Yorkshire Scene

Rain is usually a cricketer’s number one enemy. But for Yorkshire youngster Barney Gibson, it enabled him to rub shoulders with a Headingley legend.

Gibson, the 16-year-old Pudsey Congs wicketkeeper, was introduced to Brian Close as the rain fell on Thursday’s second day against Northamptonshire because the two men share a similar statistic.

Gibson became the youngest English-born first-class cricketer last season when he made his Yorkshire debut against Durham University at the Racecourse ground aged just 15 years and 27 days.

Close – now 81, having also played in the Bradford League for Baildon and Yeadon – remains the youngest player to make his Test debut for England at 18 years and 149 days when he played against New Zealand at Old Trafford in 1949.

The meeting was instigated by Ralph Middlebrook, who has a long-standing association with Pudsey Congs. Middlebrook was at Headingley watching his son James play for Northants.