The Twelfth Man 2016

28 the country. He also played for and captained Wimbledon, MCC and in the Club Cricket Conference. Paul commenced his introduction by recalling his previous visits to South Yorkshire which included Academy matches at Shaw Lane where he saw a very promising young cricketer called Joe Root in a match where the likes of young Bairstow and Ballance couldn’t get a bat! He gave us an overview of his league and representative cricket, followed by his working credentials with British Gas, prior to becoming a full-time cricket administrator. After his appointment to the ECB we were informed of the many areas in which he has been involved, in particular his work to get more young cricketers involved in the game at an even younger level. He also is credited with the introduction of T20 cricket at both club and U19 level. Driving up the women’s game was also discussed along with the growing popularity of the shortened version of our game, which is catching on in the South of England (8 a side and 20 overs). The role of the media and lack of cricket on terrestrial television was also discussed at length. The question and answer session covered much more, taking us well into overtime to conclude a fascinating and informative evening. 28 January – Young Yorkshire Evening Richard Damms blessed us again with a trio of young Yorkshire hopefuls Bilal Anjam, a top order batsman, Matthew Taylor, a fast bowler and James Brown an all-rounder. The youngsters were asked to explain their present status. Bilal said he had played previously at Queen Ethelberg College after gaining a scholarship there and then onto the Yorkshire Academy. Matthew said he was presently recovering from a stress fracture of the back, but was now well under recovery and hoping to bowl at full pelt by beginning of the new season and James played previously at Whitley Hall and for Barnsley CC. Richard was then asked about frequency of injuries especially amongst fast bowlers. He explained that much more was been diagnosed earlier these days so that remedial action can be taken early to avoid more serious problems later. The boys then discussed their favourite opposition players and formats for the modern game. Richard then told us about the forthcoming tour to South Africa (two weeks later) 15 boys are in the squad playing at least one 50-over match and two 20/20 matches. This is obviously a fantastic opportunity for the boys and everyone was looking forward to the cricket and the sunshine. The boys explained their hopes and aims for the new season along with the 2016 programme. Richard then gave us his overview of the new Premier Local League set up throughout Yorkshire and anticipation is high that everything will work out for the better. The discussion went in well into overtime to conclude an excellent evening. 4 February – Norman Yardley Evening Our Chairman introduced Martin Howe, whose book gives us a comprehensive view of the life and times of ex-Yorkshire and England captain Norman Yardley. Norman Walter Dransfield Yardley (19 March 1915 - 3 October 1989). An English cricketer who played for Cambridge University, Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England, as a right- handed batsman and occasional bowler. An amateur, he captained Yorkshire from 1948 to 1955 and England on 14 occasions between 1947 and 1950, winning four Tests, losing seven and drawing three. Yardley was made Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1948 and in his obituary in Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack he was described as “Yorkshires’ finest amateur since Stanley Jackson”. Yardley played schoolboy cricket at St.Peters York, a highly talented all round sportsman, he went to St.Johns College Cambridge and won ‘Blues’ at cricket, squash, rugby fives and field hockey. In the university matches he scored 90 L-R: Bob Yardley, Martin Howe, Richard Griffiths and Edward Yardley