The Twelfth Man 2018

29 Other subjects covered were the golden years of the 60s and the characters involved, present day prospects of YCCC, modern bats, favourite players and so much more to create a memorable evening. The evening culminated in all present having chance to handle Sir Leomard’s bat with which he hit his record score against our arch enemy Australia. Talking of Sellers, by Mark Rowe At the start of my talk on Brian Sellers to the society in November 2017, as it came during the first Test in Australia, I made the joke that I could now see the Test cricketers’ point of view when they complained of ‘back to back’ Test matches, as the night before I had spoken at the London Cricket Society and did feel the strain. Often I forget to say to an audience some things I meant to. I wanted to acknowledge Mick Pope for confirming to me in 2015 that Brian Sellers did not have a biography; I then felt able to go ahead and write ‘Yorkshire Tyrant’. On the night James Greenfield was generous with his time, dining with me, and driving me to and from the hotel where the society puts up its travelling speakers. During my talk I took off my jacket and showed my ‘speaking tour sweatshirt’ with the cover picture of my book on the front, showing Sellers and his champion 1930s team, and my speaking dates on the back (see photo by Brian Sanderson). An enjoyable custom for a speaker is to sign the WCLS book afterwards. I was on the same page as Derek Randall and Mike Gatting. Even more humbling, as James Greenfield told me on the return to the hotel, Douglas Jardine was among the first speakers to the society. That made me think again, because after unveiling my sweatshirt, I had boasted that while I was not the most distinguished speaker, or even the best at speaking, I was definitely the best-dressed. I am willing to accept Jardine as the best dressed speaker of the 20st century, and me as the 21st century’s. James Greenfield gave me a copy of the 2017 Twelfth Man, which I read as I wound down afterwards. I noted all the awards that the society gives; but I could not see one for best- dressed speaker. I remain confident that I and the society will still be going in, shall we say, 2050, when I can collect – wearing another sweatshirt of course. If you are still undecided whether I am the champion dresser, let me add that I got the biggest laugh of the night when I pulled up my left trouser leg to show my Derbyshire county club socks, of brown, yellow and blue stripes. I remain confident that the audience was only choosing to express in laughter how impressed they were. Mark Rowe on Tour