When I was knee high to a grasshopper, which was about one hundred and fifty years ago, I was picked to play for the school 1st XI in a game that started at 10.30am rather than the normal 2pm. Because of the early start, I needed to get permission to miss double Latin – which, being a lazy sod, I typically failed to do.
My punishment was fifty lines. It was the only time I got into trouble at school, unless you count the time I was caught having a cheeky fag behind some bushes (the huge cloud of smoke billowing from the pagodas kind of gave me away).
The reason I mention this is because a certain Barney Gibson, aged fifteen and twenty seven days was in the news yesterday for doing something similar – although he actually had permission. Oh, and I should probably mention that he was turning out for Yorkshire. Not Yorkshire schools, or Yorkshire U-16, I’m talking about Yorkshire CCC.
Because Yorkshire decided to rest regular keepers Gerard Brophy and Jonathan Bairstow for the match against Durham University, Yorkshire called up young Gibson to see what he could do. It must have been one hell of an experience for the lad.
The only downside is that his school packed him off with a stack of homework to do in the evening. Well, it’s not like he’s old enough to go to the pub with his teammates is it?!
In representing Yorkshire at such a tender age, Master Gibson became the youngest person to play first class cricket in England. It must have been a bit of a culture shock for him. Rather than sitting through triple science, double maths and RE, he was keeping wicket to England’s Amjal Shahzad. I wonder if he had the nerve to do much sledging?
A number of teenagers have played county cricket in recent history – the names James Foster, Steve Davies and Worcestershire’s Ben Cox spring to mind – but none of them have been anywhere near as young as Barney Gibson.
Although his story reminds me of my schooldays – playing cricket and getting my cigarettes confiscated – it’s amazing to think that Gibson isn’t yet old enough to smoke. According to the law, he’s got to wait another three hundred and thirty eight days. He must have some serious talent.
James Morgan
