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Yorkshiremen bring county’s qualities to England Lions in South Africa Yorkshiremen bring county’s qualities to England Lions in South Africa
(about 1 hour later)
I have been trying to discover who first came up with the phrase “A strong Yorkshire means a strong England”. I have trawled lists of famous men and women born in the Broad Acres from Guy Fawkes to Kiki Dee; it is not clever enough for Alan Bennett, too clever for Ernie Wise. Perhaps it was Lord Hawke or was it David Hopps?I have been trying to discover who first came up with the phrase “A strong Yorkshire means a strong England”. I have trawled lists of famous men and women born in the Broad Acres from Guy Fawkes to Kiki Dee; it is not clever enough for Alan Bennett, too clever for Ernie Wise. Perhaps it was Lord Hawke or was it David Hopps?
This fruitless pursuit was prompted by the announcement of the provisional England Lions squad for the tour to South Africa, which takes place after Christmas. Out of 14 lucky tourists, seven play for Yorkshire (Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Jack Brooks, Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid) and it is hard to quibble with any of those names. Meanwhile of those Yorkshire players not included, Joe Root is in England’s senior sides and Ryan Sidebottom and Tim Bresnan are old international stalwarts. So they, along with the seamer, Steve Patterson, and captain Andrew Gale, who has represented the Lions in the past, will be left having a lonely indoor net at Headingley in the New Year. This fruitless pursuit was prompted by the announcement of the provisional England Lions squad for the tour to South Africa, which takes place after Christmas. Out of 14 lucky tourists, seven play for Yorkshire (Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Jack Brooks, Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid) and it is hard to quibble with any of those names. Meanwhile, of those Yorkshire players not included, Joe Root is in England’s senior sides and Ryan Sidebottom and Tim Bresnan are old international stalwarts. So they, along with the seamer Steve Patterson and the captain, Andrew Gale, who has represented the Lions in the past, will be left having a lonely indoor net at Headingley in the New Year.
There are more cricketers in Yorkshire than in any other county but even so it is remarkable that they should provide 50% of an England touring party. Colin Graves, the chairman, Martyn Moxon, the cricket director and Jason Gillespie, the coach, will be delighted by the selection of so many of their players. It is a justifiable source of pride, of brass (since the England and Wales Cricket Board rewards counties who produce players for the national teams) and of apprehension since there is the possibility that many of these players will be England regulars soon and therefore unavailable for their county. There are more cricketers in Yorkshire than in any other county but even so it is remarkable that they should provide 50% of an England touring party. Colin Graves, the chairman, Martyn Moxon, the cricket director, and Jason Gillespie, the coach, will be delighted by the selection of so many of their players. It is a justifiable source of pride, of brass (since the England and Wales Cricket Board rewards counties who produce players for the national teams) and of apprehension since there is the possibility that many of these players will be England regulars soon and therefore unavailable for their county.
Cricket still matters there. The Yorkshire Post published a 64-page magazine to celebrate the 2014 County Championship triumph, which kept their excellent correspondent, Chris Waters, busy at a time when cricket writers are usually seeking recuperation. Waters is no sensationalist; he has a suitably dry sense of humour for one who inhabits northern press boxes for a living. Yet after Yorkshire had clinched the title he sharpened his pencil memorably. “For what is cricket without Yorkshire?” he asked. “Yorkshire is cricket – or at least it is to the people of Yorkshire. This is God’s own county, a God that created cricket, a God that created Yorkshire cricket with all its serpents in the garden, its many imperfections, but also its wondrous, awe-inspiring beauty and capacity to inspire. The old adage that a ‘strong Yorkshire is a strong England’ really means that a strong Yorkshire is essential to the health of English cricket in general.” Heady stuff. And Waters was not even born in Yorkshire.Cricket still matters there. The Yorkshire Post published a 64-page magazine to celebrate the 2014 County Championship triumph, which kept their excellent correspondent, Chris Waters, busy at a time when cricket writers are usually seeking recuperation. Waters is no sensationalist; he has a suitably dry sense of humour for one who inhabits northern press boxes for a living. Yet after Yorkshire had clinched the title he sharpened his pencil memorably. “For what is cricket without Yorkshire?” he asked. “Yorkshire is cricket – or at least it is to the people of Yorkshire. This is God’s own county, a God that created cricket, a God that created Yorkshire cricket with all its serpents in the garden, its many imperfections, but also its wondrous, awe-inspiring beauty and capacity to inspire. The old adage that a ‘strong Yorkshire is a strong England’ really means that a strong Yorkshire is essential to the health of English cricket in general.” Heady stuff. And Waters was not even born in Yorkshire.
On second thoughts perhaps that explains such a vivid and emotional response to the Championship victory. Alan Gibson (born in Sheffield), the peerless writer for the Times and many others, once helped to explain the complexities of coming from Yorkshire. “It is the bugbear of Yorkshiremen,” he wrote, “that they always feel they have to behave like Yorkshiremen, or like the fixed belief in what a Yorkshireman should be: tough, ruthless, brave, mean.” Well, real or assumed, these are qualities that are usually handy in a Test team.On second thoughts perhaps that explains such a vivid and emotional response to the Championship victory. Alan Gibson (born in Sheffield), the peerless writer for the Times and many others, once helped to explain the complexities of coming from Yorkshire. “It is the bugbear of Yorkshiremen,” he wrote, “that they always feel they have to behave like Yorkshiremen, or like the fixed belief in what a Yorkshireman should be: tough, ruthless, brave, mean.” Well, real or assumed, these are qualities that are usually handy in a Test team.
Yorkshire’s previous Championship triumph in 2001, when they were also coached by an Aussie paceman, in that instance Wayne Clark, coincided with a heavy influence on the England team. Yorkshire’s previous Championship triumph, in 2001, when they were also coached by an Aussie paceman, in that instance Wayne Clark, coincided with a heavy influence on the England team. During that summer Michael Vaughan, Darren Gough, Craig White, Matthew Hoggard and Sidebottom – still going strong in 2014 – played international cricket.
During that summer Michael Vaughan, Darren Gough, Craig White, Matthew Hoggard and Sidebottom – still going strong in 2014 – played international cricket. Before that, Yorkshire won three consecutive Championships from 1966‑68. In the England side during that era there was usually Geoffrey Boycott, sometimes Brian Close (when a captain was required) and occasionally Ray Illingworth (if Fred Titmus was out of favour). From this distance it seems odd that there were not more Tykes involved. But there is no obvious southern bias in this century.
Before that Yorkshire won three consecutive Championships from 1966-68. In the England side during that era there was usually Geoffrey Boycott, sometimes Brian Close (when a captain was required) and occasionally Ray Illingworth (if Fred Titmus was out of favour). From this distance it seems odd that there were not more Tykes involved. But there is no obvious southern bias in this century. In South Africa in January the Lions team will be operating under the watchful eye of Mark Robinson, the Sussex coach. His appointment makes sense since, despite residing in Brighton for the past two decades, he was born in Hull and he played for Yorkshire for five years. So no interpreters will be required on tour. And when the ritual game of seven-a-side football takes place at the start of every match day it will be straightforward to sort out the sides. It will, as ever, be Yorkshire against the rest.
In South Africa this January the Lions team will be operating under the watchful eye of Mark Robinson, the Sussex coach. His appointment makes sense since, despite residing in Brighton for the past two decades, he was, of course, born in Hull and he played for Yorkshire for five years. So no interpreters will be required on tour. And when the ritual game of seven-a-side football takes place at the start of every match day it will be straightforward to sort out the sides. It will, as ever, be Yorkshire against the rest.
Australia fall for the adventures of BabarAustralia fall for the adventures of Babar
We are supposed to be healthier now and are expected to live and work longer. So maybe it should not be surprising that cricketers seem to be playing for longer. Pakistan, currently delivering a damn good hiding to the Australians in the UAE, used to specialise in introducing youngsters to Test cricket. Hasan Raza in 1996 and Mushtaq Mohammed in 1959 played at 14 and 15 respectively.We are supposed to be healthier now and are expected to live and work longer. So maybe it should not be surprising that cricketers seem to be playing for longer. Pakistan, currently delivering a damn good hiding to the Australians in the UAE, used to specialise in introducing youngsters to Test cricket. Hasan Raza in 1996 and Mushtaq Mohammed in 1959 played at 14 and 15 respectively.
Now Pakistan are also prepared to put their trust in old men. In Abu Dhabi they have Misbah-ul-Haq in charge at 40 alongside Younis Khan (36) and the left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (35). Babar did not make his Test debut until he was 34, the second oldest in the country’s history after an off-spinner, Miran Bakhsh, who played two Tests in 1955.Now Pakistan are also prepared to put their trust in old men. In Abu Dhabi they have Misbah-ul-Haq in charge at 40 alongside Younis Khan (36) and the left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (35). Babar did not make his Test debut until he was 34, the second oldest in the country’s history after an off-spinner, Miran Bakhsh, who played two Tests in 1955.
Babar may struggle to match Basil D’Oliveira, who played 44 Tests after starting at 34 (at least) or Clarrie Grimmett’s haul of 216 Test wickets from the age of 33. But he has already surpassed a batch of (relatively) modern spinners, who began their Test careers late, namely England’s Shaun Udal, who was 36 on debut and took eight Test wickets, and John Childs (36 and three) as well as Australia’s Bryce McGain (36 and 0). Well within his sights is the leg-spinner from New South Wales, Bob Holland (38 and 34). So the adventures of Babar are an encouragement to everyone.Babar may struggle to match Basil D’Oliveira, who played 44 Tests after starting at 34 (at least) or Clarrie Grimmett’s haul of 216 Test wickets from the age of 33. But he has already surpassed a batch of (relatively) modern spinners, who began their Test careers late, namely England’s Shaun Udal, who was 36 on debut and took eight Test wickets, and John Childs (36 and three) as well as Australia’s Bryce McGain (36 and 0). Well within his sights is the leg-spinner from New South Wales, Bob Holland (38 and 34). So the adventures of Babar are an encouragement to everyone.