'A grave mistake'.

 posted by John Winn

'The restriction of all county matches to two days strikes me as being a sad blunder.'  Wisden 1919

'The decision to restrict all county matches to two days ....robbed the championship of much of its significance'. Wisden 1920

Of all the suggestions that followed England's recent 4/0 defeat in Australia none, as far as I know, suggested reducing the length of championship matches to two days as happened for just one season in  1919 when cricket resumed after World War 1. The two quotations above show that Wisden's misgivings about the change appear to have been borne out and that 'the disadvantages of the new scheme, more especially the long hours of play, soon became obvious, and before the season ended it was resolved to return in 1920 to the old order of things.'

To compensate for the reduction in the length of matches to two days the hours on the first day were 11:30 to 7:30 and on the second 11:00 to 7:30. Were members shortchanged by this? Not necessarily for in drawn match at Leyton Essex and Yorkshire got through over 266 overs . The other major change was to the points system which reverted to that used in 1910 so that Yorkshire topped the table with a percentage of wins to games played of 46.15%, 12 wins from 26 matches. Second were Kent who played only 14 matches, winning 6 yielding a % of 42.85. The champions played far and away more matches than any other side, Somerset and Northants played only twelve. It had not occurred to the organisers that any match might be tied and so the game between Somerset and Sussex which did end in a tie was declared a draw. Another curiosity of the season was that Worcestershire, for financial reasons, did not compete. 

Wisden bemoaned the high number of drawn games for despite 'exceptionally dry weather' 56 out of the 124 matches including the Taunton tie were left drawn.  But despite the many misgivings people had about the hastily arranged 1919 season it conjured up an exciting finish when the last round of matches were played at the end of August (sic). Yorkshire were at Hove, although Wisden insisted on calling the Sussex resort Brighton, while Kent were at Lord's. Both matches were rain affected, there was no play at Hove on the Saturday while at Lord's there was only an hour and a half's cricket during which Kent scored 97 for 2. So all was to play for on Monday August 31st. Kent failed to build on their good start and were dismissed for 196, JW Hearne taking 4 for 49. Middlesex replied with just 87, insufficient to avoid the follow on and with just fifteen minutes left they were still 23 runs adrift with only two wickets in hand. SH Saville boldly threw his bat, was dropped at square leg but in partnership with FT Mann safety was reached. Savile was then stumped and stumps were drawn. 

Meanwhile at Hove Sussex and Yorkshire also produced some exciting cricket for the Monday crowd. Sussex having been 13 for 4 were all out for 100 and Yorkshire declared at 187 for 6, R Kilner 80 not out. This left them ten minutes under two hours to bowl out Sussex a second time. With two wickets down before double figures were reached they must have had hopes of a thirteenth win but Jupp and Wilson resisted and when rain washed out the last hour a draw was the outcome. One can only speculate if and how Kent and Yorkshire supporters followed that last day. One hundred years later they could have listened to the BBC's excellent commentaries or followed proceedings on smart phones and watches. In 1919 they would I guess have been entirely reliant on newspaper reports which of course they might not have been able to read until Tuesday morning. 

Roy Kilner (1890 to 1928)

His 80 not out was achieved in an hour and a half with eleven fours. 

The Heavy Woollen Cup

Posted by Tony Hutton

I think it was one of my Lancashire friends, obviously ignorant of the history of the West Riding of Yorkshire, who once asked me 'why is the Heavy Woollen Cup so heavy, if it is made of wool?'. In fact the Heavy Woollen District, which includes the towns of Dewsbury, Batley, Heckmondwike and Ossett, is an area famed for the production of heavyweight cloth manufactured there from the early 19th century.

The cricket competition began in 1883 and is believed to be the oldest club competition in the world. Indeed a booklet published some years ago to record it's history was entitled 'Only the Ashes is older'. In the early days I believe the qualification for entry was that clubs should be within six miles of Batley Town Hall, but this was extended to eighteen miles until recent years when the geographical rules were abandoned to encourage more clubs to enter.

(Picture from 'Only the Ashes is older').

In the early years of the competition most of the finals were played at the Dewsbury ground, which became a regular venue for Yorkshire County cricket club. Indeed the home club, then Dewsbury and Savile, competed in all the first eight finals, winning just four times. Other early winners included Lascelles Hall, who bowled Ossett our for 33 in 1891 and Batley who scored an amazing 445 to beat Hopton Mills in 1911.

Picture of the 1982 cup winners again from 'Only the Ashes is older'.

The impressive Heavy Woollen Cup.

The competition has been played every year without a break until the 2020 season was cancelled due to the covid outbreak. The draw for this year's competition took place earlier this week when a minute's silence was held in respect of Mrs Lesley Robinson, the long serving secretary of the Heavy Woollen Cup, as well as having a long connection with both Baildon and Keighley cricket clubs in the Bradford League. Lesley, who sadly died earlier this month, was the mother of Richard Robinson, still the record holder for the most runs scored in a Bradford League career and now the hard working and well respected groundsman at Weetwood.

Several new clubs have entered the competition this year, 35 of them in all, which has resulted in the need for a preliminary round of three matches to be played on Sunday 17th April. One new name is New Rover cricket club who will be playing in the Aire/Wharfe first division for the first time this season. They have been given the plum home tie of Yorkshire Leagues champions Castleford in the preliminary round. The other two ties are between local rivals Shepley and Shelley from the Huddersfield League and Kirkburton against other newcomers Beckwithshaw.

New Farnley 2021.

The first round will take place a week later on Sunday 24th April when holders New Farnley travel to Barkisland. There are several other mouth watering ties such as Pudsey Congs against Broad Oak, Methley against Pudsey St Lawrence and Townville against Woodlands. New Farnley are the current holders of the trophy having beaten Woodlands fairly comfortably in last year's final. New Farnley have recruited well in recent years and now field a team of players who have nearly all played for county teams, either at first team or Academy level.

More fixtures are now appearing almost daily and the latest batch relate to the Royal London club Championship not to be confused with the Royal London Cup for first class counties. The first stages of this competition are played in regional groups and some of the first round fixtures to be played on Sunday 1st May feature clubs from different leagues in opposition, very similar to the Heavy Woollen Cup. A Yorkshire league south v Yorkshire league north clash features Wakefield Thornes against Harrogate, whereas York cricket club have to travel to the north east to face Benwell Hill in Newcastle.

Over the border in Lancashire Ormskirk face St Annes, Lancaster play Furness (from Barrow) and Wigan are at home to Dalton, also from Cumbria. All these games are scheduled for the first of May with the second round to be played a fortnight later on the 15th May. County second eleven fixtures are still awaited, with bated breath in some quarters, and I think I can reveal one piece of exclusive information in that Yorkshire seconds will be at home to Kent seconds in a four day championship match commencing on Sunday 8th May (venue to be announced).

Not the first time

 posted by John Winn

Social media, the press and broadcasting outlets continue to express their anguish at England's recent four nil defeat in Australia usually accompanied by suggestions as to how things might turn out better next time. Many of these lay the blame at the county championship's door and at their most extreme advocate the scrapping of this competition and its replacement by something akin to a franchise system or a streamlined structure with fewer counties involved. Bathwater and babies come to mind and it is perhaps worth reminding ourselves that such a drubbing has happened before.

In September 1958 an MCC party sailed on the SS Iberia. Under the management of FR Brown sixteen players including batsmen of the quality of May, Cowdrey and Graveney and an attack including Trueman, Tyson, Statham, Lock and Laker called in at Ceylon as Sri Lanka was then known. to play a warm up match. Two weeks later they arrived in Perth to play Western Australia and seven (sic) weeks later they played the first test in Brisbane. Before May won the toss at The Gabba and chose to bat MCC (England in test matches only) had had 27 days of first class cricket including a match on the test ground against Queensland, albeit one shortened by rain. England went on to lose the series, which lasted until mid February, four nil. In mitigation Wisden mentioned injuries, poor umpiring and the doubtful actions of some of the Australian bowlers but concluded 'that the tourists were not good enough.' 

Contrast the 58/59 schedule with that which Root's men were faced. Practice matches were little more the sort of thing we did when we were kids and picked up two teams from those who turned up on the local 'rec' and in any case were ruined by rain. From there it was straight into an itinerary that crammed five tests into little over six weeks with no cricket in between. Who agreed to that? Chuck in puzzling selection both before and during the tour and I think a measure of perspective is achieved. 

In the days immediately following the fifth test the i newspaper's cricket correspondent, Chris Stocks, offered a brief summary of each England player's performance with marks out of ten. Bottom mark, -1,  went to poor old Hameed and top of the class was mark Wood with 8. In his brief comment on the Durham quickie who was actually not selected for the second test, Stocks lamented that by the time England next contest the ashes in Australia in four years time Wood will be 36, presumably too old. This was perhaps a throw-away comment but it does seem odd that Stocks should be thinking four years hence when in March England are due to play a test series in the West Indies followed by home series this summer against New Zealand and South Africa and one test v India. Ten test in a little over eight months.Enough to be going on with.

Mark Wood

As a supporter of Darlington FC for nearly seventy years I have long become adept at putting defeat to the back of my mind or even further and the publication of the county fixtures yesterday has very much turned my thoughts to summer and where to go on April 7th when the championship campaign begins but when, perhaps sensibly, there are no matches north of Leicester. Lots to look forward to and I for one am not worrying about what might happen at the Gabba in December 2025. 

The 'Heads must roll' brigade are out in force.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

England's cricket team collapsed like a pack of cards this morning and no doubt the inquests on their sorry performance during the Australian tour will continue for quite a while. Before the game we had already seen headlines suggesting that Root, Silverwood, Giles, Anderson etc should be sacked from their current roles. It is a 'Heads must roll' syndrome that we have long associated with Association Football managers, one of whom, Mr Benitez of Everton, was sacked today. There seems no limit to this 'sack the lot' principle, although it never seems to apply to the many grossly overpaid performers on the soccer field of play.

However I wish to draw your attention to someone else who used this phrase, even before Azeem Rafiq gave evidence to his parliamentary select committee. Mr Julian Knight M.P., chair of the DCMS committee, rather pre-judged the matter saying 'Heads must roll' even before the hearing started. Sure enough heads did roll in profusion with sixteen good men and true sacked by Lord Patel before you could blink.

On searching the internet for 'Heads must roll' quotes I came across the Munro review of child protection from 2011. Rather obscure perhaps, but very much to the point  as Munro explicitly highlights the need for politicians and other public figures to avoid 'Knee-jerk reactions and conclusions' and for actions to be thoughtfully reviewed. Don't think Mr Knight can have ever read this.

A more recent development in this sad saga has now seen former Yorkshire Chairman, Robin Smith, enter the debate, questioning the process by which Lord Patel was so rapidly installed as Chairman of the club and recommending that members should vote against his proposals for changes in the constitution of the board. No doubt we are in for rather an interesting members forum in a week's time.

Enough of that for now and let us return to matters on the field of play. Fortunately as an antidote to the Ashes series Sky Sports are covering the Under 19 World Cup which started in the West Indies this week. After their first warm-up match with Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain, England had an easy victory over Papua New Guinea in another warm-up game.

Tom Prest of Hampshire, England Under 19s captain, who scored 303 for Hampshire seconds against Sussex in May 2021.

 

This proved to be good batting practice for the top three, George Thomas of Somerset (90), Jacob Bethell of Warwickshire (78) and skipper Tom Prest of Hampshire (91). James Sales of Northants, son of the county's former leading batsman David Sales, also made a useful 46. Yorkshire's sole representative, Will Luxton, made only six as the middle order somewhat collapsed, but a total of 359-7 in 50 overs was more than adequate.

Papua New Guinea were bowled out fairly rapidly for only 78 without really putting England's bowlers to the test, but Sales with 3-14, Coles of Sussex with 2-13 and left arm spinner Fateh Singh from Notts 2-2 all had good figures.

The first match of the competition proper took place this afternoon and Bangladesh, the current holders of the Under 19 World Cup, were soon in trouble against the left arm opening bowler Josh Boyden from Wigan cricket club in Lancashire. Bangladesh were 8-4 at one stage and staggered to 51-9 before a last wicket partnership of 46, which included 33 from number 11 Ripon Mondol, took them to 97 all out.

Boyden had 4-16 and fellow Lancastrian Tom Aspinwall 2-18, while Glamorgan wicket keeper Alex Horton excelled with six catches. England lost Thomas and Prest early on and had to graft hard for their runs before James Rew of Somerset cut loose and together with Bethell put on 65 for the third wicket. Some erratic running between wickets eventually led to Bethell being run out for 44, but Rew with 26 not out and Will Luxton, with a six from his only ball, saw England safely home with 25 overs to spare.

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), who we remember seeing playing against Yorkshire seconds three years ago, when only 15 years old.

After the match it was announced that Somerset pace bowler Sonny Baker is returning home for treatment, having sustained a back injury in the warm-up game. His place in the squad with be taken by Yorkshire Academy player from Halifax, Ben Cliff, who is one of the two travelling reserves.

So a good win for England who seem to be in possibly the weakest group, with games against Canada and U.A.E. to come, which should see them comfortably through to the next stage. Perhaps the youngsters gave a message to the senior side, fielding as they did three Lancastrians. Some might think Livingstone and Parkinson should have been in the side in Australia. They could hardly have done worse.

Trying to look ahead

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Many cricket enthusiasts throughout the country are greatly puzzled with what is currently going on with the game in England. Most are waiting patiently for the county cricket fixtures for 2022 to be released. What had become a moveable feast has already dragged on far too long and yesterday's dribble of information suggested they will be published either after the forthcoming Test Match in Hobart finishes or during the following week. No chance whatsoever of a simple definite date.

When will we see this again? Headingley Test Match 2016.

However another glimmer for Yorkshire followers was the tucked away statement that the long delay has not been caused by the Yorkshire situation and that Yorkshire will start the forthcoming season in Division One. What does that mean? When the expected two further heavy penalties awaited from both the Parliamentary Committee and the ECB actually arrive will they be relegated part way through the season or perhaps transferred to the Bradford league?

Really this whole thing has been blown up out of all proportion and sadly the former regime were not able to defend themselves against this overwhelming tide of condemnation. Bold words again from Lord Patel in today's Yorkshire Post but in no way, in my humble opinion, can he justify his 'sack the lot' policy.

However some fixtures for the coming season have already been published including a full programme of Yorkshire League North games for the Yorkshire Academy, who we assume will continue to operate once they have found a replacement for the previous admirable coaches. In addition the National Counties fixtures (still the Minor Counties to my mind) are also available, complete with venues as well. Of course in that each county now only plays four three day championship matches, 'proper cricket'  is still very thin on the ground.

Trying hard to be positive, I can supply you with a few actual dates. Most local leagues such as Bradford League, Huddersfield League, Yorkshire League South and Aire/Wharfe will start on Saturday 16th April. Yorkshire League North start a week later on Saturday 23rd April when the Yorkshire Academy entertain Harrogate, who will include two former Academy players, batsman Arjun Ramkumar and opening bowler Ed Booth.

Harrogate cricket club.

Various cup competitions get underway on Sunday 1st May, including the Huddersfield League's Sykes Cup and the Bradford League's Priestley Cup, whereas the Viking Cup (for Yorkshire Leagues North and South) is split between Monday 2nd May and Sunday 8th May. By then the National Counties endless T20 competition will be well under way, but who but the local followers would travel all the way to Carlisle to see Cumbia play Staffordshire.

More likely on that date (8th May) most people will follow their local clubs in such competitions as the Worsley Cup (Lancashire), Heavy Woollen Cup second round, Waddilove Cup (Aire Wharfe) or Jack Hampshire Cup (lower reaches of the Bradford League). In addition another tranche of fixtures is available on the county over 50s play-cricket website starting on Wednesday 18th May. However here a familiar problem raises it's head in that no venues are available. In most cases, with the regular exception of Yorkshire, these will eventually appear, but Yorkshire's whereabouts usually remains a well guarded secret.

By the time the National Counties T20 competition has reached it's conclusion (Final on 22nd May) the 50 over competition takes over with such delights as Lincolnshire v Cumbria at Scunthorpe Town on 29th May, Cumbria v Hereford at Cockermouth on 5th June and Cheshire v Norfolk at Boughton Hall on 12th June. The first three day championship matches do not appear until Sunday 3rd July when Cheshire take on Oxfordshire at Alderley Edge, a week later Lincolnshire play Staffordshire at Cleethorpes and Cumbria entertain Cambridgeshire at Barrow in Furness cricket club.

Cricket at Alderley Edge.

So a few things to whet the appetite, with hopefully more to follow sooner rather than later, but when the county second eleven fixtures will finally appear is anybody's guess.

Lancashire memories

 Posted by Tony Hutton

No doubt many of our readers, particularly those from Lancashire, will be wondering why there have been no contributions from Mike Latham in recent times. As many of you will know Mike is a man of many parts and his present main concern, in his role as chairman of Leigh Rugby League, is the big drop of income for the club following relegation from Super League. This gives him little time for writing, other than his regular monthly article in the excellent Forty Twenty rugby league magazine. However we are assured that when the time is right he will return with his always well researched cricket stories.

In the meantime I have managed to dig out a memorable picture of the Lancashire county club from almost fifty years ago when they won the Gillette Cup Final against Warwickshire at Lord's in 1972. The list of all time greats in this picture is truly remarkable and brings back memories of so many wonderful performances over the years.

Of the thirteen players in the picture two of the opening bowlers Peter Lever and Ken Shuttleworth did not play in the final. One rather obscure fact, certainly unknown to me, was that Clive Lloyd opened the bowling and, in what was then a sixty overs a side competition, bowled his full stint of twelve overs very economically for just thirty one runs without though taking a wicket.

Lancashire had won the toss and put Warwickshire in. The Midland side had a strong top six but rather a weak looking tail and an opening partnership of 50 between Whitehouse and Amiss looked to have given them an advantage. However Barry Wood's gentle medium pace trapped Amiss lbw for only 16 and the Yorkshireman proved the most economical bowler of the day with figures of 12-2-27-1.

The dangerous Kanhai then fell to David Hughes for 14, before Mike Smith, the skipper and Alvin Kallicharan, the West Indian test player, added 85 for the fourth wicket. Smith went lbw to Jack Simmons, before part time bowler John Sullivan took two vital wickets. He dismissed the two West Indians, Kallicharan and Derek Murray and the fragile tail collapsed with no less than three run outs.

From 207-3 Warwickshire had collapsed to 234-9 at the end of the sixty overs. Although the two opening bowlers, Clive Lloyd and Peter Lee both failed to take a wicket, the other four all chipped in to keep the required target well within reach.

Warwickshire must have fancied their chances when they dismissed both openers David Lloyd and Barrie Wood with the total on 26. Then the little and large show took over with Clive Lloyd in imperious form, well supported by the diminutive Harry Pilling, with a very useful thirty. When Pilling was run out Frank Hayes took over the supporting role with an equally valuable 35.

Warwickshire's best bowler was Bob Willis who dismissed both overseas players, but by this time Clive Lloyd had made a wonderful 126, followed quickly by Farokh Engineer with a duck. Willis had excellent figures of 2-29, but it was all too late as Clive Lloyd had been particularly severe on David Brown who had figures of 2-67. Warwickshire's third West Indian, Lance Gibbs, could not contribute and Lancashire strolled to victory by four wickets with just over three overs remaining.

Basil D'Oliveira had no problem in awarding the man of the match trophy to Clive Lloyd. A great day for Lancashire and their skipper Jack Bond. However many will not remember the close shave Lancashire had in the semi-final against Kent at Old Trafford. The home side made 224-6, with Harry Pilling top scoring with 70, before the powerful Kent batting side, with the likes of Luckhurst, Denness, Cowdrey, Asif Iqbal and Alan Knott, set off in pursuit.

On 155-3 Kent looked well in control, but then three wickets for ever reliable Jack Simmons and three more at the end from David Hughes turned the tide completely and Kent were eventually all out from the last ball of the innings, falling just seven runs short. A real cliff hanger if there ever was one.

Kent did return to Old Trafford, as John Player Sunday league champions, for a forty over challenge match a couple of weeks after the Lord's final. Lancashire were again victorious, but this time by an even narrower margin of just four runs. Lancashire's 161, thanks to Ken Snellgrove's 51 proved just sufficient, as Kent were bowled out in the final over for 157 with yet again the bowling of Jack Simmons and Barrie Wood proving decisive.