Evolution Not Revolution
The motley collection of buildings on the north side of Idle Cricket Club's Cavendish Road ground. They comprise (from left) tearoom, dressing rooms and clubhouse. Pictured before a Bradford League relegation battle against fellow Championship Two strugglers Hopton Mills. The visitors were skittled for 70. After slumping to 19-4, they mounted a recovery, but the last five wickets went down for the addition of eight runs. Idle, chalking up a third consecutive victory, lost just two batters in easing to their target.
Match statistics:
Admission: free. Programme: none. Attendance: 15. Hopton Mills won the toss and elected to bat. Hopton Mills 70 off 25.5 overs (Zaaid Sajwal 35, Salman Khan 5-23, Deron Greaves 2-3, Quadratullah Azizi 2-7) 1pt lost by eight wickets to Idle 71-2 off 23.4 overs (Naseem Aslam 41 not out, Umar Abbas 2-21) 19pts. Umpires: Craig Chaplin and Stephen Preshaw.
Idle Cricket Club can trace their roots to 1861 and the formation of Idle United Cricket Club. They played at Holly Fields and Dunk Hill before disbanding. In 1865, the club reformed as Idle Lilywhite Cricket Club, playing first on Idle Moor then on a field at Thorp Garth. Renaming, as Idle Cricket Club, coincided in 1889 with a move to Cavendish Road, the club's present home. In 1896, Idle had joined the West Yorkshire League before, in 1906, switching to the Bradford League, established three years earlier. Legendary opening bat Jack Hobbs, later to find fame with Surrey and England, and earn a knighthood, signed for Idle in 1915, and spent three seasons at Cavendish Road. He was paid £5 a match plus expenses. Idle's best season was 1965, in which they secured the First Division championship and Priestley Cup double. The title was retained in 1966 and 1967, a notable hat-trick. They finished second in 1964 and 1968. Idle also topped the Bradford League First Division in 1910, 1916, 1974 and 1977, and lifted the Priestley Cup in 1912, 1923, 1931, 1951 and 1976. Five victories from five cup final appearances is unprecedented in Bradford League history. Low points came in 1945, 2010, 2012 and 2013, when Idle were forced to apply for re-election. The club, often yo-yoing between the First and Second divisions, have struggled in recent seasons. Vandals in 4x4 vehicles caused major damage to the Cavendish Road square and outfield shortly before the 2016 season began. For 2017, Idle find themselves in Championship Two, the third tier of the Bradford League following its 2016 merger with the Central Yorkshire League.
Evolution Not Revolution
The motley collection of buildings on the north side of Idle Cricket Club's Cavendish Road ground. They comprise (from left) tearoom, dressing rooms and clubhouse. Pictured before a Bradford League relegation battle against fellow Championship Two strugglers Hopton Mills. The visitors were skittled for 70. After slumping to 19-4, they mounted a recovery, but the last five wickets went down for the addition of eight runs. Idle, chalking up a third consecutive victory, lost just two batters in easing to their target.
Match statistics:
Admission: free. Programme: none. Attendance: 15. Hopton Mills won the toss and elected to bat. Hopton Mills 70 off 25.5 overs (Zaaid Sajwal 35, Salman Khan 5-23, Deron Greaves 2-3, Quadratullah Azizi 2-7) 1pt lost by eight wickets to Idle 71-2 off 23.4 overs (Naseem Aslam 41 not out, Umar Abbas 2-21) 19pts. Umpires: Craig Chaplin and Stephen Preshaw.
Idle Cricket Club can trace their roots to 1861 and the formation of Idle United Cricket Club. They played at Holly Fields and Dunk Hill before disbanding. In 1865, the club reformed as Idle Lilywhite Cricket Club, playing first on Idle Moor then on a field at Thorp Garth. Renaming, as Idle Cricket Club, coincided in 1889 with a move to Cavendish Road, the club's present home. In 1896, Idle had joined the West Yorkshire League before, in 1906, switching to the Bradford League, established three years earlier. Legendary opening bat Jack Hobbs, later to find fame with Surrey and England, and earn a knighthood, signed for Idle in 1915, and spent three seasons at Cavendish Road. He was paid £5 a match plus expenses. Idle's best season was 1965, in which they secured the First Division championship and Priestley Cup double. The title was retained in 1966 and 1967, a notable hat-trick. They finished second in 1964 and 1968. Idle also topped the Bradford League First Division in 1910, 1916, 1974 and 1977, and lifted the Priestley Cup in 1912, 1923, 1931, 1951 and 1976. Five victories from five cup final appearances is unprecedented in Bradford League history. Low points came in 1945, 2010, 2012 and 2013, when Idle were forced to apply for re-election. The club, often yo-yoing between the First and Second divisions, have struggled in recent seasons. Vandals in 4x4 vehicles caused major damage to the Cavendish Road square and outfield shortly before the 2016 season began. For 2017, Idle find themselves in Championship Two, the third tier of the Bradford League following its 2016 merger with the Central Yorkshire League.