With 30 county championships to their credit, Yorkshire have been the dominant force in English cricket since records began. The home Ashes victory by the England cricket team this summer will be the first time that Yorkshire have won the county championship in an Ashes winning year since 1912. It is amazing that over a century will have passed since this was last achieved.
That said, 1912 was no ordinary year. Aside from the sinking of the Titanic and all the lives lost, it was also the year when Captain Scott led the second party to successfully reach the South Pole. The ANC was founded in South Africa and the first parachute jump was observed from a flying aeroplane. Universal Studios was founded in America and the forerunner to the RAF founded in the UK. After centuries of various dynasties, China became a Republic which was to be the fore runner of the Super Power we see today. A year after his death, the final symphony of Gustav Mahler was given its first performance.
There is of course the small technical detail of Yorkshire winning the Championship this year. As I write, they look nailed on with Durham the only county with a decent chance of stopping them. By coincidence, the England cricket team has, this summer, boasted the Yorkshirmen Joe Root, Tim Bresnan and Jonny Bairstow. It used to be said that when Yorkshire are strong, England are strong. This year seems to be confirming the wisdom of these words. That said the Yorkshire teams of yesteryear stuck staunchly to the ethos of only playing Yorkshire born players. Should the same approach be applied to football clubs, the game as we know it would implode within the hour. Then again, there's still enough money in the pot to prevent this for now..
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