Posted by Tony Hutton
Strange as it might seem we have actually been able to see live cricket this week while trying to adhere to the severe restrictions placed upon the hard done to cricket watching community. County cricket and indeed second eleven county cricket, not known for any large unruly groups of spectators, are both regarded as elite sports and will not officially be open to spectators until the middle of May at the earliest. Even then strict demarcation rules such as home members only may well apply.
However over the Easter weekend it came to our notice that, just down the road from where we live, Leeds/Bradford U.C.C.E. had a three day match against Warwickshire at the University's Weetwood Ground on the Leeds Ring Road. This is such a large sports complex that we rightly thought some view of the game might be available outside the perimeter. So it proved, despite the car parks being crammed full of parents and girls all taking part in a football competition on the numerous pitches available.
We had heard dire warnings of spectators having been turned away when Yorkshire county cricket players had turned up for training here some time earlier, but no 'bouncers' were waiting for us, so we contented ourselves by watching over the hedge at the perimeter of the ground. Indeed we returned for brief spells on days two and three, by which time despite the ever present sunshine the weather, and the fierce piercing wind, took a turn for the worse. Indeed by 14.45 on day three the players and the poor, nithered umpires called it a day and retreated to find some warmth.
As to the match itself Warwickshire batted with some confidence throughout the first day and into the second day morning to make 428-4 declared. Skipper Will Rhodes, part of the considerable Yorkshire contingent in the visitor's side made an admirable century before retiring. His opening partner, Dom Sibley, of England fame, took a little while longer over his three figures but was dismissed for 119. Yates and Hain also helped themselves to fifties and wicket keeper Burgess was 47 not out when the declaration came.
The University's batsmen could not match their excellent performance against Yorkshire a week earlier but Josh De Caries again impressed with an innings of thirty which included six fours. Timby, from Lincolnshire, made 35 and Billings from Sussex, who keeps wicket, made an excellent fifty at the end of the innings to bring up a respectable total of 192 all out. Good to see Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who played here for the Yorkshire Academy some time ago, in bowling action again as well as Tim Bresnan trying to keep warm in the slips. The two best bowlers were Brookes with 3-26 and Milnes with 3-42.
On Monday morning, day three, Lamb and Sibley both retired cold at lunch with scores only in the teens, and after another hour's play in the by now freezing conditions, in which Bresnan made a rapid 42 not out, Warwickshire declared on 89-2 and the game was abandoned as a draw.
We were also able to see part of a couple of league cricket friendlies across the road at the Richmond Oval, home of New Rover cricket club, on Saturday and Sunday. Local derbies with both neighbours North Leeds and St. Chads were in full swing and while again spectators are not officially allowed for recreational cricket until Monday next, 12th April, we felt quite legitimate as a public right of way extends down the whole length of one side of the ground and we remained well socially distanced.
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