Bowled over

PERHAPS there is some truth in the old adage, dating back to Sir Len Hutton's era, that England cricket is strong when Yorkshire cricket is at its strongest.

These are encouraging times. England hold the Ashes – while Yorkshire are the early pacesetters in the County Championship, the competition that still matters most of all to sport's traditionalists in these parts.

And now there's the exciting prospect of young batsman Oliver Hardaker, the 18-year-old who struck a phenomenal 329 runs – reputedly a world record – in a local league match.

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There was a time when diehard Yorkshire supporters would be pleased to see their side score 329 runs in a single innings. And then there's the time that Geoffrey Boycott was dropped by England after making a double hundred – because he scored too slowly.

How refreshing, therefore, to see the young batsman bring such

enthusiasm to the game – and point out that he scored his runs through clever stroke play rather than slogging the ball to all corners of Grassington. Even Mr Boycott would have to nod his head in approval at Oliver's level-headed approach. We wish him well.

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