From County Championship winner to umpire in 18 months: Off-spinner James Middlebrook makes umpiring debut

Former off-spinner James Middlebrook made his first class debut as an umpire on Tuesday - less than 18 months after winning the County Championships with Yorkshire.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Mar 2017, 19:13 BST
Updated 8th Apr 2017, 22:27 BST
James Middlebrook appeals for a wicket during his final season playing at Yorkshire in 2015James Middlebrook appeals for a wicket during his final season playing at Yorkshire in 2015
James Middlebrook appeals for a wicket during his final season playing at Yorkshire in 2015

Middlebrook has qualified as an umpire since retiring from the game and was placed on the ECB's reserve list of first class umpires for the 2017 season alongside former Sussex batsman Mark Newell.

The 39-year-old is standing in the middle for Leicestershire's pre-season match against Loughborough University's MCCU at the Fischer County Ground, which started on Tuesday.

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The spin bowler came out of retirement during the summer of 2015 and helped Andrew Gale's men to retain the County Championship title.

Middlebrook, who was born in Leeds, started his career with Yorkshire and made his first class debut in 1998 before leaving for Essex in 2002.

He spent eight years in the south before moving to Northamptonshire, where he initially retired from the professional game at the end of the 2014 season.

But when Yorkshire faced a spinner shortage in 2015, Middlebrook came out of retirement and played six County Championship matches, taking 17 wickets.

The off-spinner has also featured for Bradford League club New Farnley in recent years.

Related topics:YorkshireNorthamptonshireLeicestershireSussex