test captains. They are readily available on wiki so no need to type them here but if you have not already looked them up the name of the oldest may surprise you for it is Derbyshire's Corinthian*, Donald Bryce Carr who played in just two tests, was skipper in one, the one which gave India their first ever test victory and who was born on 28th December 1926 which makes him just about six months older than Tom Graveney, the second most senior. Carr was born in West Germany, which nicely sets up another little puzzler, name the test captains not born in England. Answers in due course.

Donald Carr Derbyshire's Corinthian by John Shawcroft is one in the ACS series Lives in Cricket

 

Donald Carr

Reorganisation of Yorkshire League cricket

posted by John Winn

I had intended my first posting of the close season to be a summary of the changes being introduced into the higher echelons of league cricket in Yorkshire in 2016 but I have beaten to it by John Fuller at cricketyorkshire.com so why not go that excellent website where you will find a very clear account of the composition of the two new leagues, Yorkshire Premier North and its southern counterpart. John even has some fixtures for next season so if you haven't got your 2016 diary yet, now is the hour.