Chris Waters: Day when Yorkshire and Headingley did themselves proud

Perhaps it was the advantage of watching from the press box, high in the pavilion, with its panoramic views of Leeds and beyond.

Or perhaps I have finally gone stark, staring bonkers after seven-and-a-half years covering Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

But whatever it was, my abiding memory of last Friday’s one-day international between England and Sri Lanka was not of the cricket itself but how well the ground looked, as though the much-maligned venue had just been on a health farm.

In fact, I cannot remember the Headingley stadium ever looking better as Yorkshire put on a splendid show on their only day of international cricket this summer.

The surroundings seemed every bit as bejewelled as Mahela Jayawardene’s sparkling century, every bit as gleaming as Sri Lanka’s polished display as they romped to a 69-run win.

Indeed, I am not ashamed to admit that after close of play, I actually sat quietly in the press box for a few moments and drank in the scene, the crowd long departed, and counted my blessings before heading home.

I have done that before at grounds such as Trent Bridge and Scarborough, where it can be a near-spiritual experience to sit there, long after the crowd has left, and gaze at surroundings steeped in character and nostalgia, but never at Headingley.

In fact, as anyone foolish enough to read these ramblings over the years will know, I have never been a particular fan of Headingley.

I rather subscribe to the view of my predecessor on the Yorkshire Post, Rob Mills, who penned this description of the venue in his book Field of Dreams: Headingley 1890-2001.

“Character, not beauty, is the word generally applied to Headingley cricket ground. It seems to epitomise what most outsiders think of Yorkshiremen – dour, prone to bouts of mournfulness and generally a bit odd.

“Its development over the years has not really been development at all, but rather a patchwork, patched-up mess which has left the place looking as if it has been put together by a hyper-active seven-year-old with a few Lego bricks left over.”

What Rob would have made of the new Carnegie Pavilion is anyone’s guess, but it is safe to speculate the Lego analogy might well have been given another airing.

Even to a dyed-in-the-wool Yorkshireman such as Mills, Headingley was a curious place. Certainly every bit as curious as it is to a non-Yorkshireman such as myself.

But credit where credit is due.

On Friday, the stadium looked terrific as it welcomed a capacity crowd of 16,200.

Of course, there would have been grumblings.

There always are. And usually with good reason.

Someone would have been unhappy with the behaviour in the West Stand, even though it seemed – to these eyes at least – significantly better than it has been of late.

There would have been irritations with car-parking, refreshment queues, the attitude of stewards – not to mention difficulties with the wireless internet in the press box (nudge nudge, wink wink).

But with so many grounds clamouring to stage international cricket nowadays, Yorkshire and Headingley did themselves proud.

They cannot take international cricket in Leeds for granted and there was a clear sense of a club which recognises the fact.

For that, credit must go to the Yorkshire board, led by chairman Colin Graves, and the hard-working office staff, so often unsung heroes.

For what it is worth, I thought you all did a magnificent job.

And it was a genuine privilege to be present at Headingley.