Cricket - Year in Review 2025

2025 - A SEASON TO CELEBRATE

FOREWORD At the end of each year, it is customary for people to look back over the past 12 months and look at what has happened in their life. Many photographers review their images and pick a few that represent the best of their work, presenting those images to all that are interested – these days that tends to be on social media.

I started producing my own reviews in my first year of being a full-time photographer, and I look back at those images with a certain amount of cringe, but also with some pride at what I was trying to produce – even if I seemingly missed the mark by quite a way.

I would recommend all photographers create their own reviews of each year – to try and be disciplined enough to select just a few images that showcase their vision; but the main reason, is that over time, those reviews will form a body of work that [hopefully] show how they have developed…becoming better at what they do.

You will also see the way in which your style of shooting changes; the influences around you that find their way into the photographs, or even the manner in which you present them. For example, I’ve seen so many photographs put up online this year that have borders…something that was popular around ten years [or so] ago.

The equipment that we use to capture those moments in time has changed; becoming more sophisticated, more capable, more reliant on a microprocessor to make

decisions for us…none of which are a good thing in my honest opinion. A camera should be a simple box that allows you to set the shutter speed, the f-stop, the ISO, and then focus.

I want the process of capturing images to be more about the person behind the camera rather than the box of tricks itself. The best camera I own is a Leica M3…a purely mechanical beast that doesn’t even have a light meter.

Why is it the best? Because it forces me to think about what I am doing. I have to decide how to set up the camera before taking each individual shot. Get it wrong, and that is on me…I cannot blame the camera. Get it right…well, that is simply a wonderful feeling.

I see so many photographers getting it wrong – even with their brand new shiny AI enhanced light gathering boxes.

Can I use a film camera in my professional work? 99.9% of the time, the answer is no. Agencies and clients dictate that images are needed in minutes, rather than hours or days when film is concerned.

So why talk about antiquated technology? Learn to use a manual film camera and you will improve your skills when it comes to using more modern equipment. It will also make you appreciate how lucky you are to be living in a world that has such technology.

CONTENTS

MARCH MAY Studley Royal CCC 1XI v Bolton Percy CC 1XI

Yorkshire County Cricket Club Photocall Bradford Park Avenue Indoor Cricket Facility

APRIL

Pannal Cricket Club Beckwithshaw Cricket Club Ripley Cricket Club Killinghall Cricket Club Bilton Cricket Club Markington Cricket Club Harrogate Cricket Club Bishop Thornton Cricket Club Pannal Preseason Game Beckwithshaw CC 1XI v Adel CC 1XI Northallerton v Scholes (Softball Finals 2024) Northallerton v Sutton (Softball Finals 2024) Stainland v Wickersley (Softball Finals 2024) Stainland v Wykeham (Softball Finals 2024) Wickersley v Welton (Softball Finals 2024) Northallerton v Stainland (Final - Softball Finals 2024)

Bradford Park Avenue Women CC v North Halifax CC Women Yorkshire CCC Women v Derbyshire Falcons CCC Harrogate CC 2XI v Londesborough Park CC 2XI Harrogate CC 4XI v Spofforth CC 1XI Collingham & Linton CC Women (Softball) v Leeds Super Kings Women Airedale CC 2XI v Denholme CC 2XI St. Chad’s Broomfield CC Women 1XI v Harrogate CC Women 1XI Bilton CC T20 v Otley CC T20 (AWSCL T20 Group 3) Lofthouse & Middlesmoor CC v Middleham CC Harrogate CC Women 1XI v Crossflatts CC Women Starbeck Cricket Club All Stars & Dynamos Launch Little Ribston CC 1XI v Knaresborough Forest CC 3XI

JUNE Yorkshire Rose Cricket Festival - Headingley

Yorkshire CCC 2XI v Durham CCC 2XI Beckwithshaw CC 1XI v Collingham & Linton CC 1XI Bilton Cricket Club Softball Festival Bilton CC | Ripon CC | Beckwithshaw CC Studley Royal CC | Knaresborough CC Ingrow CC 2XI v Haworth CC 2XI North Leeds CC Women v Skipton CC Ladies

JUNE AUGUST Wheldrake CC 2XI v Hemingbrough CC 2XI

Killinghall CC v Helperby CC Harrogate CC Evening XI v Kirk Hammerton CC Midweek XI Burnt Yates CC v Starbeck CC Bishop Thornton CC 1XI v Lofthouse & Middlesmoor CC 1XI Knaresborough Forest CC Willows v Thorpe Arch & Boston Spa CC Women Beckwithshaw CC Eve XI v Harrogate CC Eve XI Harrogate CC 1XI v York CC 1XI Clifton Alliance CC Women 1XI v Driffield Town CC Women 1XI

JULY

Markington CC Eve XI v Spofforth CC Eve XI Bilton CC 2XI v Calverley St. Wilfrids CC 2XI Harrogate CC Women v Menston CC Women Whixley CC v Knaresborough CC (Addison Cup Final) Green Hammerton CC v Thorner Mexborough CC Yorkshire CCC Women v Northants CCC Steelbacks Yorkshire CCC v Derbyshire CCC Harrogate CC v Burnt Yates CC (CB Atkinson Final) Roses Festival - Pudsey St. Lawrence CC Harrogate CC Women v St. Chad’s Broomfield CC Women Kirk Hammerton CC v Spofforth CC (George Greaves Cup Final) Darley CC 2XI v Goldsborough CC 2XI (Barrett Cup Semi-final) Scotton CC Eve XI v Bilton CC Eve XI Bilton CC 3XI v Burnt Yates CC 2XI Barnoldswick Cricket Club 150th Anniversary Game Newton-Le-Willows 2XI v Newby Hall CC 2XI Harrogate CC Women 2XI v Skipton CC 2XI Markington CC v Rainton CC (MMP Cup Final) Beckwithshaw CC Eve XI v Knaresborough CC Eve XI Nidd League Representative u13s v York League Representative u13s

Sessay CC Emeralds v Copdock & Old Ipswichian CC Pannal CC 1XI v West Tanfield CC 1XI Guiseley CC Women 1XI v Crossflatts CC Women 2XI MCC XI v Theakston Nidderdale XI Helperby CC 1XI v Goldsborough CC 1XI Horsforth CC 2XI v Skipton CC 2XI Saxton CC Women v Sheffield Collegiate CC Women Rodley CC Sunday 3XI v Kirkstall Educational CC Sunday 3XI (Chappell Cup Final - Alwoodley CC) Ripley CC 1XI v Burton Leonard CC 1XI

SEPTEMBER Pudsey St. Lawrence CC Women v North Leeds CC Women

Yorkshire CCC S9 v Lancashire CCC S9 Yorkshire CCC D40 v Lancashire CCC D40 Collingham & Linton CC 1XI v Saltaire CC 1XI North Leeds CC Women v Harrogate CC Women Walking Cricket at Headingley Barnsley FC | Huddersfield | Wakefield Warriors Ilkley 1 | Harrogate/Ripon | Todmorden Tigers Garforth/Castleford | Ilkley/Knaresborough | Wakefield 2 Leeds | Sheffield | Rotherham Plus Yorkshire Softball Finals at Headingley Great Ayton | Hessle | Holmfirth Hurricanes Worsbrough Bridge | Barkisland Bears | Bolton Percy Parkhead Panthers | Whitby Yorkshire Women and Girls Cricket League The Hundred Sessay CC Emeralds v Tickhill CC Women Doncaster Town CC Women v Wrenthorpe CC Women Sheffield Collegiate CC Women v Yapham CC Women Saxton CC Women v Rockingham Colliery CC Sheffield Collegiate CC Women v Saxton CC Women

NOVEMBER GROUNDS Newton-Le-Willows Cricket Club

Yorkshire Cricket Foundation Collective Awards 2025 Yorkshire Cricket Foundation Disability Cricket Awards 2025

GROUNDS Pannal Cricket Club

Beckwithshaw Cricket Club Bilton Cricket Club Harrogate Cricket Club Ripley Cricket Club Killinghall Cricket Club Bradford Park Avenue Cricket Ground Bradford Park Avenue Dome Markington Cricket Club Bishop Thornton Cricket Club Pannal Cricket Club Beckwithshaw Cricket Club Studley Royal Cricket Club Collingham & Linton Cricket Club St. Chad’s Broomfield Cricket Club Bilton Cricket Club Lofthouse & Middlesmoor Cricket Club Little Ribston Cricket Club Ingrow Cricket Club North Leeds Cricket Club Burnt Yates Cricket Club Bishop Thornton Cricket Club Knaresborough Forest Cricket Club Knaresborough Cricket Club Pudsey St. Lawrence Cricket Club Birstwith Cricket Club Scotton Cricket Club Barnoldswick Cricket Club

Hampsthwaite Cricket Club Follifoot Cricket Club Wheldrake Cricket Club Denby Cricket Club Pannal Cricket Club Guiseley Cricket Club Whixley Cricket Club Helperby Cricket club Horsforth Cricket Club Saxton Cricket Club Alwoodley Cricket Club Old Leodiensians Cricket Club Ripley Cricket Club Bilton in Ainsty Cricket Club Walton Park Cricket Club Airedale Cricket Club Headingley Cricket Club Clifton Alliance Cricket Club Markington Cricket Club Beckwithshaw Cricket Club Green Hammerton Cricket Club Bradford Park Avenue Cricket Ground Harrogate Cricket Club

AND FINALLY...

A few more moments we couldn’t leave out!

Well, to be totally honest, there was a lot more images that I wanted to include, but this season review is way too long as it is!

I hope you enjoy looking through a few memories of the 2025 cricket season.

INTRODUCTION My 2025 recreational cricket season involved primarily covering the Theakston Nidderdale League, the Yorkshire Premier League North, the Airedale and Wharfedale League, the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League and the Craven League.

This 2025 season, felt like a very long one, not because I didn’t enjoy covering the various leagues, cups and travelling all over Yorkshire to cover games, but because of the good weather!

This past summer’s weather was so good that I was able to be out seven days a week covering games, heading to training sessions, or meeting with club officials and players.

My season has seen me visit new grounds and meet new people, which is always a real privilege. I’ve been able to relate some wonderful stories via John Fuller’s Cricket Yorkshire website.

The coverage I’ve provided throughout the season has been primarily in the form of photographs, which shouldn’t be a surprise since I’m a full-time sports and editorial photographer, but has over the past decade expanded to providing video, drone footage, audio interviews, video interviews and articles about my experiences while going to different grounds around Yorkshire.

The amount of time that has been devoted to cricket this year has almost completely overridden my coverage of As with previous years, my aim was to get to cover as many other sports, however, I wouldn’t change the experiences I’ve had this summer at all. different teams and visit as many grounds as I possibly could within what is essentially six months…and I believe I’ve loved covering the different versions of cricket, and that 2025 has been my most successful at doing just that. hopefully that has been reflected in what I’ve written over the past two to three years. I must admit, one of my The variety of games that I’ve been able to cover has also favourite versions is softball cricket, which in my opinion, increased; women’s softball and hardball games, T10s, has such a low barrier to entry - needing just a cricket bat, T20s and a variety of 30, 40, 50 over games in the various a ball and some form of stumps – and means the game can leagues. I’ve had the pleasure of covering walking cricket, be played anywhere and reminds me of when I first moved several softball finals, the Roses festivals, and disability cricket. to Yorkshire as a kid.

PTO

In the distant past, my friends and I would play cricket in the street with a tennis ball, a cricket bat, and the wooden telegraph pole with a set of stumps painted onto the bottom of them.

I know there is a push to get cricket reintroduced into many schools, and I believe softball is probably the perfect way for primary school children to get involved within the sport and act as a gateway to hardball cricket and joining their local clubs.

As I’ve said in previous years, when putting this review together, it is extremely difficult to decide which images should or should not be included.

Having been to around a hundred games this season, I’ve had to limit myself to just one photo from each match.

It has been an almost impossible task to discard images from games, but over the course of a few weeks, I have worked my way through the mountain of photos that I’ve taken throughout the 2025 season and have selected one photo from each of the games that I took my camera to. Again, as in previous years, the images selected may not be the best photos taken on any given day…however I have selected a photo that means something to me or reminds me of the spirit of the day.

As you will see from the month-by-month layout, my season started in March as I travelled around my local area on bike and visited a few of the grounds as they were being woken up from their winter slumber, and prepared for the upcoming season.

Due to the mild winter that we’ve had, many were in good condition. However, a few had suffered from the storms over the winter period, with Beckwithshaw probably suffering some of the worst damage as snow had destroyed their practice nets.

March also saw me visit The Dome at Bradford Park Avenue for the first time, and I was thrilled to take a tour around the fantastic indoor facility. April began with a visit to Pannal Cricket Club as John Fuller from Cricket Yorkshire presented the winner’s trophy for the 2024 Cricket Teas of the Year competition to Penny Barrett. Having sampled the tees at Pannal Cricket Club in previous seasons, the trophy was very well deserved.

I also made a quick return to Bradford Park Avenue to cover the 2024 softball finals that had been postponed at the end of last season due to poor weather. A fantastic day of softball cricket which saw Stainland being crowned as the champions.

As April transitioned into May, the cricket season PTO

started in earnest and games came thick and fast with the fantastic weather we’ve had this summer, aided by the extremely dry winter break. There were precious few postponements of games due to unplayable surfaces or bad weather. In fact, I can’t remember a game in April, May, June or July that had to be postponed or abandoned due to poor weather.

By the time the weather was getting a little bit more uncooperative, most of the season had gone. In the end, I can think of only three days throughout the whole season where cricket wasn’t possible.

The 2025 season has probably been one of the best and most competitive seasons I’ve seen in both men’s and women’s cricket in my time covering the sport. The excitement of watching the various promotion and relegation battles that went down to the last day was amazing.

Grassroots cricket offers spectators free entry, access to some great food and drink throughout the day at many clubs, and usually a competitive game of cricket.

I hope some of the atmosphere, competitiveness, fun and emotion is evident in the images I’ve selected.

I hope that you enjoy the moments I’ve selected nearly as much as I enjoyed capturing them.

The planning for the 2026 season has already started and I’m looking forward to visiting many familiar grounds and clubs, and at the same time look forward to visiting new grounds, getting to know new clubs and telling their story.

I hope you have a wonderful 2026!

Mark

MARCH

YORKSHIRE CCC PHOTOCALL

THE DOME BRADFORD PARK AVENUE

APRIL

PANNAL CC

BECKWITHSHAW CC

RIPLEY CC

MARKINGTON CC

HARROGATE CC

BISHOP THORNTON CC

PANNAL CC PRESEASON

BECKWITHSHAW CC 1XI v ADEL CC 1XI

NORTHALLERTON CC v SCHOLES CC

NORTHALLERTON CC v SUTTON CC

STAINLAND CC v WICKERSLEY CC

STAINLAND CC v WYKEHAM CC

WICKERSLEY CC v WELTON CC

NORTHALLERTON CC v STAINLAND CC - FINAL

MAY

STUDLEY ROYAL CC 1XI v BOLTON PERCY CC 1XI

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE WOMEN CC v NORTH HALIFAX CC WOMEN

YORKSHIRE CCC WOMEN v DERBYSHIRE FALCONS CCC

HARROGATE CC 2XI v LONDESBOROUGH PARK CC 2XI

HARROGATE CC 4XI v SPOFFORTH CC 1XI

COLLINGHAM & LINTON CC WOMEN v LEEDS SUPER KINGS CC WOMEN

AIREDALE CC 2XI v DENHOLME CC 2XI

ST. CHAD’S BROOMFIELD CC WOMEN 1XI v HARROGATE CC WOMEN 1XI

BILTON CC T20 v OTLEY CC T20

LOFTHOUSE & MIDDLESMOOR CC v MIDDLEHAM CC

HARROGATE CC WOMEN 1XI v CROSSFLATTS CC WOMEN 1XI

STARBECK CC ALL-STARS & DYNAMOS LAUNCH EVENING

LITTLE RIBSTON CC 1XI v KNARESBOROUGH FOREST CC 3XI

JUNE

YORKSHIRE ROSE CRICKET FESTIVAL - HEADINGLEY

YORKSHIRE CCC 2XI v DURHAM CCC 2XI

BECKWITHSHAW CC 1XI v COLLINGHAM & LINTON CC 3XI

SOFTBALL FESTIVAL - BILTON CC

SOFTBALL FESTIVAL - BILTON CC WOMEN

SOFTBALL FESTIVAL - STUDLEY ROYAL CC WOMEN

SOFTBALL FESTIVAL - RIPON CC WOMEN

INGROW CC 2XI v HAWORTH CC 2XI

NORTH LEEDS CC WOMEN v SKIPTON CC LADIES

KILLINGHALL CC v HELPERBY CC

HARROGATE CC EVENING XI v KIRK HAMMERTON CC MIDWEEK XI

BURNT YATES CC v STARBECK CC

BISHOP THORNTON CC v LOFTHOUSE & MIDDLESMOOR CC

KNARESBOROUGH FOREST CC WILLOWS v THORPE ARCH & BOSTON SPA CC WOMEN

BECKWITHSHAW CC EVENING XI v HARROGATE CC EVENING XI

HARROGATE CC 1XI v YORK CC 1XI

CLIFTON ALLIANCE CC WOMEN 1XI v DRIFFIELD TOWN CC WOMEN 1XI

JULY

MARKINGTON CC EVENING XI v SPOFFORTH CC EVENING XI

BILTON CC 2XI v CALVERLEY ST. WILFRIDS CC 2XI

HARROGATE CC WOMEN v MENSTON CC WOMEN

WHIXLEY CC v KNARESBOROUGH CC

GREEN HAMMERTON CC v THORNER MEXBOROUGH CC

YORKSHIRE CCC WOMEN v NORTHANTS CCC STEELBACKS

YORKSHIRE CCC v DERBYSHIRE CCC

HARROGATE CC v BURNT YATES CC

YORKSHIRE CRICKET FOUNDATION ROSES FESTIVAL - PUDSEY ST. LAWRENCE CC

HARROGATE CC WOMEN 1XI v ST. CHAD’S BROOMFIELD CC WOMEN 1XI

KIRK HAMMERTON CC v SPOFFORTH CC

DARLEY CC 2XI v GOLDSBOROUGH CC 2XI

SCOTTON CC EVENING XI v BILTON CC EVENING XI

BILTON CC 3XI v BURNT YATES CC 2XI

BARNOLDSWICK CC 150th ANNIVERSARY GAME

NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS CC 2XI v NEWBY HALL CC 2XI

HARROGATE CC WOMEN 2XI v SKIPTON CC 2XI

MARKINGTON CC v RAINTON CC

BECKWITHSHAW CC EVENING XI v KNARESBOROUGH CC EVENING XI

NIDD LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE u13s v YORK LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE u13s

AUGUST

WHELDRAKE CC 2XI v HEMINGBROUGH CC 2XI

SESSAY CC EMERALDS v COPDOCK & OLD IPSWICHIAN CC WOMEN

PANNAL CC 1XI v WEST TANFIELD CC 1XI

GUISELEY CC WOMEN 1XI v CROSSFLATTS CC WOMEN 2XI

MCC 1XI v THEAKSTON NIDDERDALE XI - WHIXLEY CC

HELPERBY CC 1XI v GOLDSBOROUGH CC 1XI

HORSFORTH CC 2XI v SKIPTON CC 2XI

SAXTON CC WOMEN v SHEFFIELD COLLEGIATE CC WOMEN

RODLEY CC SUNDAY 3XI v KIRKSTALL EDUCATIONAL CC SUNDAY 3XI

RIPLEY CC 1XI v BURTON LEONARD CC 1XI

SEPTEMBER

PUDSEY ST. LAWRENCE CC WOMEN v NORTH LEEDS CC WOMEN

YORKSHIRE CCC S9 v LANCASHIRE CCC S9

YORKSHIRE CCC D40 v LANCASHIRE CCC D40

COLLINGHAM & LINTON CC 1XI v SALTAIRE CC 1XI

NORTH LEEDS CC WOMEN v HARROGATE CC WOMEN

WALKING CRICKET - HEADINGLEY

WALKING CRICKET - HEADINGLEY

WALKING CRICKET - HEADINGLEY

YORKSHIRE SOFTBALL FINALS - HEADINGLEY

YORKSHIRE SOFTBALL FINALS - HEADINGLEY

YORKSHIRE SOFTBALL FINALS - HEADINGLEY

YWGCL - THE HUNDRED

YWGCL - THE HUNDRED

YWGCL - THE HUNDRED

NOVEMBER

YCF CRICKET COLLECTIVE AWARDS 2025 - HEADINGLEY

YCF DISABILITY AWARDS 2025 - HEADINGLEY

GROUNDS

HARROGATE CC

KILLINGHALL CC

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE

THE DOME - BRADFORD PARK AVENUE

MARKINGTON CC

BISHOP THORNTON CC

PANNAL CC

BECKWITHSHAW CC

STUDLEY ROYAL CC

COLLINGHAM & LINTON CC

ST. CHAD’S BROOMFIELD CC

BILTON CC

LOFTHOUSE & MIDDLESMOOR CC

LITTLE RIBSTON CC

INGROW CC

NORTH LEEDS CC

BURNT YATES CC

BISHOP THORNTON CC

KNARESBOROUGH FOREST CC

KNARESBOROUGH CC

PUDSEY ST. LAWRENCE CC

BIRSTWITH CC

SCOTTON CC

BARNOLDSWICK CC

NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS CC

HAMPSTHWAITE CC

FOLLIFOOT CC

WHELDRAKE CC

DENBY CC

PANNAL CC - SECOND VISIT

BOLTON ABBEY CC

GUISELEY CC

WHIXLEY CC

HELPERBY CC

HORSFORTH CC

SAXTON CC

ALWOODLEY CC

OLD LEODIENSIANS CC

RIPLEY CC

BILTON-IN-AINSTY CC

WALTON PARK CC

AIREDALE CC

HEADINGLEY CC

CLIFTON ALLIANCE CC

MARKINGTON CC

BECKWITHSHAW CC - LATE SEASON

GREEN HAMMERTON CC

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE CC

HARROGATE CC

And Finally...

All images are Copyright Caught Light Photography Limited