My Favourite Yorkshire Cricketers

However, when I think of my favourite Yorkshire players, I always return to my formative years as a supporter in the late 70s and 80s. It was a difficult period for the club, yet two players gave Yorkshire followers something badly needed at the time – hope. Those players were David Bairstow and Paul Jarvis.

Yorkshire struggled through much of that era and though there was the occasional cup run, we regularly finished in the bottom third of the County Championship. Even when silverware arrived – in the shape of the Sunday League title in 1983 – it was tempered by finishing last in the Championship for the first time in the club’s history. Off the field, winters seemed filled with internal disputes among supporters and committee members, creating an atmosphere of constant turmoil.

Our one truly world-class player, “Sir Geoffrey”, divided opinion – loved by some, loathed by others (I was in the former camp). But one player everyone seemed to love was “Bluey” Bairstow.

Throughout Yorkshire’s long history, few players have worn the white rose with greater pride or fought harder for the cause and one match summed up his spirit. In the 1981 B & H Cup against Derbyshire, Yorkshire were chasing just over 200. Rain interrupted play and the match resumed the following day.

In those days, following county cricket meant waiting for brief updates on the sports news. Fortunately, my English teacher was also a cricket fan and allowed me to arrive slightly late to lesson, but only if I brought the latest score with me. That afternoon I reported grim news: “Yorkshire are 116 for 7, Sir.” Seeing his disappointment, I added, “but Bairstow is 28 not out.” There was still hope.

And hope proved justified. Bairstow carried Yorkshire to victory by a single wicket, bringing up his century with the winning boundary.

Three years later he became captain of a desperately weak side, which was particularly lacking bowling fire power. However, his relentless energy and enthusiasm, just about held the team togeth

er. Thankfully, around this time a bright prospect emerged – Paul Jarvis, a young fast bowler from Redcar.

Jarvis debuted at just 16 and by the age of 20 had become Yorkshire’s leading strike bowler. At a time when other counties relied on fearsome overseas quicks such as Garner, Holding and Hadlee, Yorkshire’s hopes rested heavily on his young shoulders. He once claimed a hat-trick at Chesterfield, though Yorkshire conceded 420 runs and Jarvis had to deliver 32 overs in the day. Being regularly over bowled, meant Jarvis suffered from numerous injuries, in particular to his back.

The first time I saw him in action was at Hull (a ground long since gone), in the Sunday league against Notts. Defending a score of 240 plus (huge in those days), Jarvis tore in and removed the top order (Bluey claiming at least one catch off him) on the way to a fine win. “That lad” an old boy seated behind me said “is our fastest since Fred, will play for England and take 200 test wickets”. He was right about the former, but out by about 175 wickets!

The two had significant roles in our memorable 1987 B&H cup win – Jarv claiming 4 wickets, beating at least one of his victims with sheer pace. Bluey gave the impetus to our chase, just as the run rate started to climb; his full-blooded thump over extra cover off David Capel perhaps was a snapshot of his career in one moment. For those of us who had endured so many dark days, it was truly wonderful to see us win some silverware in a Lords final.

Three seasons after that, Bairstow retired, injuries and time had caught up with him and it is so desperately sad he wasn`t around to see what his son, Jonny, has achieved for Yorkshire and England. Jarvis was on his way a couple of years later, as Darren Gough took over his mantle of attack leader.

The club has gone on to achieve great things since, including 3 Championship titles, but I`ll always cherish having seen DL Bairstow & PW Jarvis in Yorkshire colours, as they formed the foundations of my love of this most wonderful of sporting institutions, Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

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