By Gary Watton
August 7 2013

The first week in August 2013 marks the fortieth anniversary of the final first-class fixture that Yorkshire hosted at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Yes folks, it's hard for those of us to believe that the current football ground also shared space with an adjoining county cricket venue. In fact, Bramall Lane can lay a claim to the unique distinction of being the only test match venue in England which is now deceased. Furthermore, this once-hallowed piece of turf once played host to an Ashes test match for three days back in 1902.

On that occasion, Australia won by 143 runs, courtesy of a century from the left-hander Clem Hill and the small matter of eleven match wickets from the spinner Monty Noble.

However, let's briefly recall the last major fixture at the lane. It took place back in the summer of 1973 when we had a recession, an unpopular Conservative Prime Minister, and some awful pop music on the airwaves, so maybe not much has changed between then and now! It was fittingly a roses match between Yorkshire and Lancashire, the English cricket equivalent of Glasgow's Old Firm derby. Regrettably, this historic encounter proved to be a damp squib as the erratic Sheffield weather reared its ugly head and made its presence felt. Consequently, both the neighbours had to make do with a draw which at least for the time being spared either any bragging rights. God knows even Lancashire could never boast of enjoying superior weather!

In the event, the Tykes' captain, one Geoffrey Boycott, won the toss and elected to bat, although two single-figure innings from this renowned gent were out of character for such a prolific runs-scorer. The home team were in fact skittled out for a mere 99 in precisely fifty overs, with Lee returning eye-catching bowling figures of 25 overs, six wickets for a loss of only forty-three runs. Mind you, Lancashire's ascendancy was short-lived as they too staggered to a total of 111 for eight declared. Tony Nicholson had helped himself to four red rose wickets for a cost of forty runs from 23 overs!

Unfortunately there was no play on the second day, Monday the sixth of August. All that remained on the final day's play, Tuesday the 7th, of this historic match was for Yorkshire's Phil Sharpe to record an unbeaten half century, as this former England international proved to be the only batsman in either innings who was comfortable with the testing wicket.

Yorkshire were merely a sluggish 114 for two when the curtain came down on first-class cricket at this once-famous old arena. According to www.cricketarchive.com Bramall Lane had hosted no fewer than 391 first-class matches involving Yorkshire. Whilst the football stadium continues to flourish, may the cricket ground rest in peace.