A sell-out crowd at Headingley

Brian Sanderson is happy to find, amidst a very modern spectacle, echoes of Yorkshire’s cricketing heritage

Yesterday morning at Headingley began with a sense of anticipation, of the kind that only a cricket match can evoke. Arriving at the gates at 08:45 am—this felt unreasonably early for a Saturday—I was reminded of this unique charm as I made my way to the Museum, where I would remain on duty until 11:00, when the match commenced.

The match was a sell-out, the second in a five-match series, drawing enthusiasts from far and wide. Among the visitors to the museum was a particularly pleasant gentleman, a relative of the illustrious George Hirst. Hailing from Scotland, he expressed delight at seeing some of George’s memorabilia, including a toffee tin produced by Hirst’s own firm.

The weather, typically English, was overcast as Australia took the crease. The opening pair, Matt Short and Travis Head, began with aggressive intent, aiming to dispatch every delivery to the boundary. But their partnership was short-lived, both falling with the score at 64 after just twelve overs. The dismissal of Steven Smith, bowled by a superb delivery from Matthew Potts, was a highlight, as wickets continued to tumble, leaving Australia precariously placed at 221 for nine with fourteen overs remaining. A resilient 74 from Alex Carey, however, lifted the total to a respectable 270. Bryson Carse’s bowling left much to be desired; his tendency to drop short was a glaring flaw, despite his three wickets. The total seemed par for the conditions, a good challenge for the English batsmen.

I returned to the Museum during the interval, and serendipity introduced me to a relative of George Ulyett, a stalwart of Yorkshire cricket from 1873 to 1893. Additionally, one of the Museum helpers revealed his lineage to Major Booth, a Yorkshire player from 1908 to 1914, who tragically fell on the first day of the Somme on July 1, 1916. Such encounters with the descendants of cricketing legends always enrich the experience, adding layers of personal history to the game.

Post-break, England’s chase faltered. A glimmer of hope emerged with Jamie Smith’s partnership of 55, bringing the score to 120 for six. Smith’s valiant 49 was the innings’ high point, culminating in a total of 202. Aaron Hardie’s disciplined bowling, yielding two wickets for 26 runs, was commendable.

Disappointment at England’s performance, now trailing 2-0 in the series, was palpable. Yet the consolation of a complimentary ticket for my Museum duties, with the prospect of a leisurely trip to Arthington the following day, provided a silver lining to an otherwise somber day of cricket.

Brian Sanderson is an ACS member. He serves on the Yorkshire Cricket Archives Committee. If you would like to contribute to this newsletter, please either respond to the email in which you received it, or leave a comment below.