The Last Match
Bradford Grammar School

HEDLEY Verity, one of Yorkshire and England's greatest cricketers, died three weeks after being wounded in Sicily during the Second World War while serving as a captain in the Green Howards.

The Last Match, is a thought-provoking short drama set during that period and inspired by Verity's memorable part in the final county cricket match to be completed on the eve of war between Sussex and Yorkshire at Hove in September 1939.

Regarded as one of the most effective slow left-arm spin bowlers to have played cricket, Hedley Verity took seven wickets for nine runs to bowl Sussex out for 33 and clinch a Yorkshire win.

The two-hander has been written and directed by Colin Philpott, former director of the National Media Museum and now boss of the advocacy group Bradford Breakthrough, and film director and digital artist, Kit Monkman.

Al Barclay as Verity is joined by Daniel Ableson as an imaginary character and fellow prisoner of war Sergeant Francis Watson, loosely based on renowned Bradford-born abstract painter Francis Butterfield, appointed to care for the ailing sporting legend in a military hospital in Caserta, Italy.

The bolshie Watson and the straight talking, God-fearing Verity are a contrasting pair bound together by the convenient ruse that they were both involved in that last game - one as a player and the other a hero-worshipping spectator.

Cricket is something Watson is not cynical about and his admiration for Verity is underlined when helping the wounded man from his bed he says he is honoured to have that famous left arm around his shoulder.

Watson describes the decision to complete the final game by the seaside as war clouds gathered as being akin to Sir Francis Drake finishing his game of bowls as the Spanish Armada approached .

"Very English, very un-Hitlerlike," he says.

Watson looks forward to the day when cricket matches will resume - and concedes that perhaps that is why the war is worth fighting.

Daniel Ableson strikes a balance between Watson's rebellious artistic instincts, his love of cricket and admiration of Verity.

Al Barclay's Verity admirably conveys a modest but determined man. His Verity is a down to earth individual committed to finishing a task, whatever the challenge.

At around 40 minutes long, The Last Match provides an intriguing glimpse into an episode which meant a sporting hero became a legend

The performance at Bradford Grammar School coincided with Yorkshire again playing Sussex in the final county championship match of this season as county champions - as they were in 1939.

The symmetry is delicious and The Last Match is well worth a view if you get another chance.