Yorkshire CCC On This Day: History, Facts & Figures from Every Day of the Year

By James Butler

Yorkshire CCC On This Day is fully endorsed by the club and chronicles, in diary form, the major events in their history. With individual entries for every day, and multiple listings for more historic and busier days, the book includes all the club's big matches, cup finals, significant events, and sensational signings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Independent Publishers Group
• Release date: Oct 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781909178083

Book preview

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FOREWORD BY ANDREW GALE

You may call me biased, and you’d be right, but there is no other cricket club in the world that has as proud a history as Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The tradition, passion and vast achievements are something that the club, its players (past and present) and the supporters are extremely proud of, and quite right too.

No other county has won the County Championship more times than Yorkshire and I feel extremely privileged to have added my name to an illustrious list of Yorkshire captains. It means a lot to a Yorkshire lad from Dewsbury to lead out the Yorkshire team. The reason why we all hold Yorkshire cricket in such high esteem is because of everything that has gone before and everything we hope will happen in the future.

When I was a youngster playing for the various Yorkshire age group sides all I wanted to do was to pull on the Yorkshire sweater and work as hard as I could to get into the Yorkshire first XI. I managed to get a few first team games and scored some runs. Breaking into the side was tough and I had to be patient, but good things are worth the wait, sweat and tears. I knew I had to continue to work as hard as I could to earn a spot in the Yorkshire side. I wanted to earn my County Cap – the symbol that you’ve made a place in the side your own.

When Darren Gough presented me with my cap at Scarborough in September 2008 it was a major day in my career. You can’t help but look at the full-bloom white rose on that blue cap and think about what it means. You think back to Lord Hawke who designed the club’s emblem, you think about all of the famous and successful players who have worn the cap before you got yours and the many that played their hearts out but didn’t get a cap of their own.

To then become Yorkshire captain is something extremely special and I hand out those prized caps now myself. I was hugely proud to be asked and to be entrusted with the job and, once again, you look back at the previous captains of Yorkshire and you realise what distinguished company you are in. There are also a few Yorkshire players who captained England and not Yorkshire. Hons FS Jackson, Sir Len Hutton, Ray Illingworth and Michael Vaughan were Ashes-winning

England skippers who were not Yorkshire captains – Illingworth became Yorkshire captain much later in his career.

I’ve been lucky enough to share Yorkshire dressing rooms with players like Michael Vaughan, Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard, Craig White, Ryan Sidebottom and Tim Bresnan who have all represented England superbly in recent years. I’ve played alongside Darren Lehmann, Jacques Rudolph, Phil Jaques, Jason Gillespie, Deon Kruis and Younis Khan – overseas or Kolpak players who have brought their experience and vast knowledge to Yorkshire cricket. Before that generation there were the likes of Lord Hawke, Len Hutton, Fred Trueman, Ray Illingworth, Brian Close, Geoffrey Boycott, Hedley Verity, David Bairstow, Wilfred Rhodes, Herbert Sutcliffe, and the list goes on and on...

To read Yorkshire CCC – On This Day reminds me what a great club I play for. I’ve been lucky enough to witness some of the days’ play mentioned in this book first hand and James Buttler has included a couple of my achievements along the way, which is humbling. But to read about events dating back to the 1700s reveal some truly amazing performances and characters that have made this club what it is today. Good times, winning times and some that were less palatable or more controversial all play their part in our history and heritage.

To play our home games at Headingley and Scarborough is something special. Headingley is a major international venue that has seen significant change, whereas Scarborough has a unique atmosphere and is a place we all love to play at.

As I write we are working hard to prepare for the 2012 season. As always we start with hope that our work will be rewarded and with faith in our team-mates. Every season brings its own drama and I’d love to think that a few of the lads can break some records and write themselves into future revisions of this book.

May Yorkshire cricket always be successful and mean what it does today.

INTRODUCTION

When asked to write a book chronicling the many and varied events that have served to make Yorkshire County Cricket Club what it is today I was excited at the prospect, but made one mistake. The error was believing I would easily fill every calendar day because so much has happened through the years.

Yes, the club has achieved on the pitch and had more characters involved in its tale than any other county club, but that was the problem. I filled most dates easily and then found more and more to compete with what I already had. Hence, on many dates you will find more than one entry, because there was far too much to ignore.

I tried where possible not to fill the months with births and deaths, reserved only for genuine legends, club captains or presidents. I wanted to concentrate on events on the field of play and make it a book I’d like to read myself.

I thought I knew my fair share about cricket in Yorkshire, but soon realised that my knowledge certainly didn’t stretch back to the 1700s. I would love to be able to go back in time and attend some of those early matches that sparked Yorkshire cricket into life.

I was incredibly aware and fearful of the Yorkshire supporter. I know how much cricket means to Yorkshire folk and hope I’ve not missed anything out that was crucial in your memories.

Unfortunately I was never good enough to play with a white rose on my sweater – dodgy knees and a supreme lack of talent. But trawling through scorecards and stories has given me a greater understanding of why it means so much to be a Yorkshire cricketer. Some of world cricket’s all-time greats have sat in Yorkshire dressing rooms and I hope I’ve done them justice.

I’ve included Yorkshire players’ international heroics and covered the history and achievements at the many grounds the club has hosted games at and also a few lighter moments along the way.

In my capacity working in and around the club, and as a supporter before that, I’ve been fortunate enough to have witnessed a lot of the most recent events I’ve included, but I keep getting asked which are my favourite dates in the book. It’s a tough question, but if I could choose three days to go back to and watch again I’d choose 12th July, 21st July and 21st September – the latter because I’d broken my ankle and missed the heroics of that day. You’ll have to read on to see if you agree with me.

Whether you are a cricket die-hard, someone dipping in for a quick reference guide or needed something to prop up a wonky table, I hope you find this book interesting and enjoyable. Members and supporters have played a huge part in the successes of the club and I’m sure there are a few good memories in here for you.

Thanks for having a look and I hope you enjoy the read.

James Buttler

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A special thank you to Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale for agreeing to write the foreword for this book. I was badgering him for copy around the birth of his first child, but it is a measure of the current man at the helm that he still found time to complete the task I’d set him amid all the upheaval. You can see that Yorkshire cricket is in passionate and good hands and I send my best wishes to Andrew, Kate and young Ada Mae for the future.

Thank you to the cricket journalists and statisticians down the years for eloquently and accurately recording the events contained in the book down the years. Most notably, from Alfred Pullen (Old Ebor), Roy Hodgson, Jim Kilburn and Robert Mills to David Warner, David Hopps, Chris Waters and Graham Hardcastle, the quality of writing is undiminished and has made researching Yorkshire cricket’s long history an extremely enjoyable experience. The work of cricket statisticians should never be underestimated and all of the club’s scorers past and present have my utmost respect for their fastidious appetite for numbers that make websites today sing and dance with scorecards and player records.

Thanks to David Ryder, a club official of nearly 40 years, for plugging a number of gaps from his encyclopedic brain.

And to the photographers whose images are contained alongside my text, thanks. Pictures tell a thousand words and are taken through long hours hunched over monopods these days. You have my respect and gratitude for doing your jobs to such a high standard.

Thanks to the White Rose Forum, particularly Alex Roberts, who gave me a head start with their database. It was very helpful.

Finally, to all the players who have entertained me, or who I’ve read about. You’ve made Yorkshire cricket a subject worth researching.

FRIDAY 1st JANUARY 1965

We start with romance, or as romantic as Brian Close got. He proposed to air stewardess Vivien by telling her if she turned him down he would never see her again. She answered saying ‘yes’ and they are still together today.

MONDAY 1st JANUARY 1923

George Macaulay became the third England player, and the fourth ever, to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket. He dismissed George Hearne at Newlands and later hit the winning runs in the fourth of six Tests to be decided by a one-wicket margin.

SUNDAY 2nd JANUARY 1927

An opening partnership of 140 between Percy Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe changed theTest against South Africa at Newlands after England had been bowled out for 133.England had surrendered a first innings lead of 117,but made 428 and bowled South Africa out for 224 to win by 87 runs.

SATURDAY 2nd JANUARY 1999

Darren Gough had Ian Healy caught behind and bowled Stuart MacGill and Colin Miller to grab a hat-trick against Australia at Sydney – the 23rd hat-trick in Tests, the ninth for England and the first for England in Ashes Tests since 1899.

FRIDAY 3rd JANUARY 1879

Tom Emmett took 7-68 in the sole Test of the series against Australia in Melbourne to become the first England player to take seven wickets in a Test innings.

SATURDAY 3rd JANUARY 1925

Herbert Sutcliffe and Jack Hobbs became the first Test partnership to bat throughout an entire day without a wicket falling. They remain the only England pair to do so and their stand of 283 in 289 minutes remains the longest opening stand in Ashes Tests. Sutcliffe added a second innings 127 to become the first person to score a century in each innings against Australia and the first Englishman to score three successive centuries in Tests.

SATURDAY 4th JANUARY 1947

Don Bradman was caught and bowled by Norman Yardley for 49 in the third Test at Melbourne. Yardley had dismissed The Don in three successive innings without needing the assistance of the field. He had bowled him for 79 in the first innings of the same Test and trapped him lbw for 234 in his only innings of the second Test in Sydney. In the Melbourne Test he also became the first Englishman to score 50 and take five wickets in the same Test match.

SATURDAY 4th JANUARY 1997

Gareth Batty, then a Yorkshire youngster, took 4-28 in England Under-19s’ 26-run win in the first youth one-day international against Pakistan Under-19s. Yorkshire youngster Zac Morris also played in the game.

SATURDAY 4th JANUARY 2003

Michael Vaughan began his final innings of a remarkable 2002/03 Ashes tour. He scored 183 in the fifth Test in Sydney to end the series with 633 runs. That total put him behind only Wally Hammond (905 runs in 1919/29), Herbert Sutcliffe (734 in 1924/25), Jack Hobbs (662 in 1911/12) and Geoffrey Boycott (657 in 1970/71). Alastair Cook would also better Vaughan in the 2010/11 series.

TUESDAY 5th JANUARY 1904

Wilfred Rhodes finished with match figures of 15-124 against the Australians which is still a record for Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Wisden stated: He might have had a really serious total if he hadn’t had eight catches dropped off his bowling.

SATURDAY 5th JANUARY 1929

Herbert Sutcliffe scored 135 in England’s second innings to chase down the 332 required to win the third Test against Australia in Melbourne.

SATURDAY 5th JANUARY 1957

Johnny Wardle finished the second Test in Cape Town with match figures of 12-89 as England beat South Africa by 312 runs. He took 5-53 and 7-36 with his off breaks and googlies.

TUESDAY 5th JANUARY 1971

England played in the first ever one-day international. They