posted by John Winn
Kent first played cricket at Mote Park, Maidstone in June 1859 when the MCC sent an XI and the first championship match was played there in 1890 when Gloucestershire, WG and all, visited this lovely setting. WG carried his bat for 109 in the visitors' first innings but Kent ran out winners by five wickets. The scoring system of that time gave Kent one point and deducted one from Gloucestershire. Simple. Frederick Martin was Kent's hero with 11 wickets in the match. !00 years later, on the 30th June 1990, I made my first visit, to see a Lancashire side captained by David Hughes and including Mike Atherton, Graeme Fowler, Neil Fairbrother, Wasim Akram and Phil de Freitas take on a Kent XI captained by Chris Cowdrey.
I was there on the first day, again a Saturday, a 35 mile journey from the Sussex coast having taken me over The Weald of Kent to the county town in under an hour. On winning the toss Kent batted first but not helped by two run outs were dismissed for 237. 3 wickets for Akram. A century for Atherton, 98 for Jesty, and not much for anybody else gave Lancs a modest lead but they went on to win the match by three wickets for which they were awarded 22 points, 16 for the win, 2 batting points and 4 bowling points while Kent got 2 for batting and 4 for bowling. Not so simple.
By this time I had begun my quest of seeing each county play all other counties at least once* and the following July I returned to The Mote to see Kent v Glamorgan. This time I attended on the second day, again a Saturday, when Glamorgan having bowled out Kent for 331, a century for Trevor Ward, started the day on 16 for1. The feature of the day was a knock of 84 by night watchman wicketkeeper Colin Metson who put on 98 for the fourth wicket with Matthew Maynard. Ward became the sixteenth Kent player to score two centuries in the same match when he hit 109 in the Kent second innings but rain on the third day ensured Glamorgan took a draw back to the valleys.
My third visit to The Mote came the following season for a match which started on a Tuesday. Despite work commitments I managed to see some play on the second day when Kent were bowled out by Notts for 359. 22 overs had been lost on the opening day but aggressive batting by Benson and Fleming ensured Kent had four batting points by stumps. Fleming had left his bag in Gateshead and batted in borrowed kit but the next day, reunited with his own gear, he was out first ball. Notts declared with only three down and 246 shy of Kent's score and after a brief spell of batting for the home side Notts were set to chase 302. Despite a century from Mark Crawley they fell 35 short.
In July 1997 I knew I was just two months away from retirement from full time work but in spite of this my memory suggests that it was quite late on the first day of Kent v Northants when I parked up outside Mote Park. Kent had been put in and despite the loss of early wickets reached 306 all out at the close. Although a four day match, they had become the norm by that time, two declarations were needed to set up a finish and what a finish, for the visitors chased down 322 when with the last ball of the match Jeremy Snape hit a four to win the match and register Northants' first championship win of the season. Warren, Bailey and Sales all made significant contributions.
The four matches I have described all counted towards my pursuit of the 153 matches on my must see list but I recall one other visit to The |Mote on a lovely day, again in July , this time in 1996 when Durham's attack was torn apart by Carl Hooper who hit 105 off 87 balls including five sixes. On the fourth and last day Durham were bowled out for 255, a deficit of 83.
Championship cricket continued to be played at The Mote until sadly but appropriately Gloucestershire were the last visitors in June 2005. WG Grace having retired they were captained by Chris Taylor. The west country men were bowled out cheaply in their first knock and very cheaply
second time around. Kent's scores were modest too which suggests the wicket played some tricks. Wisden confirms that this was the case for Kent were docked 8 points for preparing a substandard pitch. Maidstone was removed from the 2006 fixture list and cricket at the venue is now confined to league cricket with The Mote CC being the occupiers. Relegated from the Kent Cricket Premier League in in 2011 they have since plied their trade in the First and then the Second Division finishing third in 2019.
* regular readers may recall that I have come close to achieving this pursuit which I started 30 years ago. Two matches remain, Somerset v Gloucestershire and Somerset v Leicestershire. The first of these is on offer on two occasions this season, at Bristol and Taunton. Not exactly handy for the Lower Ure Valley but I am anticipating two days at Bristol at the end of April.
Tuesday 28 January 2020
Monday 27 January 2020
One of Durham's most memorable matches
Posted by Tony Hutton
Still busy trawling through my extensive 2009 photo archive, I came across one of Durham's most memorable matches in September of that year. They were on the verge of winning the county championship for the second successive season and were playing a strong looking Nottinghamshire side at the Riverside.
First century partnership of day one.
I was there on day one to see a wonderful opening partnership between Australian Michael Di Venuto and Scotsman Kyle Coetzer. Together they put on 314 for the first wicket, which was just twenty runs short of the all time Durham first wicket partnership of 334 put on by Stewart Hutton and Mike Roseberry against Oxford University in 1996. Notts were handicapped by the loss of Charlie Shreck, their opening bowler, due to injury after only seven overs and also had to change their wicket keeper Chris Read when he dislocated his thumb. Bilal Shafayat taking over the role.
Di Venuto led the way in a season when he amassed 1654 runs at an average of 78.76. He went to his hundred in mid-afternoon with 16 fours and was followed by Koetzer who reached the century mark about an hour and a quarter later, having hit 20 fours. The partnership was finally broken after tea when Koetzer was run out by Mark Ealham for 107. Will Smith joined Di Venuto who finished the day on 219 not out from a total of 377-1. Not a bad day's work for the home side.
Tea time on day one.
The two batsmen shake hands at tea time.
Di Venuto was out without adding to his score on the morning of day two and when Will Smith followed shortly afterwards, Notts may have thought they were slightly back in the game with a score 382-3. However, their hopes were dashed by the new partnership of West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul and South African Dale Benkenstein who both became centurions during a partnership of 203. Durham eventually declared on 648-5 and then reduced Notts to 65-2 by the close of day two. Samit Patel bowled 60 overs during the Durham innings and ended with probably his worst ever figures of 1-206.
Patel and Alex Hales also did well with the bat after Mark Davies had taken two early wickets for Durham. Several players made either forties or fifties but nobody could match the four Durham centurions. Steve Harmison could not make a breakthrough with the ball in the Notts first innings and it was left to Liam Plunkett coming on as third change to finish them off with 6-85. Notts finally all out for 384 but not before Mark Ealham and Darren Pattinson had put on a century partnership for the ninth wicket. Pattinson of course was the English born Australian who had made a surprise appearance for England in 2008.
Notts faced an impossible task when they followed on and only Alex Hales with 78 provided much opposition. Harmison came good with a late burst of three wickets and there were another three for Plunkett. Notts were dismissed for 212 and lost the match by an innings and 52 runs. Durham were well on their way to winning the championship, which now seems a distant memory for today's very different side. Mark Wood's success with England presumably means that Durham will see little of him in the coming season but they have a group of very promising young players who hopefully will develop under the captaincy again of Australian Cameron Bancroft.
Coetzer on the left and Di Venuto on the right.
Briefly back to the two opening batsmen. Where are they now? Well Di Venuto is coaching at Surrey and Coetzer is the long serving captain of Scotland's international cricket side who received the M.B.E. last year for services to Scottish cricket.
Still busy trawling through my extensive 2009 photo archive, I came across one of Durham's most memorable matches in September of that year. They were on the verge of winning the county championship for the second successive season and were playing a strong looking Nottinghamshire side at the Riverside.
I was there on day one to see a wonderful opening partnership between Australian Michael Di Venuto and Scotsman Kyle Coetzer. Together they put on 314 for the first wicket, which was just twenty runs short of the all time Durham first wicket partnership of 334 put on by Stewart Hutton and Mike Roseberry against Oxford University in 1996. Notts were handicapped by the loss of Charlie Shreck, their opening bowler, due to injury after only seven overs and also had to change their wicket keeper Chris Read when he dislocated his thumb. Bilal Shafayat taking over the role.
Di Venuto led the way in a season when he amassed 1654 runs at an average of 78.76. He went to his hundred in mid-afternoon with 16 fours and was followed by Koetzer who reached the century mark about an hour and a quarter later, having hit 20 fours. The partnership was finally broken after tea when Koetzer was run out by Mark Ealham for 107. Will Smith joined Di Venuto who finished the day on 219 not out from a total of 377-1. Not a bad day's work for the home side.
Di Venuto was out without adding to his score on the morning of day two and when Will Smith followed shortly afterwards, Notts may have thought they were slightly back in the game with a score 382-3. However, their hopes were dashed by the new partnership of West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul and South African Dale Benkenstein who both became centurions during a partnership of 203. Durham eventually declared on 648-5 and then reduced Notts to 65-2 by the close of day two. Samit Patel bowled 60 overs during the Durham innings and ended with probably his worst ever figures of 1-206.
Patel and Alex Hales also did well with the bat after Mark Davies had taken two early wickets for Durham. Several players made either forties or fifties but nobody could match the four Durham centurions. Steve Harmison could not make a breakthrough with the ball in the Notts first innings and it was left to Liam Plunkett coming on as third change to finish them off with 6-85. Notts finally all out for 384 but not before Mark Ealham and Darren Pattinson had put on a century partnership for the ninth wicket. Pattinson of course was the English born Australian who had made a surprise appearance for England in 2008.
Notts faced an impossible task when they followed on and only Alex Hales with 78 provided much opposition. Harmison came good with a late burst of three wickets and there were another three for Plunkett. Notts were dismissed for 212 and lost the match by an innings and 52 runs. Durham were well on their way to winning the championship, which now seems a distant memory for today's very different side. Mark Wood's success with England presumably means that Durham will see little of him in the coming season but they have a group of very promising young players who hopefully will develop under the captaincy again of Australian Cameron Bancroft.
Briefly back to the two opening batsmen. Where are they now? Well Di Venuto is coaching at Surrey and Coetzer is the long serving captain of Scotland's international cricket side who received the M.B.E. last year for services to Scottish cricket.
Grounds in Kent Part 1.
posted by John Winn
As I mentioned in a posting I made over the festive season I made my one and only trip to Cheriton Road, Folkestone in 1986. The traffic on the A259 coastal road from my then home in East Sussex was slow and I missed the call of play, but visitors Essex had won the toss and I enjoyed most of a fine innings by Gooch who had good support from Fletcher against a Kent attack comprising Dilley, Alderman, Underwood, who was first change, Chris Cowdrey, Ellison and occasional bowlers Tavare and Graham Cowdrey. 54 for three became 280 all out with Pringle hitting 97.
On the second day Kent initially struggled against the pace of Foster but it was spin that won an exciting match for Essex with Childs taking ten in the match and Acfield six. Cowdrey (C) top scored in Kent's first knock with 60 but in the second innings when set 184 to win in a minimum 47 overs they fell 23 short with nobody reaching 40. Kent lost all ten wickets after tea.
Kent fared better in the second match of the week which began on September 3rd when Warwickshire had no answer to Underwood. They played other championship matches that season at Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Dartford all of which except the last I visited in the next few years. My first visit to Canterbury was in 1994 when South Africa, returning to the fold played their first first class match in England since they had faced TN Pearce's XI at Scarborough in 1965, a game played in such a cavalier fashion it lasted only two days.
In 1994 the men from the veld had warmed up with a one day game against the Earl of Carnavon's XI at Highclere but the first day at Canterbury was washed out. Messrs Bird and Palmer(K) did not finally decide that there would be no play until after five o'clock and I can clearly remember a man sitting just in front of me tearing up his ticket in disgust, scattering the pieces to the four winds only to hear the announcement that Saturday's tickets would be valid for Sunday's play. Being a shade more canny I had kept my ticket and returned on Sunday when Chris Cowdrey hit a century. The South Africans as they should be correctly be called declared at 0 for 0, Kent forfeited their second innings and mainly through the good offices of Igglesden and Headley, Kent won the match by 34 runs.
Between these two games I had seen cricket in the Garden of England at Tunbridge Wells in June 1990 when Yorkshire came to see the rhododendrons. This three day match was spoilt by rain and is it a match Yorkshire opener Ashley Metcalfe would not wish to be reminded of, for following the sort of negotiations three day games often involved Yorkshire declared their first innings at 33 for1, AA Metcalfe c Davis b Benson, one of only five wickets taken by Benson in his first class career. Yorkshire then set about scoring 301 of a minimum of 95 overs and there was just time for Metcalfe to be out for the second time in 44 minutes, c Marsh b de Villiers for 14, before rain came again and left the match drawn. I was present on the third day when I saw 70 balls bowled, two of which accounted for the Yorkshire opener. At the other end Moxon picked up two not outs to boost his average.
In part two I shall describe my trips to Maidstone.
As I mentioned in a posting I made over the festive season I made my one and only trip to Cheriton Road, Folkestone in 1986. The traffic on the A259 coastal road from my then home in East Sussex was slow and I missed the call of play, but visitors Essex had won the toss and I enjoyed most of a fine innings by Gooch who had good support from Fletcher against a Kent attack comprising Dilley, Alderman, Underwood, who was first change, Chris Cowdrey, Ellison and occasional bowlers Tavare and Graham Cowdrey. 54 for three became 280 all out with Pringle hitting 97.
On the second day Kent initially struggled against the pace of Foster but it was spin that won an exciting match for Essex with Childs taking ten in the match and Acfield six. Cowdrey (C) top scored in Kent's first knock with 60 but in the second innings when set 184 to win in a minimum 47 overs they fell 23 short with nobody reaching 40. Kent lost all ten wickets after tea.
Kent fared better in the second match of the week which began on September 3rd when Warwickshire had no answer to Underwood. They played other championship matches that season at Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Dartford all of which except the last I visited in the next few years. My first visit to Canterbury was in 1994 when South Africa, returning to the fold played their first first class match in England since they had faced TN Pearce's XI at Scarborough in 1965, a game played in such a cavalier fashion it lasted only two days.
In 1994 the men from the veld had warmed up with a one day game against the Earl of Carnavon's XI at Highclere but the first day at Canterbury was washed out. Messrs Bird and Palmer(K) did not finally decide that there would be no play until after five o'clock and I can clearly remember a man sitting just in front of me tearing up his ticket in disgust, scattering the pieces to the four winds only to hear the announcement that Saturday's tickets would be valid for Sunday's play. Being a shade more canny I had kept my ticket and returned on Sunday when Chris Cowdrey hit a century. The South Africans as they should be correctly be called declared at 0 for 0, Kent forfeited their second innings and mainly through the good offices of Igglesden and Headley, Kent won the match by 34 runs.
Between these two games I had seen cricket in the Garden of England at Tunbridge Wells in June 1990 when Yorkshire came to see the rhododendrons. This three day match was spoilt by rain and is it a match Yorkshire opener Ashley Metcalfe would not wish to be reminded of, for following the sort of negotiations three day games often involved Yorkshire declared their first innings at 33 for1, AA Metcalfe c Davis b Benson, one of only five wickets taken by Benson in his first class career. Yorkshire then set about scoring 301 of a minimum of 95 overs and there was just time for Metcalfe to be out for the second time in 44 minutes, c Marsh b de Villiers for 14, before rain came again and left the match drawn. I was present on the third day when I saw 70 balls bowled, two of which accounted for the Yorkshire opener. At the other end Moxon picked up two not outs to boost his average.
In part two I shall describe my trips to Maidstone.
Thursday 16 January 2020
All our Yesterdays - Looking back ten years.
Posted by Tony Hutton
The future of cricket at all levels has never been in such turmoil as we look forward to another season. Not only the talk of four day Test Matches, but the side lining of the county championship and the fifty over competition has alienated most cricket enthusiasts. In addition the ECB in their wisdom have drastically reduced the number of three day Minor Counties games as well as inter University games, which they are in the process of taking over from MCC. Added to all that, many followers of Yorkshire County Cricket club, certainly those in the older age group, find it hard to believe that the club has been transformed into a football like organisation by recruiting players from far and wide to the detriment of a large number of home grown aspirants.
So with all this doom and gloom around people of my advanced age tend to look backwards, admittedly with rose coloured spectacles at times, rather than forwards. It is hard to believe that it is now over ten years since I started 'blogging'. Looking back to 2009 I was able to travel all over the country to see a full programme of the game at many different levels. Just a few memories from the last months of that season perhaps typify how enjoyable I found it.
Starting with Friday 14th August I saw Yeadon cricket club, of the Bradford League, celebrate their 150th anniversary with a match against MCC. Nothing much of note about the actual match with a rather under strength MCC side bowled out for 78 and Yeadon winning easily by eight wickets. The most memorable part of a day, in which the sun shone, was an enjoyable lunch with cricketing friends in the adjoining White Swan pub.
Yeadon cricket ground with the White Swan conveniently alongside.
The following day proved to be an epic day out visiting the Esk Valley League just inland from Whitby in North Yorkshire on a ground hopping adventure taking in five grounds in that least publicised of all the many Yorkshire leagues, but providing many wonderfully scenic grounds. Sadly I learned recently that this league, which had been losing clubs regularly over the last few seasons, has now ceased to operate. A great shame, but hopefully the Esk Valley Evening League, which now has it's own website on play-cricket.com and on Facebook, will continue to operate.
My blog for that day included pictures of Castleton and Mulgrave and I can add to that with two of Ugthorpe, who dropped out not long after my visit, which was in a lovely rural setting with distant views of the sea.
Ugthorpe - yet another ground which fell by the wayside.
August continued with county championship matches at Chesterfield, Headingley and Scarborough plus a surfeit of Under 17s, Under 19s and Academy games. Then into September with a whole series of junior cup finals including a National Under 15s final at Headingley between Shrewsbury (the winners) and Whitgift, for whom a certain Mr Sibley scored 28.
A Yorkshire Under 13s final at New Rover cricket club in north Leeds brought out the Botham family in good numbers, including Sir Ian, to watch his grandson appearing for Cundall Manor School against the Grammar School at Leeds. Sadly Botham junior ended up on the losing side, but sported a very smart stripey blazer.
Ian Botham among the spectators at New Rover.
So the season progressed with the Arthington Festival, as ever going on till early October and ending with the traditional Boxing Day game at North Leeds despite a quite heavy snowfull covering all the ground, with the exception of the cleared artificial wicket. Hard to score runs with the ball sticking in the snow, but North Leeds managed easily enough to make their target of 73 without losing a wicket to beat the Northern Cricket Society.
Boxing Day at North Leeds 2009
The future of cricket at all levels has never been in such turmoil as we look forward to another season. Not only the talk of four day Test Matches, but the side lining of the county championship and the fifty over competition has alienated most cricket enthusiasts. In addition the ECB in their wisdom have drastically reduced the number of three day Minor Counties games as well as inter University games, which they are in the process of taking over from MCC. Added to all that, many followers of Yorkshire County Cricket club, certainly those in the older age group, find it hard to believe that the club has been transformed into a football like organisation by recruiting players from far and wide to the detriment of a large number of home grown aspirants.
So with all this doom and gloom around people of my advanced age tend to look backwards, admittedly with rose coloured spectacles at times, rather than forwards. It is hard to believe that it is now over ten years since I started 'blogging'. Looking back to 2009 I was able to travel all over the country to see a full programme of the game at many different levels. Just a few memories from the last months of that season perhaps typify how enjoyable I found it.
Starting with Friday 14th August I saw Yeadon cricket club, of the Bradford League, celebrate their 150th anniversary with a match against MCC. Nothing much of note about the actual match with a rather under strength MCC side bowled out for 78 and Yeadon winning easily by eight wickets. The most memorable part of a day, in which the sun shone, was an enjoyable lunch with cricketing friends in the adjoining White Swan pub.
The following day proved to be an epic day out visiting the Esk Valley League just inland from Whitby in North Yorkshire on a ground hopping adventure taking in five grounds in that least publicised of all the many Yorkshire leagues, but providing many wonderfully scenic grounds. Sadly I learned recently that this league, which had been losing clubs regularly over the last few seasons, has now ceased to operate. A great shame, but hopefully the Esk Valley Evening League, which now has it's own website on play-cricket.com and on Facebook, will continue to operate.
My blog for that day included pictures of Castleton and Mulgrave and I can add to that with two of Ugthorpe, who dropped out not long after my visit, which was in a lovely rural setting with distant views of the sea.
August continued with county championship matches at Chesterfield, Headingley and Scarborough plus a surfeit of Under 17s, Under 19s and Academy games. Then into September with a whole series of junior cup finals including a National Under 15s final at Headingley between Shrewsbury (the winners) and Whitgift, for whom a certain Mr Sibley scored 28.
A Yorkshire Under 13s final at New Rover cricket club in north Leeds brought out the Botham family in good numbers, including Sir Ian, to watch his grandson appearing for Cundall Manor School against the Grammar School at Leeds. Sadly Botham junior ended up on the losing side, but sported a very smart stripey blazer.
So the season progressed with the Arthington Festival, as ever going on till early October and ending with the traditional Boxing Day game at North Leeds despite a quite heavy snowfull covering all the ground, with the exception of the cleared artificial wicket. Hard to score runs with the ball sticking in the snow, but North Leeds managed easily enough to make their target of 73 without losing a wicket to beat the Northern Cricket Society.
Wednesday 8 January 2020
Wardle's Match
posted by John Winn
Today marks the 97th anniversary of the birthday of one of Yorkshire and England's greatest spin bowlers, Johnny Wardle, born Ardsley on the 8th of January 1923. How appropriate then, that the day after England's thrilling victory at Cape Town, their first at that most beautiful of grounds since January 1957, that we should recall the deeds of the architect of that victory 63 years ago, JH Wardle.
England under the captaincy of Peter May came into what was the second match of the series already one up after a comfortable victory in the 'Christmas Test' at Johannesburg. Trevor Bailey had been England's most potent bowler in that test with ten wickets but Wardle was to go two better at Newlands. The second test began on New Year's Day and largely thanks to a century by Cowdrey with help from Evans, the pair put on 93 in 85 minutes, England reached 369 in their first innings. Maclean and Waite were the main scorers in South Africa's reply but with nobody reaching fifty they fell 164 short of England's score. May did not enforce the follow on. Good scores from Compton and Cowdrey enabled PBH to set a target of 385 in 8 hours for victory. Captained by the ultra defensive Jackie McGlew South Africa made no effort to go for victory and with McGlew and Keith out before the close on the fourth day, defeat seemed a formality and so it proved with England needing only ninety minutes play to take the final eight wickets. Wardle finished with seven for 36 giving him match figures of 12 for 89.
The match produced its share of curiosities not least the dismissal of Endean in South Africa's second innings for 'handled the ball' the first such occurrence of that type of dismissal in test cricket. A
delivery from Wardle looped up off Endean's pad and fearing that it might land on his stumps he palmed it away.(see right) A nice addendum to this incident is that Endean was the keeper when Len Hutton was given out for 'Obstructing the Field' at The Oval in 1951.
England drew the third test at Durban but lost narrowly at Johannesburg and by 58 runs at Port Elizabeth to leave the rubber shared. Wardle missed the fifth test because of a knee injury and was to play only one more test, against West Indies at Lord's in 1957. The reasons for that are a story for another day.
Today marks the 97th anniversary of the birthday of one of Yorkshire and England's greatest spin bowlers, Johnny Wardle, born Ardsley on the 8th of January 1923. How appropriate then, that the day after England's thrilling victory at Cape Town, their first at that most beautiful of grounds since January 1957, that we should recall the deeds of the architect of that victory 63 years ago, JH Wardle.
England under the captaincy of Peter May came into what was the second match of the series already one up after a comfortable victory in the 'Christmas Test' at Johannesburg. Trevor Bailey had been England's most potent bowler in that test with ten wickets but Wardle was to go two better at Newlands. The second test began on New Year's Day and largely thanks to a century by Cowdrey with help from Evans, the pair put on 93 in 85 minutes, England reached 369 in their first innings. Maclean and Waite were the main scorers in South Africa's reply but with nobody reaching fifty they fell 164 short of England's score. May did not enforce the follow on. Good scores from Compton and Cowdrey enabled PBH to set a target of 385 in 8 hours for victory. Captained by the ultra defensive Jackie McGlew South Africa made no effort to go for victory and with McGlew and Keith out before the close on the fourth day, defeat seemed a formality and so it proved with England needing only ninety minutes play to take the final eight wickets. Wardle finished with seven for 36 giving him match figures of 12 for 89.
The match produced its share of curiosities not least the dismissal of Endean in South Africa's second innings for 'handled the ball' the first such occurrence of that type of dismissal in test cricket. A delivery from Wardle looped up off Endean's pad and fearing that it might land on his stumps he palmed it away.(see right) A nice addendum to this incident is that Endean was the keeper when Len Hutton was given out for 'Obstructing the Field' at The Oval in 1951.
England drew the third test at Durban but lost narrowly at Johannesburg and by 58 runs at Port Elizabeth to leave the rubber shared. Wardle missed the fifth test because of a knee injury and was to play only one more test, against West Indies at Lord's in 1957. The reasons for that are a story for another day.
Wednesday 1 January 2020
70th Annual Boxing Day Match at North Leeds
Posted by Tony Hutton
Yet again the hardy perennials turned out in force for incredibly the 70th successive Boxing Day game of cricket. This was the 47th occasion the game has been played at the ground of North Leeds cricket club after the wandering early days at grounds such as Collingham, Whitkirk, Thorp Arch and Boston Spa, Bramhope and Alwoodley. The tradition has been maintained year by year whatever the weather with rain and sometimes snow never stopping play completely.
This year the weather was fine and dry, if a little chilly, and the warmth of the hospitable bar area proved essential for many of the senior citizens present. The game was of 25 overs per side and played as proper cricket throughout (no seasonal messing about!). As ever a very sociable event with the opportunity to meet up with summer friends.
'Hardy perennials' at North Leeds. (Picture by Dougie Jones).
Rupert Jones, on the left, wearing his Papua New Guinea scarf, to celebrate his home country's recent rugby league victory over England.
The Northern Cricket Society team batted first and got off to a rousing start thanks to South African Van De Merwe from the Scarcroft club and Alex Ward from South Milford. The rules of the game means that both batsmen had to retire when they reached 30, but are free to return later if required.
As it happened they were not needed again and a final total of 177-5 looked quite a daunting challenge for the home side.
North Leeds were not quite as fluent early on but despite loosing wickets they continued to pile up the runs and a close finish similar to last year's final ball decider looked possible. However it all ended in somewhat of an anti-climax. The last over was bowled without the batsmen apparently knowing the position and they finished seven runs short with only five wickets down, without making much effort.
North Leeds refurbished pavilion in the summertime.
So Andy Stoddart, proud captain of the Northern Cricket Society, took the trophy to avenge last year's narrow defeat. As usual a good time was had by all and no doubt the raffle proceeds will produce a generous sum for St Gemma's Hospice.
One sad note, we only learnt a few days later of the death on Christmas Eve of Martin Binks, long time secretary and wicket keeper of Arthington cricket club, as well as being for many years conductor of the Leeds Symphony Orchestra. I have known Martin for over twenty years and it has been a pleasure to watch him in action in both capacities. He will certainly be missed immensely by both organisations. A true gentleman of the game and a most distinguished musician.
Martin Binks, on the right, with his fellow 'Golden Oldie' Dennis Nash, leaving the field at Arthington.
Yet again the hardy perennials turned out in force for incredibly the 70th successive Boxing Day game of cricket. This was the 47th occasion the game has been played at the ground of North Leeds cricket club after the wandering early days at grounds such as Collingham, Whitkirk, Thorp Arch and Boston Spa, Bramhope and Alwoodley. The tradition has been maintained year by year whatever the weather with rain and sometimes snow never stopping play completely.
This year the weather was fine and dry, if a little chilly, and the warmth of the hospitable bar area proved essential for many of the senior citizens present. The game was of 25 overs per side and played as proper cricket throughout (no seasonal messing about!). As ever a very sociable event with the opportunity to meet up with summer friends.
Rupert Jones, on the left, wearing his Papua New Guinea scarf, to celebrate his home country's recent rugby league victory over England.
The Northern Cricket Society team batted first and got off to a rousing start thanks to South African Van De Merwe from the Scarcroft club and Alex Ward from South Milford. The rules of the game means that both batsmen had to retire when they reached 30, but are free to return later if required.
As it happened they were not needed again and a final total of 177-5 looked quite a daunting challenge for the home side.
North Leeds were not quite as fluent early on but despite loosing wickets they continued to pile up the runs and a close finish similar to last year's final ball decider looked possible. However it all ended in somewhat of an anti-climax. The last over was bowled without the batsmen apparently knowing the position and they finished seven runs short with only five wickets down, without making much effort.
So Andy Stoddart, proud captain of the Northern Cricket Society, took the trophy to avenge last year's narrow defeat. As usual a good time was had by all and no doubt the raffle proceeds will produce a generous sum for St Gemma's Hospice.
One sad note, we only learnt a few days later of the death on Christmas Eve of Martin Binks, long time secretary and wicket keeper of Arthington cricket club, as well as being for many years conductor of the Leeds Symphony Orchestra. I have known Martin for over twenty years and it has been a pleasure to watch him in action in both capacities. He will certainly be missed immensely by both organisations. A true gentleman of the game and a most distinguished musician.
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