Look Away Now

posted by John Winn

Wisden 1997 page 685 

HIGHEST TOTALS AGAINST YORKSHIRE

681 for declared by Leicestershire at Bradford ............1996

Playfair 2020 page 199 Highest Totals v (Yorkshire) by Leics    Bradford 1996

So in 24 years all that has changed is the type and although Yorkshire have not played a championship match at Park Avenue in that time no blame can be attached to the wicket on which 1211 runs were scored in that match.  

Bradford has the distinction of having hosted Yorkshire's first home championship match in June 1890 when Sussex were defeated by six wickets but that counted for nothing as the city joined Sheffield, Middlesbrough and Harrogate as places where first class cricket would no longer be played. There was even talk at that time of Yorkshire leaving Headingley for a new ground at Durkar, just off the M1 at Junction 39. 

The match in question was dominated by The Foxes' mammoth score with 'Yorkshire appearing to lose heart on having to field on a batsman's pitch.' (Wisden) James Whitaker and Vince Wells both scored double centuries while 'Yorkshire bowled much too short and dropped seven catches' (Wisden). Yorkshire's reply began ignominiously with openers Moxon and and Vaughan both going for 0. Bevan led something of a recovery assisted by Byas and Gough.Silverwood and Stemp added 79 for the last wicket. Following on Yorkshire fared a little better but from  149 for 3 they collapsed to 188 all out (Bevan 65 not out). On the fourth morning they lost five wickets for 28 with Gordon Parsons taking three wickets for no runs at one point. 

Leicestershire went on to record a further seven victories that season finishing in style with innings wins against Durham at The Riverside and Middlesex at Grace Road. They learned that they were champions during the tea interval of their last match when news came through that Surrey had forfeited first innings against Worcestershire thus ensuring that they could not get the maximum points they needed to take the title. It was The Foxes' second championship to which they added a third in 1998. Four batsmen reached a 1000 runs, Whitaker, Phil Simmons, Wells and Ben Smith. Simmons, an outstanding overseas player topped the bowling averages with good support from Mullally and Millns. Wisden was fulsome in its praise for Whitaker's captaincy. 

James Whitaker