The Twelfth Man 2016

26 spells; how to encourage youngsters to continue playing via pairs/12-a-side games; Academy structures and the format of the county season, with Wayne expressing Nottinghamshire’s desire to maintain a 16-match County Championship programme. A thoroughly enjoyable evening in the company of a passionate county coach/stalwart and a young aspiring county cricketer. Thanks Mick and please send them again! 19 November – Paul Horton Our Chairman introduced Paul, who describes himself as an Aussie scouse, being born in Blacktown Sydney to Liverpuddlion parents. Having just retired from professional cricket, Paul was now hoping to make a career with the cricket media. Paul gave us some entertaining background to his development in cricket having come back to England with his parents as a 15-year-old, which in itself was a culture shock. Not least of which was his first cricket match in England which included a snowstorm! After club cricket Paul eventually managed to trial with Lancashire and this was followed by his debut for the county in 2007. Paul then had to face the politics in the game when he found himself classed as an overseas player in England and also in Australia when he played grade cricket there! Paul then gave us a good overview of Lancashire’s Championship winning season of 2012. He also related his experiences of oversea’s winter contracts in Australia and Bullawayo where he had a particular adventure after losing his passport. The question and answer session covering second division cricket, school cricket or lack of it in England, media coverage and his South American cricket tours took us well into overtime to conclude a very entertaining evening. Editor’s note: Later in the winter Paul signed for Leicestershire. Christmas Sunday Lunch with Yorkshire CCC 2015 Beneficiary Richard Pyrah Our Christmas lunch guest was Yorkshire beneficiary Rich Pyrah, who brought with him Radio Leeds cricket commentator Dave Callaghan and the pair did a question and answer session with members. Dave said: “Benefits were brought in for players like Rich, a whole hearted cricketer.” Rich didn’t start playing cricket until the age of 12. He said: “It was quite a battle for me to get a game because we didn’t play cricket at the state school I went to. I started as an opening batter and turned myself into a genuine all rounder. My best performance was against Lancashire at Headingley. In the first innings we were 48 for five and we nearly won the game, it would have been special if we had won the game. In 2000 Rich became the first player to take 100 wickets in T20 cricket. “Being the first player to take 100 wickets in T20 cricket is something that I can look back on and say I did that I was the first.” It was fitting that Rich was on the field when Yorkshire won their first County Championship for 13 years at Trent Bridge. “When we won the Championship at Trent Bridge I was the twelfth man and I managed to get on the field when we won the Championship. To take the catch that won us the Championship is something that nobody can take that away from me. It’s something that I will never forget. I’ve got a Paul Horton receives his WCLS glass from Tom Hudson Yorkshire’s Richard Pyrah with Wombwell’s President ‘Dickie’ Bird