Cleckheaton’s field of dreams

The poor weather may have put a few people off but there was still a good crowd to see some of the biggest names in county cricket take to the field against Cleckheaton.

The evening had been made possible thanks to a donation to the Yorkshire Academy by Cleckheaton sponsor John Wildman, of Thompson, Davis & Co but it was thanks to the hard work of chairman Dave Worrall, Kevin Mitchell and the Cleckheaton committee that the game took place.

Worrall, a stalwart of the Cleckheaton club, was brimming with pride on Wednesday.

He said: “Everybody from Yorkshire were absolutely fantastic.

“Andrew Gale has always been supportive to the club, his mum and dad still come down and they are still very much involved at Cleckheaton.

“Everybody here is an absolute credit to the county and this is a reflection on Andrew, Jason Gillespie and Martyn Moxon.

“Nothing has been too much trouble for the players, who have all signed autographs and spent time with the kids here. They have all been marvellous and they are all a genuine bunch.”

It was fitting that Gale stole the show as he hit a superb 146 not out from just 60 balls to guide Yorkshire to a 91-run success.