Nail Biter at The Riverside

 posted by John Winn

The championship match that finished at The Riverside yesterday had several unusual features

• the captain winning the toss opted to bat
• 39 wickets fell but only three batters made fifty
• the top individual score was 51 (George Hill)
• only one team innings passed two hundred and fifty (Yorkshire 254)
• only one batting bonus point was gained in the match
• a batter not in the original XI was allowed to bat in the second innings as a concussion substitute 
• barely anytime was lost through rain
• it was so cold on Friday that I left at lunchtime
• Durham won by one wicket when a batter who needed a runner hit the winning runs

Durham had not played Yorkshire in four day cricket since 2016 when the visitors won the toss and opted to bat on a sunny Thursday morning. This was not quite the gamble it might seem for the forecast suggested that the first day would offer better batting conditions than the second, and this proved to be the case, and secondly opener Adam Lyth was in splendid form having hit a magnificent 174 just a few days earlier against Glamorgan. Alas Lord Mayor's show and all that for after just ten deliveries Lyth was on his way, well caught by Clark in the gully off Potts. Masood on his Yorkshire debut made 44 but although five of his team mates could be said to have got their feet under the table none went on to make fifty and only a last wicket stand of 36 brought Yorkshire a batting bonus point

Durham fared no better, losing openers Lees and Jones before stumps and like Yorkshire they relied on a last wicket stand to bring respectability. Yorkshire's second innings started no better than the first, Lyth bagging a pair, out first ball this time, which brought Bean, unlucky to be dropped in my opinion, to the crease in place of the injured Shakeel, lucky to be playing in the opinion of more than me. Bean, Malan  Bairstow and Hill all got a start and at 145 for 4, a lead of 172 it was beginning to look as though Durham might be set an awkward fourth innings target. Enter Raine and Potts and the last six fell for 73.

Durham, set 246 to win, got off to a good start but the middle and lower order were swept aside  until Raine and Potts, this time with the bat, held out to close of play including the extra half hour to set up a fascinating last day. 33 to win, two wickets to take and number 11, Carse, injured. How far would you travel to watch what might be not more than an over's play? A family commitment saved me making that awkward decision but free admission persuaded 245 to come through the turnstiles. I decided it would be rude to have my phone switched on while in conversation with my brother-in-law and his partner so it was 12:15 before I checked the scores to find Durham had got home by one wicket, that the winning runs had been scored by Carse, batting with a runner but the real heroes were Raine and Potts whose ninth wicket stand had yielded 71 to leave their team within touching distance of their third victory of the season, all at The Riverside.

Yorkshire will perhaps be pleased that next time they take the field, on Saturday at Edgbaston, the ball will be a different colour and the game will be much shorter. Yes its that time of the year again, T20,
but in the meantime Durham travel to Bristol looking to extend their lead at the top of the table before we have a break from championship cricket four weeks. 

Queen's Park Chesterfield, will Yorkshire will face Derbyshire on Sunday June 11th

The deckchair gets an airing

 posted by John Winn

Yesterday, after lunch with my wife at a local pub, I returned home and on a beautiful afternoon, opened the shed, disturbed the deckchair from its winter hibernation, dusted it off and settled down to listen to BBC commentary from Headingley with occasional excursions to other grounds. Just three days earlier I had watched the first day of the Yorkshire/Glamorgan match wearing my cold weather jacket and not once did I feel like removing it. I did not stay long enough to see Yorkshire lose five wickets before close of play and a poor forecast for Friday put me off returning to LS6 for the second day when they were bowled out for 106. 

Saturday was a much warmer day and I travelled in hope to St George's Road, Harrogate where Sheriff Hutton Bridge were the visitors. I stayed a couple of hours catching up with my friend Les Pennington who I had not seen since January, but despite the sunshine there was no cricket as the ground stubbornly refused to dry sufficiently to allow play. Tea(sic) was taken at 13:15, numerous inspections followed but all to no avail and by 15:00 I was on my way home wishing I had driven a dozen miles further and gone to Headingley where I could have seen Labuschagne make 170 not out which went a long way towards the 492 Yorkshire were set to win. 

Back to the deckchair and Yorkshire kept the crowd and listeners to the commentary enthralled to the very end when Thompson, having reached his fifty, safely played out the last over from Neser while the injured Coad, who fortunately did not have to face, watched from the non-striker's end. Yorkshire travel to The Riverside this week, presumably without Coad but under a new captain, Shan Masood, who had such an outstanding season for Derbyshire in 2022.The forecast isn't great but I have every intention of being there  for the first championship match since 2016 between my county of birth and my county of residence. 

Headingley did not have a monopoly on close finishes yesterday. What would you have paid to see Broad facing Anderson and taking fifty balls to score three?  As if this was not enough "Ashes hopeful Olly Stone"*  was undefeated on nought having limped from the field earlier in the day. At Derby, Leicestershire showed plenty of spirit and scored just enough to make Derbyshire bat again setting a target of fifty four from three overs but after phone calls to the ECB and a twenty minute delay this was reduced to one over which was bowled by Ackermann and defended by Haider Ali. Elsewhere Northants thwarted Somerset, Surrey had three wickets in hand when stumps were pulled but an Essex victory had been a possibility until Jamie Smith and Jordan Clark stopped the rot. Earlier in the dayWarwickshire crushed Hants and are now level on points at the top of Division One with Surrey. 

                                                                            

And now for last week's homework for which you were asked to say how many of these clubs who were operating in the High Peak League about 80 years ago are still in existence today. Perhaps surprisingly only one of the clubs seems to have vanished without trace, Bradbury St M while Stockport SS** merged with Stockport in 1998 and Compstall seem to have become a feeder club for Marple. Birch Vale are now known as Birch Vale and Thornsett. New Mills, Dove Holes, Whaley Bridge, Hayfield, and Hazel Grove play in Derbyshire and Cheshire Div 1, Chapel (en le Frith) and Birch Vale in Div 2. Romiley are in Cheshire Div 2. 

* I newspaper's words not mine. 

** SS stood for Sunday School

Four Days Cricket

 posted by John Winn

Tomorrow I shall travel to Headingley for the first day of the championship match against Glamorgan. The forecast suggests that whilst flags may rest without fear of being cracked I stand a good chance of seeing a day's cricket thus continuing a reasonable run despite what for many has been a very wet spring. Last weekend I saw cricket on four successive days, not without interruption from the weather but enough play to make my journeys worthwhile. 

On Thursday I travelled to Chester le Street when despite occasional patchy rain 92 overs were bowled and Durham by their own choice made good use of the wicket to score at more than four an over, a rate that has become characteristic of their cricket this season. 63 for the first wicket, Lees setting the pace then a slight slump to 126 for 4 before Clark and Robinson added 106 with Robinson going onto his first century for the Prince Bishops. As on my previous visit to Riverside this season I opted to stay overnight but woke to forecast steady rain on Friday. Good work by the ground staff allowed play to start at 12:15 and Carse, aided by Coughlin and Potts, completed his maiden first class century. Then followed a passage of play that delights old buffers like me and baffles Americans. 

After Carse hit a mighty six that had those of us in the north west corner cowering for cover, Durham declared leaving time for just one over before lunch from the fifth ball of which Godleman was lbw Raine, a common mode of dismissal this season, and off they came for lunch. Shortly after which Derbyshire were 6 for 4 and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals until a last wicket stand between Reece and Conners saw them to 165 all out. 

Second time around things got no better for The Peakites until Lamb and Reece added 149 for the sixth but when the end came it came quickly. LBW Raine saw the back of Lamb for 91 at which points four quick wickets for Potts cemented Durham's place at the top of the division. 

On Saturday I took in my first league cricket of the season when Ouseburn CC 1st XI welcomed Masham to Lightmire Lane, arriving in time to see the visitors collapse from 50 for 1 to 69 all out. The response of Masham's tail to the fall of wickets was to give it the old heave-ho to little effect other than  to ensure that more than twenty of their overs were not used, overs that might have yielded enough runs to make the outcome much tighter. As it was Ouseburn got home by four wickets. 

More club cricket on Sunday but higher up the pyramid when I made the trip to St George's Road Harrogate to see The Roosters take on Hartlepool in a National Club Championship match. Rain halted proceedings after 31 overs and the match was abandoned. Because of league commitments next weekend Hartlepool have conceded the tie.

Tomorrow sees the fifth round of matches in this year's championship and I suppose Surrey's impressive start will give prominence to their trip to Chelmsford but Broad and Anderson on opposite sides whets the appetite for Trent Bridge and in the basement it's Somerset v Northants. Only three matches in Division Two and Derbyshire (bottom) entertain Leicestershire (second) and for the latter a good result could see them go top. 

 

This week's homework, how many of these sides still exist?

A Star Studded family

 posted by John Winn

Rain interfered seriously with cricket both locally and nationally over the weekend. League cricket in my part of the world had already got off to a bad start with the postponement of the entire NYSD opening programme on the traditional third Saturday in April and the almost complete washout of the Nidderdale league. Things were little better this week and my local side, Ouseburn CC saw both first and second eleven games on Saturday abandoned early in the day without a ball being bowled, indeed the first XI who were given the doubtful privilege of starting with two away games on their return to the First Division, have yet to bat or bowl. 

I spent much of yesterday, which was actually quite a nice day in the Lower Ure Valley, switching between commentaries and live feeds on county championship matches but even here rain had the upper hand. Yorkshire, Durham and Gloucestershire will all feel they were robbed of victory by the weather and Kent v Essex at Canterbury was a total washout on the last day. At Taunton, in spite of Anthony Gibson's rain dance, Somerset's middle order put up enough resistance to deny Lancashire a first victory but it was the action from Lord's that engaged my attention to the last, once that is I had stopped laughing at the news that Spurs' supporters had been filmed leaving St James's Park after 20 minutes. 

In the match at Lord's Notts bravely opened up the game with a declaration that invited Middlesex to go for a target which they duly did and succeeded with just a few balls to spare. This in spite of Notts' efforts to ensure a draw by some dubious tactics towards the end. The championship tables show that only Hants can claim two wins so far and are already sixteen points ahead of Lancs who have drawn all three. Durham top Division Two, despite only one win from three and much credit must go their batters who have already accumulated 12 bonus points. 

It is just possible that by now some of you are wondering if there is any link between what I have written so far and the title of the posting. The answer is no but given the lack of cricket to watch on Saturday I have fallen back on a subject I have been meaning to write about for a few weeks, namely the Studd brothers, a cricketing family of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and here they are, from left to right, Kynaston, Charles, and George.

Their father Edward Studd, who fathered eleven children in all, was born in Bombay and made his fortune in indigo manufacture, a fortune big enough for him to own Stratton Hall in Northamptonshire, Hallaton Hall in Leicestershire and Bedworth House in Wiltshire at various times. All three boys went to Eton, all captained the XI and all three went on to win blues at Cambridge. Kynaston (1858-1944), played occasionally for Middlesex and in 1928 became Lord Mayor of London and shortly afterwards President of MCC. Moving on to George (1859-1945) , the second of the three, he followed  Kynaston in going to and captaining Eton then got his blue at Cambridge and was more than a useful tennis player. 

Finally we come to Charles (1860-1931) who followed the same education and cricket careers as his older brothers but went a significant step further for in 1882 he and George were part of Bligh's team that went to Australia and brought back the Ashes. George's form was disappointing but Charles was one of the best all-round cricketers of his time and played five tests in all.

Meanwhile back in Wiltshire the boys' father became, in 1878, a born-again Christian and shortly afterwards all three embraced Christianity. I recently acquired a biography of Charles written by his son-in-law, Norman Grubb, but only two chapters are devoted to cricket, it is very much a story of his work as a missionary. Charles went to China in 1885 where he remained for ten years but illness brought him back to England from where he went to USA and then to the Belgian Congo, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, this very much against medical advice. In Wisden's words this was an 'uncivilised region' but CT devoted the rest of his life to missionary work there until his death in 1931 from untreated gallstones. George too became a missionary and did much of his work in the slums of Los Angeles (sic). 

I should just mention that there were four other Studd brothers, all good enough to play for Eton and MCC. Star-studded indeed. 

Down by The Riverside

 posted by John Winn

                                                                           

                                                                                    

A day at Aintree on Thursday delayed my start to the 2023 season at The Riverside but I was there in good time on Friday to see the second day of Durham's match with Worcestershire. Durham had had an excellent day on Thursday and Raine and Coughlin started where they had left off the evening before. Durham skipper Scott Borthwick eventually declared on 425 for 9, leaving the visitors about an hour's batting before lunch and what an hour it was. Pollock set about the Durham attack, shorn of Carse by the ECB, with Pollock hitting nine fours off 26 balls before he was cleaned up by Potts for 41, a scoring rate of 157.69. Azhar Ali went for 29, lbw Potts, but shortly afterwards rain sent the players from the field and that was it for the day, Worcestershire 96 for 2. 

 Rather than return home I had booked accommodation in Durham for the night and thus was at the ground early on Saturday to see Worcestershire resume their innings. I was slightly concerned that mopping up was still going on when the five minute bell was rung but play started on time. Coughlin, who I thought the pick of the bowlers, had Libby caught at slip and to a man the Durham side thought they had D'Oliveira next ball but umpire White stood firm and the Pears' skipper proceeded to play a lively innings before being caught and bowled by Kuhnemann. I thought the Durham attack especially the seamers gave away too many easy leg side runs. The photo up above was taken just after lunch and suggests a cloudy day but for much of the day there was lovely sunshine.

I had originally intended to leave about 2:30 and catch some league cricket in East Durham on the way home but news of widespread postponements dissuaded me from this idea and instead I stayed until shortly before tea and got home just in time to see the delayed Grand National. Sam Brown who carried my hopes but fortunately not my money fell at the 16th. Perhaps his belt was too tight. 

After I left Worcestershire made a somewhat surprising declaration and with Borthwick hitting a century Durham have set Worcestershire 314 to win, as I type they are 3 for 2. 

In last week's posting I commented on the dismay felt in Somerset when they lost the first day of their opening match to rain, imagine the disappointment yesterday morning when the game at Bristol between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire was abandoned without a ball being bowled, a fairly rare occurrence these days. The decision provoked plenty of bile on social media but my main sympathy lies with Yorkshire supporters who booked accommodation for a couple of nights or more. They should have better look at Hove next week.

Not a bad start

posted by John Winn

At 9:20 on Thursday morning I was not going to Headingley, at 9:25 I was on my way. I had vacillated all week whether to attend the first day of the first class cricket season and after seeing Paul Hudson's forecast on Wednesday evening which promised a showery opening day I decided not to attend, a state of mind which did not change until shortly before half past nine the next morning. What caused this abrupt change?  The sun came out, I remembered how much I had been looking forward to meeting old friends and my wife told me to stop dilly dalllying and I was on my way. 

Having paid the tax now imposed on members to enter the long room, £15 for the season, I met up with old friends Jennifer Ellison and Stuart Wrigley for coffee, shared our varying opinions on the rights and wrongs of the signing of SD Hope and took our seats to see Leicestershire, having won the toss, take the field with Messrs Lyth and Bean opening for Yorkshire. No Root, Brook or Bairstow of course, although encouragingly the last of these was seen in the nets before the call of play. The sun shone and Yorkshire made good progress so that by the time Hudson's revenge arrived mid afternoon in the shape of a heavy almost wintery shower which caused an influx of taxpayers* to seek the shelter of the long room, last year's wooden spoonists found themselves in a familiar position with Malan and Bean enjoying some fairly moderate bowling. Mr Bean feasted on Rehan Ahmed's opening over to the tune of 22 runs and throughout the day Malan showed what a class act he is. 

The severity of the rain convinced that there would be a long wait before there was any more play and so I left but returned on Friday when a better forecast had increased the crowd considerably and by the time I left at tea, Leicestershire had lost three wickets in response to Yorkshire's 517.

                                                                              

                                                   Friday afternoon in the Upper North East 

As I type, 11:45 Sunday morning,Yorkshire  despite a lead of almost four hundred, continue their second innings but with a scoring rate of over five an over surely a declaration cannot be far away. Elsewhere, in Division One Hampshire have beaten Notts inside two days, Lancashire probably need to bat all day to avoid defeat against Surrey at Old Trafford, at Canterbury Kent need to score a trifle more than they did in their first innings to beat Northants while at Lord's Middlesex are now seven down in their second innings and facing defeat against Essex. At Taunton where the first day was washed out, more of which anon, a draw seems the only outcome. In Division Two a decent last day is in prospect at Derby where Worcestershire are the visitors, a draw seems likely between Glamorgan and Gloucestershire at Cardiff and Sussex should just scrape home against Durham at Hove. 

The second round of matches begins on Thursday with sixteen counties in action, Glamorgan and Sussex are resting, and Surrey v Hants looks the pick in Division One. 

Finally and back to Taunton where there was no play on Thursday, the game eventually started at noon on Friday, the county's Facebook page has presented some Somerset supporters with the opportunity to vent their spleens especially those who travelled quite long distances to find there would be no cricket.  Mr Charles Maggs took the biscuit and opened a can of worms, mixed metaphor there John,  and proposed that all these opening matches should have been played in the Middle East. And there's me thinking I was ill served by having to pay to go into the Long Room. 

* Given the absence of a steward on one of the doors there may even have been some non doms. 

Here we go again

 posted by John Winn

                                    When baby summer calls us once again

                                     to close trimmed turf; we say we will not go 

                                     but yet we go. Digby Jephson*

Pending hip surgery is restricting my driving at the moment but had I been fully fit then today I would have been at Riverside, Chester le Street where Durham are taking on  Durham University and where, on a lovely March day, the county side took the precaution of including Raine, Drissell and Macintosh in their XI. I have complained in the past about the stilted start to the English cricket season, just compare it to the fanfare for the start of the Major League Baseball season later this week, but at least the county championship when it opens next Thursday will see all 18 counties in action. Match of the Day has to be Lancashire, tipped by Cricketer magazine to be champions, taking on Surrey, last year's winners, at Old Trafford. Well done algorithm. Nonsense I hear some of you cry as you head to Headingley to see relegated Yorkshire take on wooden spoonists Leicestershire. 

If league cricket is more your bag then I have done my usual exercise of working through a few websites to find out when readers in the north east and Yorkshire will be able to see their local clubs in action. Most have opted for the traditional third Saturday in April, this year the fifteenth, the earliest it can be. 

These leagues are in action that day, Bradford, Dales Council, Craven and District, Huddersfield, Yorkshire Premier (South), North Yorkshire South Durham, North East Premier, Nidderdale, Durham & North East 

22nd April Aire Wharfe, Yorkshire Premier (North) and its supporting pyramid, Pontefract and District, Langbaurgh, Darlington and District, Bradford Mutual.

29th April Scarborough 

Good watching!

* This little poem which I came across ten years ago in a book entitled The Demon and The Lobster, was written by Digby Jephson who played for Cambridge University and Surrey. Jephson was known as the lobster because of his skill as an underarm bowler between 1890 and 1902, although he made very few appearances after 1902. The Demon refers to Charles Kortright, a contemporary of Jephson. considered one of the fastest bowlers of all time. The two men were distantly related. 

                                                                       

                                                                      Digby Jephson     

                                 

I must go back to Scruton

posted by John Winn

                                                                                             

 It is reasonable to argue that with out the above book there would be no blog for following a suggestion from Peter Davies of Huddersfield University these three cricket enthusiasts, two alas no longer with us, kept a diary of their cricket watching from January 11th 2006 to Boxing Day of that year. I have marked inside my well read copy July 2007 and I remember very clearly that I purchased the book from the late Molly Staines before play began in a match at Stamford Bridge. From May of the following year I kept records of grounds visited mainly in the three leagues nearest to my home, the Wetherby, Nidderdale and Aire Wharfe but also dipping my toes into the Bradford League and York Senior.

By 2010, having pretty well wrapped up the grounds within fairly easy reach of home I ventured further afield and on July 17th I made acquaintance with the Langbaurgh League, a league based on the area of the old Wapentake of Langbaurgh in the former North Riding but which now includes clubs from County Durham and Cleveland. On that day I visited Hutton Rudby, Crathorne, East Harley and Kirby Sigston, four grounds close to the A19 between Northallerton and Yarm. A month later I saw Scruton, between Northallerton and the A, playing Chop Gate and Thimbleby near Osmotherly taking on Ingleby Greenhow, both matches in the second division. 

From the following year all my visits are recorded in the blog and although the demise of the Cleveland League brought in new clubs, just in time to beat the pandemic games at Dormanstown and Danby completed the set. Sadly there have been casualties and Ingleby Greenhow, Crathorne, Malyby, Scruton, Skelton Castle and Swainby have all fallen by the way side. This has been offset by the arrival of Ingleby Barwick and Castleton, a ground I played on in 1968. Scruton is an interesting case for as I reported in the blog on February 2nd 2016 the club resigned from the Langbaurgh at that years AGM but continued to play evening cricket in the Wensleydale League. I had visited the home of Trevor Howe, then chairman of Scruton CC, in 2012 and was treated to a display of club memorabilia and a tour of their splendid pavilion, complete with museum. 

I have not seen cricket at Scruton's ground since my visit 13 years ago but the news that Northallerton are this year entering a third XI in the Darlington and District League and will play their matches just five miles away at Scruton has prompted me to promise myself a long overdue trip to that part of North Yorkshire.  . 

                                                                                   

The Wensleydale league in 1991, only three of these villages put out Saturday sides today. 

Not That One

 posted by John Winn

The first surname that I will mention in this post is Shackleton and you would be perfectly entitled to think that the subject might be Derek of that ilk, the almost robotic seam bowler who took over 100 wickets in first class cricket in 20 consecutive seasons, mainly for Hampshire for he played in only seven tests, 13 years separating his first and last appearances for England. Sorry to disappoint you but the Shackleton I have in mind is, dare I suggest, even better known, viz Ernest Shackleton, polar explorer. 

This Shackleton, born 1874 and who died in South Georgia aged only 47, has been in the news this week as it is just one year since his ship Endurance was discovered at a depth of almost 10,000 feet in the Weddell Sea where it had lain for over 100 years. Remarkable photos of the wreck were shown on BBC Breakfast early this week. This was accompanied by an interview with Shackleton's granddaughter which prompted me to enter Ernest's name in a search engine which showed that his wife Emily Dorman, who outlived her husband by more than twenty years, had a brother Arthur who was a first class cricketer. Phew, got their in the end. 

Arthur William Dorman, born 1862 in Sydenham, was educated at Dulwich College, where he captained the XI, and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. A slow left arm bowler, he played just eight first class matches but had he not opted to take holy orders on graduation his bowling statistics suggest he could have played many more. He died aged just 51 in 1914 and his obituary in the following year's Wisden stretches to only 12 lines but describes him as 'a first-rate left-handed bowler, with a high delivery and good break'. Close examination of his bowling analyses shows he was very accurate. 

Seven of Dorman's eight first class matches were for Cambridge University, he gained his blue in 1886, and their opponents included Yorkshire twice, at Fenner's and Bramall Lane, the touring Australians, Surrey at The Oval and MCC at Lord's. Against Yorkshire he took nine wickets in the match at Fenner's whilst conceding 103 runs from 57 four ball overs, steady stuff, Arthur.  The icing on his career came in his last match, being picked for The Gentlemen v The Players at The Oval but he took only one wicket and his analysis of 41 overs, again four ball, 25 maidens, 1 for 48 is described by Wisden as 'expensive'. Bit harsh? Curiously in his obituary Arthur is described as ' good straight bat, playing the ball very hard'. 28 runs for Cambridge University in 11 innings at an average of 4.00 suggests otherwise. In his one innings for The Gentlemen he scored three not out, batting as usual low down the order. 

Dorman took holy orders in 1890 and was curated at Knaresborough the following year but very soon moved on to Wiltshire, then to his birthplace of Sydenham then to Hinton Charterhouse in Somerset, four miles south of Bath, where he was vicar until his early death. Wikipedia records that Shackleton visited his brother-in-law regularly where he spent 'quiet and happy week-ends'. A few months after Arthur died Endurance set sail for Antarctica. Shackleton delayed his departure and joined the ship in Buenos Aires.

It would appear that Arthur Dorman played no serious cricket after entering the church for under the heading Miscellaneous Matches, Cricket Archive lists only matches he played for Dulwich College. So a short career but one that took in the varsity match, matches at Lord's and The Oval and Dorman gained a Cambridge Blue and represented The Gentlemen in what at that time was one of the most prestigious matches in the cricket calendar. It is nice to read that Hinton Charterhouse has a thriving club with a first XI playing in the West of England Premier Wiltshire Division. In addition it has a Saturday 2nd XI, a Sunday XI and a 'vibrant junior section'. It would be nice to think that brothers-in-law Ernest and Arthur enjoyed watching cricket at Hinton Charterhouse, Ernest planning a trip to Antarctica, Arthur putting the finishing touches to his Sunday sermon, but alas the club was not formed until 1920.

Brothers on Opposite Sides

 posted by John Winn

In his book describing the world of wandering cricket Stephen Chalke describes I Zingari as 'if not quite the oldest wandering cricket club...unquestionably the most historic, famous and influential.' In my last post I mentioned that the club appeared at Scarborough on a number of occasions, playing in 13 matches deemed first class. Their opponents included Yorkshire, MCC and the 1884 Australians. 

Given that I Zingari was founded by Sir Spencer Ponsonby Fane, JL Baldwin* and Lord Besborough it is not surprising that their membership was as exclusive as their fixture list. I wrote last week how in 1887 Queen Victoria's grandson, Prince Christian was in the XI who took on the Gentlemen of England at North Marine Road along with the Paravicini brothers, Percy and Harry, sons of Baron JP de Paravicini and it is these two who form the subjects of today's posting. 

Percy, the younger of the two was born in 1862 and played in 121first class matches, whereas brother Harry, born 1859 played only six such matches, three for MCC, two for I Zingari and for CI Thornton's XI v Cambridge University at Fenners in 1888, a match in which Percy was in the same side. Strangely while Harry went to Harrow, Percy was an Etonian and in what must have been a very unusual occurence they played on opposite sides in the game between the two schools at Lord's in 1878, a match won by Harrow by twenty runs.  

Percy played most of his first class cricket for Middlesex, 62 matches, and made 25 first class appearances for Cambridge. His obituary in the 1922 Wisden runs to nearly a page saying how his many friends were shocked by his death following surgery and saying what a 'popular fellow' he was on the cricket field. It makes the point however that his cricket career never fulfilled the promise he showed at Eton. Both his batting and bowling faded away but he was outstanding in the field. He did however have another string to his bow, namely he was a talented footballer, good enough to be in the Old Etonian team that beat Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup final in 1882 and to be on the losing side v Blackburn Olympic a year later, both games played at The Oval. He also played three times for England in 1882 v Ireland, Scotland and Wales. His last first class cricket game was at Lord's for Middlesex v Sussex in May 1892 and although on the winning side he did not have a great game, run out for 0 in the first innings, not required to bat in the second innings and did not bowl. I expect he fielded well. 

Harry de Paravicini is not the first sportsman to be overshadowed by a younger more talented brother, he misses out on an obituary in Wisden, perhaps because he died in 1942 when the almanack was a much slimmed down version due to the Second World War.Both brothers married into the same aristocratic family, their brides being sisters, daughters of the Marquess of Cholmondley. I wondered if the ladies made the teas for I Zingari. 

                                                                           

* John Loraine Baldwin was born near Halifax in 1809,a son of Lieutenant Colonel John Baldwin of the 9th Dragoons. He standardised the rules of badminton, wrote the laws (sic) of whist and the rules of bézique. He is commemorated by a 'grand tomb' at St Michael's Church Tintern.

A Prince at Scarborough

 posted by John Winn

I mentioned in last week's post that in its early days the Scarborough Festival welcomed I Zingari, the oldest and perhaps most exclusive of wandering clubs. Founded in 1845 it is known for its aristocratic membership and its colours of black, red and gold. The eleven who played Gentlemen of England at North Marine Road in 1887 were typical of the social class make up of the club. Two 'Hons', Lyttelton and Hawke, Captain Friend and the Paravicini brothers, Percy and Harry, sons of Baron JP de Paravicini, took the field on Monday August 29th but pride of place must go to Prince Christian Victor, grandson of Queen Victoria. 

Wisden record that the match, the opening fixture of the festival, was spoilt by the 'deplorable weakness of the Zingari bowling'. On the first day The Gentlemen, centuries for Mr Thornton, Mr Stoddart and 73 for Mr WG Grace, rattled up 381 in under four hours. I Zingari did not go down without a fight, replying with 264 and 308 in a drawn match, top scorer Mr Webbe with 76 and 126. Queen Victoria would have been reasonably happy with her grandson's 35 in the first innings but not the nought for which he was bowled in the second knock. 

Wisden affords Prince Christian only six lines of obituary. Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein, try getting that on your scorecard, was born in 1867 at Windsor Castle. He was educated at Wellington College, Oxford and Sandhurst and served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps from 1888 to 1900. At Wellington he captained the cricket team as he did at Magdalen College  and Sandhurst. Wisden rather damns him with faint praise saying that 'he would have very likely got into into the eleven at Oxford if a new wicketkeeper had been required'. Whist on military service he scored lots of runs including 205 v the Devonshire Regiment at Rawul Pindee in 1893.

Elevated to the rank of major he served in the Sudan and then took part in the relief of Ladysmith in the second Boer War. Whilst in South Africa he caught malaria and died of enteric fever* in 1900 in Pretoria where there is a fine grave. He is commemorated in a number of places in this country including a statue outside Windsor Castle. 

The match at Scarborough was his only first class game but no other member of the royal family has played at this level. 

                                                                         

A rainy festival

 posted by John Winn

When I was  a small boy in the 1950s family holidays were taken at Scarborough to coincide with the cricket festival at the beginning of September and at that time the three first class matches had a familiar pattern. Yorkshire would play MCC, Gentlemen take on Players and Essex stalwart TN Pearce would select an XI to take on the touring team, so I was lucky enough to see Australia in '53 and '56, South Africa in '55 and West Indies in '57. I suspect at the time I thought that this structure had been in place for ever and would go on for ever. Of course this was not so, TN Pearce had only taken over from HDG 'Shrimp' Leveson Gower, pronounced Lewson Gore of course, in 1951 and before 'Shrimp', Charles Thornton had had this responsibility. 

There had also been years when there were no visiting sides so for example in 1925 Thornton's XI took on team selected by MCC from those due to tour Australia that winter. Hobbs and Sutcliffe opened for the MCC side, not a bad attraction. Even further back in the nineteenth century I Zingari were regular visitors and North v South added spice to the occasion a number of times. 

The year referred to in the title of the posting is 1948 when on the first of September, a Wednesday, the festival opened with Yorkshire v MCC followed by Gower's XI v MCC, chosen from those due to tour South Africa and the climax came the following week when another of HDG's sides took on Bradman's 'Invincibles' who had gone undefeated in a tour beginning at New Road on April 28th. In his excellent book Bradman's War Malcolm Knox stresses how important it was to 'The Don' to go through the tour undefeated, his failure to do so in 1938 'still rankled' and thus he was very wary as to what might happen at Scarborough in what was close to a sixth test match. Staying at The Royal Hotel there were no festival festivities. Wisden has no doubt that there was an agreement that Gower would not include more than six test players although this is disputed in Knox's book. Whatever the truth of the matter only six test players were included while the Australian side had ten who had thrashed England at the Oval a few weeks earlier.

The weather for the festival seriously interfered with play and at times when play was possible watching was a miserable, cold experience. Yorkshire v MCC enjoyed a fine first day but only three and a half hours were possible on days two and three. Match drawn, as was the second match played for much of the time in 'wind and gloom'. For the Australian game much time was lost on the opening day the start was delayed on the second. Hutton was bowled in the first over by Lindwall, something to be repeated at Headingley five years later, and Bradman batted on until all possibility of defeat was eliminated thus preserving his side's undefeated record. Knox records that some of the Australians were not enamoured by this show of ruthlessness. In his last innings in England Bradman hit 153.

The tourists played two more matches before sailing for home, both against Scotland, in Edinburgh and Aberdeen where a crowd of 10000 saw  DGB sign off with 123 batting at number six. 

75 th Northern Cricket Anniversary

 By Brian Sanderson

        On Tuesday evening at the Sandmoor Golf Club ,there will

be pie and pea dinner together with a talk my Steven Patterson

ex Yorkshire captain.

This a celebration of the establishment of the Northern Cricket

Society on the 31 January 1948 at the Queens Hotel Leeds.

The photograph above on the left is Norman Yardley who

was one of the first patrons of the Society. In the middle

is Ron Yeoman who was the first Secretary who helped

to establish the Society. On the right is Sir William

Worsley another Patron.

The photograph of the Bramhope side coming out

at the start of a Boxing Day match in the 1950's.

The Society was famous for holding dinners for

visiting International sides . The first being in 1948

on the 26 July when the Australians were playing

at Headingley. Two of the speakers were Neville Cardus

and A.E.R.Gilligan who captain England in 1920's.

The photograph above is of the South African dinner 

of 1955 which took place on the 20 July.

Northern Cricket Society

 By Brian Sanderson

Myself and Richard Griffiths are talking on a Zoom meeting this

 Thursday 19th 0f January at 7.30 pm

 It is  about the history of The Northern Cricket Society

and The Wombwell Cricket Society.

The Northern was founded on the 31 January 1948 at the Queens 

Hotel Leeds 

 The Wombwell was founded in September 1951.The cup

was given by George Featherstone to be given to the winner

of the Boxing Day game. The first match was 1949 when 

Billy Sutcliffe took five wickets for two runs.

Also a bottle of Whisky is given to the winning team. The games

are now played at North Leeds ground 

They have played at Collingham, Whitkirk,Bramhope

Alwoodley and Thorp  Arch.

This year's game was won by the Northern easily.

I will be putting more blogs during he coming months

in memory of Tony Hutton who's funeral is  this Wednesday.

 

Sad News

 posted by John Winn

Regular readers will know that the blog has not been in operation for the last three months. The main reason for this is that both Tony Hutton and I have had serious illnesses and it is with great sadness that I must let you know that Tony died in hospital in Leeds just a few days ago. Tributes to him have appeared on social media but given that he was one of the founders of the blog in 2010 it would be very remiss of me not to pay my respects through this medium.

I first met Tony about twelve years ago on a train journey back from The Riverside at Chester le Street, needless to say after a day at the cricket. We did not get off to a good start, he thought I was an umpire from Lancashire, not guilty on both counts, and shortly afterwards when I became a contributor to the blog, in a posting headed 'A case of mistaken identity' Tony apologised for this mistake (published 11/04/2011). We have remained firm friends ever since. I last saw him at The Riverside in September when Durham played Sussex. Strangely neither of us reported on Durham's overwhelming victory. 

Tony's last posting on Cricket from The North appeared the day before the Sussex match and appropriately featured a match from Headingley: not, however, a championship match but the final of the Yorkshire Premier Cup between Woodlands and Appleby Frodingham. Tony took the opportunity to mention a couple of his gripes about the modern game, especially at first class level in that on that September Saturday there was free parking, no bag searches and free admission, all plus points but on the downside 'spectators, .....were corralled into the area inside or in front of the Long Room, with no access to the more attractive viewpoints'. Worst of all for such a meticulous record keeper, there were no score cards. 

To find Tony's first posting we need to scroll back to Monday April 12th 2010 and enjoy 'A day in the Lancashire sun', a report on a two day friendly at Old Trafford between Lancashire and Durham, an example of cricket's hidden agenda that Tony was so adept at finding. Playing for Durham was 'newcomer Ben Stokes' (who) 'looks a considerable asset to the Durham squad.' Wow. 

                                                                          

I took this photo at Weetwood, a ground close to Tony's home, in 2015. I love it because it shows him with Jennifer and a few other 'professional cricket watchers'. Characteristically Tony (in the white cap) has his clipboard to hand on which no doubt were recorded the two teams probably gleaned from the scorers. Weetwood is not one of my favourite grounds but so often I have made the 45 minute journey from home pretty sure in the knowledge that Tony would be there able to fill me in the names of the players. Without him grounds like Weetwood and Arthington will never be the same. 

Tony's funeral is at Lawnswood Cemetery, Leeds on Wednesday January 18th at 9:15.

High drama on the GMCL's final day

By Mike Latham

While so much recent debate has centred upon the Strauss Report and the ramifications for English cricket, a simple fact often gets overlooked.

Many people who play or watch the game have little more than a passing interest in the international or county game and far prefer the club circuit.

I fall into that category and with autumn strengthening its grip decided to spend a day watching one of the recently formed leagues, the Greater Manchester Cricket League, known as the GMCL.

On the third Saturday of September, the GMCL reached its conclusion with many matters unresolved until stumps were finally drawn.

Three up and three down in a 12-team league certainly leaves no room for complacency right until the end of the season and means every game counts.

Frairmere entertain Mottram on the last day of the season

Many of the GMCL’s member clubs come from the old Central Lancashire and Saddleworth Leagues, and first up for me was a revisit to the isolated Friarmere ground, on the Delph Road out of Denshaw.

I’d last visited for a Saddleworth League game a decade or so ago and saw an amazingly destructive double hundred by the Bamford Fieldhouse professional Grant Hodnett that day.

My abiding memory was of players and spectators- who included the legendary former West Indies spinner Sonny Ramadhin, who sadly passed away recently- anxiously guarding their cars from Hodnett’s blistering assault and seemingly never-ending barrage of six hits.

This time the action was more sedate for this Championship (third tier) game against visitors Mottram. Mottram struggled to 129 all out and could make little of Friarmere’s left arm spinner Adrian Du Toit, who returned figures of five for 22. Only Zimbabwean Tafadwza Tsiga made much impression on a keen and accurate attack, hitting 35.

Frairmere is a lovely ground and looked in pristine condition. I decided to leave at the tea interval with the issue virtually decided and headed to nearby Shaw. Friarmere went on to win with only three wickets down to confirm their promotion to the second tier.

At Mark Lane, a delightful, postage-stamp sized ground I stumbled across a game of high drama.

High drama at Shaw as Flixton warded off relegation inspired by Marc Stamper

Shaw needed a win to be certain of promotion from Premier League 2 (the second tier), visitors Flixton a win to ward off relegation.

As I arrived Flixton were in the field and looking downcast after being bowled out for 104.

But their left arm spinner, Marc Stamper, was to enjoy a remarkable afternoon, one that he will no doubt savour all winter.

Backed by an increasingly excited and keen fielding side, Stamper had the Shaw batters in all sorts of trouble as he bowled a mesmerising spell.

The pressure grew as the wickets tumbled and Flixton spied their chance of a great escape.

Like rabbits caught in the headlights, Shaw’s batters seemed transfixed by Stamper’s gnawing accuracy and hostility, and the home side slumped to 65 all out. Stamper, engulfed by jubilant teammates at the end, finished with seven for 28 to spearhead his side’s escape from the jaws of relegation. Results elsewhere meant Shaw still earned promotion and so everyone was happy.

Then it was off a few miles downhill to another former Saddleworth League ground at Heyside. Here a high-scoring game against Walshaw in the top tier, the Premier League, was underway.

Heyside have an active social scene and a large crowd was on the side-lines, enjoying the cricket on what had become a warm and sunny afternoon.

Heyside chased down their target inspired by Alcindo Holder’s century

Visitors Walshaw had made 251 and home hopes rested upon a few key players, as several of the side were away at a team-mate’s wedding, arranged before the season without realising the league fixtures would be extended to the third Saturday in September.

Many years ago, I saw Rochdale’s Barbadian pro Alcindo Holder score some majestic runs in the old Central Lancashire League days, and it was great to watch him 15 years or so later still enjoying his cricket and thrilling the crowd.

Holder made a simply breath-taking 110 off only 49 balls with 12 fours and nine sixes and with good support from his team-mates Heyside secured a tense and exciting victory by two wickets with nearly 20 overs to spare.

There was still cricket to be enjoyed and up on the hill above Heyside, Moorside were at home to Roe Green in another Premier League clash.

I was fortunate to watch the closing stages as Roe Green chased down their target of 206 to win by three wickets with four balls remaining.

The winning runs in the final over for Roe Green at Moorside

The GMCL operates a website on Cric HQ which is difficult at first to navigate for those, like me, used to PlayCricket. But it is an extraordinarily informative website, once you get used to it, and the live scores feature is invaluable for groundhoppers.

It was time for home after a great day watching tight and competitive cricket in a league that really impresses me. I’ll review the GMCL season in more depth over the next few weeks.

As far as I'm aware club cricket doesn't get a mention in the Strauss Report. But it remains at the bedrock of the game, providing involvement and purpose, enjoyment and entertainment, fellowship and community, for thousands of enthusiasts. And Saturdays like this sustain one through the winter, ticking off the days, until we can enjoy some more.

Yorkshire eyes turn to Edgbaston

 Interviewed on local radio on Tuesday evening Tom Kohler-Cadmore struck an optimistic note about Yorkshire's chances of securing a result that would save them from Division Two of the county championship in 2023. "If we have a good morning and somebody puts their hand up when we bat then I think we can win' People sitting around me in Upper North East when wickets were pitched yesterday morning were on the whole less sanguine about Yorkshire's chances but the first part of TKC's formula for victory was certainly forthcoming when from an overnight 204 for 6 Gloucestershire were bowled out for 233, wickets for Hill (2) Patterson and a last man Singh Dale run out by brilliant work by Foster. Just in case he was not required to bat in Yorkshire's second innings Steve Patterson, making his final appearance for the county he has served for seventeen years, was given a standing ovation by players, officials and spectators alike as he left the field.

'Patto' leaves the field at Headingley, later to return.

Yorkshire's 'good morning' left them with something in excess of five sessions to get the 241 required for victory. Wharton who had spent a long time over a duck on Monday opened his account with cover drive for four only to succumb next ball bowled by Price (T). Lyth was joined by Hill and they saw Yorkshire safely through to lunch at 36 for 1 and after refreshments they extended their partnership to 64 before Hill was lbw to Singh Dale for 36. Enter TKC, would he raise his hand? Yes, if asked if he was clot of the year, for he fell into the most obvious of traps set by Gloucestershire spinner Gohar when attempting a second six in just nine balls he was brilliantly caught by Price (T) at long off. Tom left the Headingley field for the last time in silence save for one remark from the Lower North East which was probably not wishing him good luck at his new club, Somerset. 

     95/4,105/5, 119/6, describes better than words the next hour's play as Tattersall, Duke and Lyth all fell and our hopes went in the same direction but were raised again by the best innings of the match from Bess. He received sensible support from Thomson, Fisher and Coad all of whom sold their wickets dearly but when Coad was lbw to Gohar leaving fifty still needed spectators around us found bigger fish to fry like trains and buses to catch. Patterson entered to more applause and stayed for 41 minutes without scoring. As Bess added runs at the other end Gloucestershire allowed him to take singles in efforts to put Patterson on strike but when Steve did face he blocked resolutely, mainly against the spin of Gohar. Milestones were ticked off, 40 to get, 30 to get, 20 to get but after 41 minutes of obdurate defence Patterson played an attacking shot and was caught by Dent, an excellent catch to bring three days absorbing cricket to an end. 'Patto' received his third ovation of the day as the season ended which rather overshadowed Bess's splendid 79 not out.A chorus of 'Winter Wells' and off we went our thoughts already turning to events at Edgbaston where Warwickshire have known for two days that they must beat Hants to avoid the descent from champions in 2021 to Division Two in 2023 and thereby relegate Yorkshire.

I am listening to the commentary from Birmingham as I type where Warwickshire lead by 57 but have just lost a third wicket which may effectively be four given the doubts about Hain's fitness to bat. Sad that Yorkshire must depend on events elsewhere to stay in Division 1 but if you only win one championship match, and that back in mid April, then you can hardly complain. 

Woodlands worthy winners at Headingley.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

As Mike Latham has already pointed out, an unfortunate clash of fixtures meant a difficult choice for many cricket watchers. We took the easy way out with the Headingley final of the Yorkshire premier leagues champions more or less on the doorstep. However the Nidderdale Show game, so well described by Mike, has always been an event not to be missed in years gone by. Always a wonderful day out regularly attended by old friends from both sides of the Pennines, many sadly no longer with us. None more missed than the legendary 'Motor Bike Man', Peter Mann from Burley in Wharfedale, who died only last week.

Peter followed the career of Harry Book since boyhood and would have been thrilled to see him playing for England. Remember meeting him at Lord's, along with Harry's family, when the young man appeared for English Schools. Peter followed Burley CC, home and away on Saturdays, but on Sundays would travel across the Pennines to watch Lancashire League games on his trusty motor bike, often returning soaked to the skin with rain over the tops.

So to Headingley. For once free admission, free parking and no bag searches. Wonders never cease! However, the relatively few spectators, mainly from the two competing clubs, were corralled into the area inside or in front of the Long Room, with no access to the more attractive viewpoints. No scorecards in evidence either. Woodlands, champions of the Bradford League, where making their third attempt to win the trophy, whereas Appleby Frodingham, champions of the Yorkshire Premier League South - despite coming from Lincolnshire, were making their first appearance in the final.

Woodlands - Yorkshire champions 2022. Picture Ray Spencer.

As many had forecast the game, sadly, was rather one sided. Appleby Frodingham won the toss and batted, but despite a workmanlike fifty from captain Alex Grimes, who held the innings together, were unable to up the scoring rate, which only rarely got over three runs per over. Boundaries were few and far between as the Woodlands' experienced spin trio of Chris Brice, Brad Schmulian and Kez Ahmed took control. Brice, a left arm spinner, remembered from the Yorkshire Academy of long ago, bowled fifteen overs, with excellent figures of 3-33. Schmulian, the prolific New Zealand batsman and captain of the side, took 3-41 while Ahmed, as ever, was economical with 1-29 from nine overs.

The final total of 150-9 in 50 overs looked far too few and so it proved. Despite losing opener Sam Frankland early on - caught and bowled by South African Jordan Neil, Tim Jackson and the impressive Brad Schmulian saw Woodlands to victory with considerable ease. In the 30th over, with the help of a little stage management from his partner, Schmulian not only won the match and the man of the match trophy, but just got to an undefeated century. Gracefully allowing his partner, Jackson, to make the winning hit.

Brad Schmulian reaches his century at Headingley. - picture Ray Spencer.

Welcome indeed to see spin bowling can still win cricket matches. Woodland's experience and know how in field placing really had the final say. Full rewards for this very well run club who have certainly carried all before them this season. Mr. Schmulian will no doubt return to New Zealand this week a very happy man and hopefully will return for next season unless, who knows, higher things await him. 

A Nidderdale Show tradition maintained

 By Mike Latham

The Nidderdale Show in Pateley Bridge is a traditional Dales show that attracts many thousands of visitors.

As part of the show an annual cricket match is held at Pateley Bridge Cricket Club which adjoins the showground in Bewerley Park.

Many years ago, I’m told, the Yorkshire CCC beneficiary of the year used to stage a match here as part of the fundraising activities, but these days the feature match is between a Craven XI and a Nidderdale XI.

This was the first time the show had been held since 2019 due to the pandemic, and the organisers had to react quickly and bring the event forward from the traditional third Monday in September when the Queen’s funeral was arranged.

The Sunday slot certainly seemed popular with visitors and by ten o’clock overflow carparks were already in use to accommodate the large number of vehicles arriving for the day.

The Craven XI take first knock

The cricket match started at eleven, and was a 45-over contest, the Craven XI taking first knock.

While the showground got even busier the cricket passed by quietly, a small crowd at the commencement growing in number during the day.

Pateley Bridge’s ground has a lovely, rural feel, its centrepiece the pavilion in the corner which houses the dressing rooms and canteen. There were several benches around the perimeter and the two scorers kept the electronic scoreboard ticking over.

The Pateley Bridge CC pavilion

While the equestrian events, dog races, cattle show, tractor displays and dry-stone walling exhibitions were among the events taking place, the Craven XI batters struggled against an accurate and keen attack.

Only two players made significant scores as the Craven XI were bowled out for 151 in only 30 overs, leaving 15 of their allocation unused.

Oakworth opener Bradley Powell hit 42 and Bingley Congs’ Johandre Barnard 41, his first three scoring shots all sixes towards the scoreboard. Barnard looked a class player, and it was to the disappointment of the spectators when he miscued a shot and was caught off a skier.

Looking him up on the internet it was no surprise that he had been a prolific run-scorer for Congs, Craven League champions this year, in both 2019 and 2022. Remarkably, he had to change to batting left-handed at the age of 17 after developing a rare eye condition.

Joe Preece, playing on his home ground, and Knaresborough’s Jordan Tear each took three wickets.

The Nidderdale XI begin their reply

After a leisurely lunch, as the players took the opportunity to wander around the show, play resumed with the Nidderdale XI making light of their target.

Ben Cutts, the Bishop Thornton opener, hit an undefeated 81 as his side won by seven wickets in the 22^nd over of their reply.

Despite the one-sided nature of the game, it was good to be back at Pateley Bridge and great to see so many happy, smiling faces at the show as visitors enjoyed a return to normality after two blank years.

The Nidderdale Show cricket match is a great occasion

Well done to the organisers for maintaining the tradition of cricket at the show. If you haven’t been, it’s a great occasion and well worth reserving in your diary for next year.

I expected to see more PCWs in attendance, but maybe they were at Headingley where Woodlands won the Yorkshire Play-Offs. Congratulations to them.

Their nine-wicket win over Appelby Frodingham sounds every bit as comprehensive as that by the Nidderdale XI here.

Ian Cockbain remembered

 By Mike Latham

Forty years ago, I attended all three days of the Second Eleven Championship game at Aigburth between Lancashire and Yorkshire.

I was thinking about that game the other day when I learned with great sadness of the death of Ian Cockbain at the age of 64. Ian, you see, scored a magnificent 180 on the first day, an innings I still remember for the majesty of his driving on both sides of the wicket. In that season I also saw him make 98- his highest first-class score- in the epic three-day game at Southport involving Lancashire and Warwickshire.

Ian was a superb bat, but never quite made it at first-class level. He did, however, earn a fantastic reputation as player and captain with hometown Bootle CC in the Liverpool Competition and with Cheshire in the Minor Counties. There have been several finely written obituaries about him, including this one on the Cheshire CCC website: https://cheshireccc.org.uk/blog/coey-an-appreciation-of-ian-cockbain

Ian Cockbain- fondly remembered

I also remember watching him play as a centre-forward for Bootle against Horwich RMI at Grundy Hill in RMI’s old Northwest Counties League days, but his soccer career hasn’t been mentioned in any obituary I’ve seen. He certainly is remembered fondly by anyone who watched him play or knew him, and I’d like to take this opportunity of passing on my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

That game at Aigburth also featured a fine innings by Varsity man Kevin Hayes, who also made 180, sharing a second wicket stand of 326 with Cockbain, after the early dismissal of Andrew Kennedy. Lancashire declared on 389 for 3, then faced a long stint in the field watching a left-handed 17-year-old from Wakefield display every bit of his huge potential. Neil Lloyd made 128 and shared a stand of 158 with Kevin Sharp as Yorkshire declared on 327 for 8, 62 behind.

Tragically, Lloyd died of a mystery virus only a month or so after this game having just represented England Under 19s. He was an enormous talent, tragically unfulfilled.

Kennedy made up for his first innings failure by making an unbeaten 150 in the second innings and Lancashire captain Harry Pilling finally declared on 250 for 5, setting Yorkshire 313 to win. Even on an immaculate Aigburth batting surface that was a tall order. They just warded off defeat, and finished 175/9, captain Colin Johnson leading the defiance late on, future England wicketkeeper Stuart Rhodes making 49.

Stanley Park, Blackpool on the second day

This week I went along to another favourite out ground of mine, Blackpool CC’s Stanley Park, to watch a rerun of this famous fixture. It provided quite a contrast.

Back in 1982 second elevens contained many players of experience alongside promising young players making their way in the game. The two captains, Pilling and Johnson, had both enjoyed long first-class careers and were now lending their experience to nurturing young players. The Lancashire side for instance included future umpire Steve O’Shaugnessy, wicketkeeper Chris Scott and the long-serving and highly effective opening bowler Peter Lee.

Yorkshire’s side had several others who enjoyed plenty of first-class cricket, Ashley Metcalfe, Peter Ingham, Peter Whiteley, Nick Taylor and Alan Ramage, the last named one of the last of the footballer-cricketers. His Football League career, spent with Middlesbrough and Derby County had just come to an end.

John Holder, at the start of an umpiring career that would see him officiate in 11 Tests, was one of the umpires. Funnily enough, I saw him at Crompton CC lately for a Lancashire Over 60s game. My friend Howard Lowe was also in attendance, his late father Amos being the Lancashire scorer on this occasion. Howard told me some great stories his dad had passed down about Ian Cockbain and we reflected on a cricketer we both admired.

Second Eleven games are 12-a-side these days

Fast forward 40 years and the Roses clash at Stanley Park had an altogether different look. Played over four days not three (though rain washed out the first day) and with both teams 12-a-side, 11 to bat or bowl. Lancashire eventually fielded 14 players in total during the three days, and of that number only Jack Blatherwick had played at first-class level.

My friend Tony Hutton, also present though I did not realise it at the time, rightly refers to the Yorkshire side’s youthful composition. But the Lancashire side was hardly brimming with experience either, seven having recently featured in the recent Under 18s county games. I suspect that the early order batters had rarely encountered a bowler of Matthew Fisher’s quality before. After all, he was playing Test cricket only six months ago, this match being part of his comeback from injury.

As Tony writes, Yorkshire (190 & 226/7 dec to Lancashire’s 71 & 185) ran out convincing winners, by 160 runs half an hour or so after lunch on the final day. Lancashire’s batting line-up had a callow look about it, though teenager Jimmy O’Sullivan, who plays for Oulton Park in the Cheshire County League made a defiant 52.

Charlie Barnard- remember the name

I wonder how many of the players on view here will go on to play first-class or Test cricket? Part of the fun of attending such games is to keep a note of the details (I was going to write scorecard, but these aren’t produced any more for games such as this) and look back in future years.

A name to look out for is Lancashire’s Charlie Barnard. His left arm spin captured him 10 wickets in the match, for 133 runs off 58.1 overs. The Hyde CC all-rounder looks a real prospect, though with Jack Morley, Tom Hartley, and Matt Parkinson ahead of him in the Lancashire spin department one wonders what chances he’ll get in the short run. He also scored 28 runs and got two ‘red inkers’.

Charlie Barnard. Remember the name.