Under 17s county championship gets underway.

Posted by Tony Hutton

Tuesday 9th July saw last year's Under 17 county champions Yorkshire start their 2019 campaign with a home three day game against Durham. Unusually, when most of the side's home matches are played at Leeds University's Weetwood ground, this game took place on the ground of Sheriff Hutton Bridge some miles north of York. It was drizzling with rain as we left Leeds and the outlook did not seem very good. However the further we travelled the drier it got and we did get a full day's play. On paper this year's Yorkshire side looks almost as good as last year's vintage. Certainly plenty of bowlers in the ranks and the slight doubt that the batting might not go a long way down was soon out of mind with an opening partnership of 160 between Finlay Bean and William Luxton.

Father Time weather vane brings memories of Sheriff Hutton Bridge at Lord's in 2005.

Bean, from York cricket club, scored a double century in this competition last season and was soon looking in good form again, being particularly strong on the leg side. He reached 50 from only 62 balls including seven fours. The hundred partnership soon arrived in the 23rd over with Bean on 60 and Luxton, content just to keep his end up, with 30. It was not until the introduction of the sixth bowler, leg spinner James Hindmarsh, that the first wicket fell. Bean tried to pull him onto the leg side but didn't quite go through with the shot and was easily caught for a very good innings of 88.

Finlay Bean pulls one away to the leg side.

Revis took some time to play himself in and the scoring rate dropped for a while until he was bowled by Pentland for 32. Luxton at this stage was 83 not out and put on a partnership of 32 with Ramkumar, who has done well this season with both Academy and county second eleven. Just before tea Ramkumar was out for 18, leaving Luxton on 96 not out with the total now 271-3.

Fortunately the interval did not disturb the young man from Bradford Grammar School and Steeton cricket club and he went to a well deserved century in just over four hours, showing great powers of concentration and knowing when to leave the ball wide of the wicket on a regular basis.

Will Luxton lets one go by outside the off stump.

Yorkshire batted on when play re-started on Wednesday morning. We were absent having a day out at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate, but Yorkshire batted Durham out of the game with a fine fifty from Harry Duke and useful contributions from Archie Greaves, Harry Harding and James Mukherjee. Final total 442-7 declared after 116 overs. The Durham bowlers, all eight of them, stuck to their task well in what must have been a new experience to be in the field for so long.

Despite an innings of 44 from opener Jack Bushnell and 28 from number ten Jack Johnson Durham were bowled all out for 138 in their first innings and were asked to follow on. They lost four more wickets before the close of day two, meaning that we were not certain of too much play on our return for day three. Yorkshire had also used eight bowlers and the wickets were well shared between them with no one particularly outstanding.

Thanks to the tea ladies on the pavilion wall.

Fortunately in front of a rather sparse crowd on day three, Durham held out until about half an hour after lunch and made a respectable 197. They certainly did not throw in the towel and Yorkshire had to work hard for their wickets. Again they were well shared between the bowlers until Huddersfield's Archie Greaves finished things off in style with three quick wickets and figures of 3-38. Durham's top scorer was skipper Lucas Parry with 42, but Kelly, Hindmarsh, Marron and Oswell all made useful contributions.

Some good cricket from Yorkshire but they still have to face Cheshire, Derbyshire and the always strong Lancashire, who knocked up over 400 themselves yesterday against Derby, with two century makers. So greater challenges to come but a great start by the Yorkshire lads.

Cumberland at Netherfield

Posted by Tony Hutton

Sunday 7th July and off to Kendal to see the first day of Cumberland v Cambridgeshire at Netherfield cricket club. Always a pleasant spot to watch Minor Counties cricket with the banking at the Castle end of the ground giving an elevated view of proceedings. Parking somewhat restricted due to a junior game on the second ground during the morning and a Westmorland League division three game in the afternoon between Netherfield fourths and Windermere. So plenty of action to watch on both fronts during the day.

Cumberland fielded a rather unfamiliar side without such regulars as skipper Gary Pratt, Toby Bulcock, Sam Dutton, Marcus Stables and Sam Wood. Grateful as ever to Cumberland treasurer Eric Carter for giving me details of some of the players who were new to me.

The Netherfield pavilion at Kendal.

Cumberland batted first and seemed unfortunate to lose opener Mark Sempill to a caught behind decision for nought early in the proceedings. However Ross Zelem and Ben Davidson, from Carlisle, added fifty for the second wicket before Zelem was more clearly caught behind. The Cambridgeshire wicket keeper who took both catches, turned out to be Lee Thomason, the brother of
Aaron Thomason, who has recently left Warwickshire to join Sussex.

Another wicket fell quickly when Grey, from Northern CC at Crosby,  also departed for nought, but Greg Platten from Cockermouth, re-appearing for the county after a few years absence,  gave Davidson good support with a useful 26 before falling lbw to the perservering Rippington, the left arm opening bowler from Cambridge University. This made it 114-4, but the tide then turned back in the home side's favour with a 120 partnership between Davidson and Jacques du Toit, the Cumberland skipper in the absence of Gary Pratt.

Cumberland batting at Netherfield.

Du Toit the former Leicestershire county player, who joined Cumberland from Northumberland last season, soon set about the Cambridgeshire bowlers with a flurry of boundaries and the scoring rate improved considerably. He had almost caught up with Davidson, who was playing the sheet anchor role, when the introduction of off-spinner Calum Guest, yet another Cambridge University man, saw him caught and bowled for a fine 75.

When Davidson eventually went for 86, which had taken him almost four hours, Cumberland were
252-6 and the tail, apart from a quick fire 37 from Cockermouth's Alex Grainger, rather disintegrated against the spin of Guest and Rob Sayer, formerly with Leicestershire. Guest finished with 4-51 and might have been introduced sooner into the attack.

Rob Sayer bowling his off spin at Netherfield.

We were not present for the last two days of the match when the game petered out into a rain effected draw on Tuesday. However Cambridge replied with 229 all out of which Thomason made 104 not out. Gareth Wade, who has played for Northants, was the pick of the bowlers with 5-72. Cumberland then declared on 236-4 in their second innings, with a further century from Du Toit, and Cambridge were left with a target of 305 to win. With Cumberland looking set for victory after good bowling by Grey, Cambridge recovered from 97-6 to the relative safety of 173-6 when the game ended in a draw due to rain.

Watching cricket from The Cricketers'

posted by John Winn

Non cricketing business took me to Knaresborough on Saturday and I took the opportunity to drop in at the ground of Knaresborough Forest CC situated behind a pub which until recently was known as The Union but which is now called The Cricketers'. To celebrate what is obviously a step in the right direction I took a pint into the beer garden from where I had this view of the cricket. 

The match in progress was in Division Two of the Nidderdale League, the river flows just

a six hit from the ground, with KFCC hosting fairly near neighbours Boroughbridge and Staveley. Since I last visited this attractive ground the clubs have experienced varying fortunes. Knaresborough were relegated from Division One last season and are currently propping up Division Two while Boroughbridge since their merger with Staveley in 2015 have moved up in the world, gaining two promotions and are comfortably placed in their new home.

Forest were batting and after a promising opening stand lost wickets steadily to finish on 139 all out in a whisker over 30 overs. During the innings I moved closer to the pavilion where there was a knot of away supporters, mostly refugees from their second team match which had been cancelled when Middleham II conceded. After tea the game produced a good finish with B and S losing early wickets but knocks of 39 by Cameron Binns and 45 for Karl Young saw them home by two wickets. 

This is a picture of me with my neighbour Henry Taylor. Henry, aged 6 has had his first season with Ouseburn Under Sevens, a team that reached the semi final of a tournament two weeks ago. He is one of about 80 youngsters who attend Friday practice night at Lightmire Lane and two weeks ago Henry hit his first six. One for the future!

Back to basics. League cricket around the Humber Bridge.

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday 6th July saw us without our usual Yorkshire Academy game, as the youngsters I believe were in the middle of a net bowling stint at Headingley involving the various visiting teams in the World Cup. Good experience for the lads and hopefully they will have enjoyed it.

In the end I decided to turn the clock back a few years to the days when I would do a circuit of league cricket grounds not merely to tick them off, but to take photographs which enabled me to decide which were worth a further visit for a full match and those where one visit was perhaps enough.

Having studied the location of cricket grounds on Google Earth, which on it's own is quite a fascinating hobby, one that had stood out for many years on my most wanted list was the ground of Hessle cricket club near Hull. The attraction being that not only is it very close to the Humber Bridge, but actually borders the Humber Estuary with a local footpath along it's boundary.

I then picked out a few more in the vicinity and we set off towards Hull on the M62 motorway with a cunning plan in embryonic form only. A set of brief notes giving me guidance for navigation which can be a very taxing business, as I know only too well. However, all went according to plan and we found ourselves first at the pleasant ground of Welton and Brough two adjacent villages just off the dual carriageway heading into Hull. I knew from a blog some years ago now by Brian Sanderson that the club had connections with one of the greats of Yorkshire Cricket, Sir Stanley Jackson and in fact the ground is situated on Stanley Jackson Way.

There are several items of interesting memorabilia about Jackson in the modernised pavilion bar section, opened just two years ago. A nice patio area in front of the pavilion was a good spot to sit and watch the home side batting against visitors from Heworth in York. In recent seasons the York and District Senior League has swallowed up the various East Riding leagues and this game was in Division one, only below the Premier League in a set up of no less than twelve divisions in the pyramid.

We understand from a club member that the cricket club is growing rapidly, due in part to several  housing developments in the area, with large numbers of youngsters turning up for practice on Friday evenings. They are actively looking for land for a second ground to accommodate this influx of players. So a very progressive club and an excellent start to our mini-tour. Later in the evening the website confirmed a winning draw for Welton, who were all out for 177 and Heworth in reply finished on 154-9.

On to the next village, North Ferriby, made famous by the local soccer side, which for several years was one of the most successful non-league sides in the country, they even won the F.A. Trophy at Wembley. However they have recently fallen on hard times and the club went into liquidation only a few months ago. There is hope that it will be resurrected with a new club taking over the attractive ground, which is right next door to our next stop at the village cricket ground.

North Ferriby cricket club.

North Ferriby cricket club were entertaining Newlands in Holderness Division three, some way down the York Senior league pyramid. The ground was another very pleasant spot overlooked by the village church and surrounded by trees. The visitors were batting and piling up what proved to be a considerable winning score of 288-7. The home side certainly looked the part in their bright red caps, but were having trouble dislodging the earlier batsmen although we did see two wickets fall in one over. As we learned later North Ferriby were bowled out for 143.

Plenty of shade for the fieldsman at North Ferriby.

Next stop, after some very intricate navigation, brought us down almost to the Humber foreshore beyond the mighty bridge to the home of Hessle cricket club. This turned out to be a large open field, used also by the local rugby union club but certainly in a unique location with wonderful views of the Humber Bridge. What soon became obvious was that the visitors Walkington were piling up a huge score against Hessle Seconds in Holderness Division four. We had arrived with the score on 220-2 with runs coming, mostly in boundaries, thick and fast.

Cricket under the shadow of the Humber bridge.

View of Hessle cricket ground from Jean's Walk on the Humber bank.

Runs just kept on coming, in front of one man and his dog in the distance.

Soon afterwards Walkington's opening batsman Chris Cook was caught out for a magnificent score of 155 with the total on 233-3. He had hit thirty fours and one six in only 105 balls. This was quite an innings whatever the strength of the opposition. The runs continued to flow and the final total at the end of the allotted 45 overs was an impressive 319-3. Number four batsman Alastair Wardle also made 53 not out in very quick time. What makes Cook's innings more impressive was that he had made a duck on his last appearance two week's ago! Today the home side were bowled out for 98.

Another boundary on it's way.

Some research on the Walkington club produced some interesting facts. The club was founded in 1874 but only in 2012 were they able to field two sides. The first team won the league that season and have finished in the top two for the next five years. They too, like Welton, have a flourishing youth section.

Walkington bring up the three hundred.

We lingered for a while on the Humber foreshore with time for an ice cream and to take a few more photographs for the Landscapes of Yorkshire Facebook site. Then it was time to head north to Cottingham where the home side were taking on Patrington, probably the furthest east cricket club in Yorkshire, in Holderness Division two. This visit was a bit of a disappointment where the New Hill Top Club proved to be a multi sport complex covering large playing areas and a rather dated pavilion facility. Patrington had batted first and finished on 200-7 and the home side were already beginning to lose wickets during our short stay, before finally being dismissed for 95.

 Cottingham cricket club.

So overall an excellent day with four new grounds visited and quite a lot of photographs taken. Still a lot to cover in this part of the world and high on the list next time around will be Patrington, whose ground, overlooked by a lovely church, I have seen only out of season.


(As ever click on the photos to enlarge them).

Are Yorkshire papering over the cracks?

Posted by Tony Hutton

Many thanks first of all to John Winn for his observations on events at both Sedbergh and Scarborough last week. We spent all four days at Scarborough, not entirely at the cricket as the call of both the splendid Spa Orchestra and the Stephen Joseph Theatre at times provided better fare. I try not to be over critical of the Headingley management team but recent events do persuade me that some comments should be made.

The Yorkshire cricketing press do seem to toe the line somewhat, as if they do not want to upset the men in control. For instance the continued signing of short term reinforcements appears to meet with general approval, whereas I find it totally alien to Yorkshire's ethos and tradition. I pointed out on the first day that the South African flag was flying proudly at North Marine Road in the absence of both the Yorkshire and Surrey flags. This was remedied on day two when the Yorkshire flag and the Surrey championship pennant both appeared.

The South African flag flies high at Scarborough.

However I found it very hard to stomach the general enthusiasm created by two South African bowlers leading the attack in tandem for much of the time. Lip service is paid to the development of the county's home grown talent, but too many bowlers in particular have been left to stagnate in the second eleven for far too long and end up going on loan to other counties.

The short term fix has not worked very well in the past and when repeated over and over can do little for team spirit and even less for the hopes and aspirations of the current crop of Academy players. A recent management statement suggested that Yorkshire have no experienced spinner. I would suggest they never will until such time as Logan is played on a regular basis to get experience.

Spectators enjoy the sun as Yorkshire are in the runs on day one.

There are other questions to be answered such as the signing on three year contracts of two rejects from other counties who hardly seem to have strengthened the squad at all, despite their obvious keenness to succeed. I could go on but will try and restrain myself to praise some aspects of what was after all a wonderful four day cricket match played in perfect weather. The most notable success was Will Fraine, not only for his century and the way he played international bowlers like Morkel and Curran, but for his short leg fielding.

Ben Coad's two wickets just before lunch on the final day really turned the match against a side which appeared to bat all the way down. This of course was in addition to his splendid performance with the bat earlier in the day which you felt might have taken the Surrey target just a little too far - as of course it did in the end.

Possibly Mr Winn and friends to the right of the pavilion.

In some respects Surrey shot themselves in the foot on the final day, firstly by sending in Ryan Patel at number four when the run chase was well under way. He could hardly put bat on ball, not my comment but from several Surrey supporters. Then he compounded his slow scoring by running out the main man - Dean Elgar.

Bilal Anjam fielding sub for Yorkshire.

One further minor point - when substitute fielders are on the field they should be announced over the public address. At one stage both Anjam and Birkhead were fielding for Yorkshire and very few of the assembled throng knew who they were.

Whatever my complaints, it was still a great game of cricket at a venue which grows in popularity and is well celebrated in John Fuller's new book 'Last of the Summer Wickets' which I was lucky to obtain when he had almost sold out on Monday lunchtime. I specially enjoyed the story of Ken Rutherford's 300 in a day for New Zealand which I saw back in 1986.

There have been several references during the week to the great 'Yorkshire Post' cricket correspondent of the distant past J.M. Kilburn and his famous description of the old Scarborough Festival as 'Cricket on holiday'. One can only imagine his comments, and those of an equally eminent League cricket correspondent, Peter Snape, on two South Africans bowling for Yorkshire with another West Indian now on the way.

Almost Heaven but not West Virginia

posted by John Winn

 Following my trip to Sedbergh on Monday I spent the following two days at Scarborough in the company of friends John Gawthrope and Arthur Bartle and on Wednesday in particular a day's play aided by lovely weather came as close to perfection from a Yorkshire member's point of view as one dared hope. Some even developed a taste for the craft beer in the members' bar.


Most of our readers will by now be aware that the game went within ten balls of being a draw but that does not do justice to the fluctuations in fortunes throughout the day. At start of play I tipped the draw, JG reported that some Surrey members he had met were pessimistic and no doubt there were Yorkshire supporters who were similarly minded. Before play John and I chatted with BBC London's Surrey man, Mark Church who predicted a close run thing. But I get ahead of myself for Tuesday was not without incident. Our  journey was first of all bedevilled by road works that forced us to use a level crossing to access which you have to ring a bell to alert the keeper to your presence. He was far from pleased to be disturbed from his breakfast and then having stocked up with lunch at the wonderful Glaves' butchers about 8 miles west of Scarborough John drove off before all of Arthur was in the car. Philips Stick a Soles are still available Arthur.

Tuesday began with Yorkshire at the crease and again Lyth and Fraine gave them a good start. With other useful contributions coming from Kohler-Cadmore, Tattersall and Willey it was 303 for 9 at stumps, a lead of 268, not bad in itself but any runs scored on the last morning would be of value. In ten overs Code with a little help from Olivier and a fair slice of luck, shifted the odds significantly by reaching 48, the lion's share of a last wicket partnership of 57. 318 to win and 83 overs  to get them.

Elgar and Stoneman turned things the champions' way again with a stand of 93 for the first wicket and it was 136 for 1 when a beauty from Willey, who had a good match all round, cleaned up Borthwick, a suggestion of played on here. Madness was still a short time away but at 157 for 2 brilliant work from that man Willey again ran out Elgar and at the same score Coad removed Foakes and Curran. Shortly after tea Maharaj, who had kept one end tight removed the stubborn Patel and three balls later Clarke joined him in the pavilion. Five wickets for six runs and if not quite a start the car moment at least time to check you haven't lost the keys. But wait, for Smith is now joined by Clark without an e and he stays for over an hour during which time Patterson persisted with Olivier who persisted with the short ball. Finally he pitched one up that did for Clark and  Morkel who has played 86 test matches ran himself out without facing when he should have been leaning on his bat at the non-strikers end. Not quite over yet and the home crowd's anxiety mounted as Yorkshire appeared to lack urgency. 33 minutes passed until finally Lyth took a catch to remove last man Batty. Yorkshire's players soaked up the moment as the crowd rose to them. What a day and a bit of icing for me when the news came through that Vilas and Bancroft had shaken hands at Sedbergh and Durham had extended the unbeaten run to four matches.

Yorkshire go to Chelmsford next week to face second placed Essex who crushed the hapless Notts on Wednesday. The received wisdom is that it will turn and that Logan might be teamed up with Maharaj. Who will make way if he does? Answers on a postcard. Surrey are at The Oval where Kent who are just one point above them in the table are the visitors. The other Division 1 game is at Taunton where Notts will be relishing facing the Somerset attack. Four matches in Division 2 and all seven games begin on Sunday. Nothing further north than Grace Road. Rubbish!

A picture of Sam Curran taken from our now favoured position by the boundary. 

A school field in Yorkshire

posted by John Winn

When it was announced that Lancashire would play their championship game against Durham at Sedbergh School the Lancashire Action Group, which does anger pretty well, went into overdrive in expressing their horror that this fixture should be played so far away from Old Trafford and not at Liverpool, Blackpool or Southport. The difficulty of getting there, the lack of facilities, question marks over the pitch were part of a litany of complaints but what seemed to upset them most was that Sedbergh is historically at least part of the West Riding of Yorkshire but has been administered by Cumbria since 1974.

Despite the fixture clashing with the Yorkshire v Surrey match at Scarborough for me it was a 'no brainer' that I should attend for it presented an opportunity for me to add to the list of grounds on which I have seen first class cricket and to see my native county in action at a similar distance from home to Chester le Street. Thus Monday morning saw me make an early start from the Lower Ure Valley taking the A1(M) until diverting through Bedale for the drive up Wensleydale.

The morning had started fine and bright but as I drove up the dale cloud thickened to the point that when I was stuck behind a dust cart in Hawes in gloom and drizzle I began to think the Lord Mayor's Show might be a washout or at best poor light would be a serious problem. By the time I reached Sedbergh things were a little brighter however and having found the well sign posted and very convenient car park on the school rugby field there was an opportunity to take coffee in the town before the gates opened at 9:45. In the event the rain returned and the start was delayed until 11:30. The lost overs were made up, there were no further interruptions and by tea we were blessed with warm sunshine. 

Lancashire had been 275 for 5 overnight and Vilas and Croft resumed the innings in front of about 1500 spectators and they took their stand to 65 before the latter fell to Carse. Three wickets for Rimmington in his first championship game of the season stifled the tail's wagging and Lancashire were all out for 337 leaving Durham an awkward spell before lunch. For the rest of the day the scoring rate was under three an over with good stands between Bancroft and Lees and then Bancroft and Harte taking the score to 136 before the Anderson-Onions axis struck twice in two balls and Clark followed shortly afterwards, to make it 136 for 4. It took an extra to get the board moving again and 199 for 5 at stumps represented something of a recovery.

I enjoyed the drive home through a sunlit Wensleydale reflecting on the virtues of Sedbergh School as a venue for first class cricket. During the day from my seat on the boundary I enjoyed the company of Lancashire supporters from Preston, Morecambe, Wigan, Newton-le Willows, Chorley and Oldham, all of whom seemed to be very happy to have made the journey. Some had driven, some had used the shuttle bus from Oxenhope Station and others had come by the free coaches from Old Trafford. As I have mentioned there was ample and very convenient car parking and despite dire warnings from LCCC some street parking for those who preferred not to shell out a fiver for the day. There were several chuck waggons serving a variety of food and further refreshment facilities were available inside the school. Unlike York two weeks earlier there was no large hospitality tent which I suppose loses an opportunity to raise money. Two temporary stands had been erected and there were quite a number of individual seats available. I must mention one feature that proved somewhat irksome and that is a public footpath through the ground at the town end and from time to time people using it caused interruptions in play by walking behind the bowler's arm It would be a shame however to end on a slightly sour note for I thoroughly enjoyed the day and why not with the Howgill Hills providing such a lovely backdrop to such excellent facilities.

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