Yorkshire cricket - past seems better than present.

Posted by Tony Hutton

When you reach my advanced age living in the past often seems better than the present and this is certainly the case where Yorkshire cricket is concerned. Sunday afternoon saw an excellent presentation by Brian Sanderson at the Yorkshire Supporters Association meeting in the Long Room at Headingley. Brian had brought some very interesting items of memorabilia with him and talked at length about Edmund Peate, Billy Bates, F.S. Jackson and Len Hutton.

All four had outstanding cricket careers and were brought to life by Brian's admirable research and items such as Len Hutton's bat used in his record Test innings of 364 in 1938, supported by some very interesting archive photographs. Peate came from Yeadon, Bates from Lascelles Hall, Jackson was born in Chapel Allerton, Leeds and Hutton of course in Fulneck, Pudsey.

Unlike Hutton's old house which has a blue plaque on it, Jackson's house is tucked away and therefore has no access for people to see a plaque if there was one. Similarly Peate, although buried in Yeadon has no marked grave. A fascinating afternoon and a good start to the winter season of cricket speakers. Next on the agenda is historian Jeremy Lonsdale, author of an excellent book on the origins of Yorkshire cricket.

He will be speaking on this subject at Leeds Central Library (3rd Floor) on Wednesday 31st October at 1p.m. admission free. The next Northern Cricket Society meeting is on Tuesday 6th November in the Long Room at Headingley at 7.45 p.m. when Nick Cook, former left arm spinner and first class umpire will be the speaker.

Returning to the theme of Yorkshire cricket in the present, former players Alex Lees and Liam Plunkett have both got married recently. Johnny Bairstow has injured his ankle playing football in Sri Lanka (no surprise there) and is out of action for a while. Josh Shaw had been given an excellent recommendation by none other than Waqar Younis of Pakistan and tucked away at the end of this article on the Yorkshire website was the bald statement that James Wainman has left the club.

This is another very sad state of affairs for a young man who progressed through all the Yorkshire age group sides to the Academy and Second Eleven, but despite a few one day games was never given a chance by Yorkshire in proper first team cricket. He deserved a far better opportunity to prove his worth and it is sad to see him go, especially considering the signing of other county's rejects.