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.
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