The cricketing history of Yorkshire is long and illustrious. In the 1890s, the White Rose club became one of the first counties in England to be accorded senior status and is still going strong in the 21st century. As many as six members of the England 2015 Ashes squad hailed from mighty Yorkshire!

From the elite level to the grassroots; from Dickie Bird’s no-nonsense umpiring to Ray Illingworth’s shrewd captaincy, some of Yorkshire’s greatest characters are also some of English cricket’s greatest sporting figures.

Our expert panel, comprised of sports writers, John Fuller, Stuart Rayner and Anthony Clavane, in conversation with Huw Turbervill, will take a look at the club’s defining moments, explore what it is about the Yorkshire psyche that lends itself so well to cricket and ask why it is that a strong Yorkshire side seems to be key to the success of the England team.

About The Speakers

Anthony Clavane

Anthony Clavane has written three acclaimed books about sport. The first, Promised Land won Sports Book of the Year in 2011. He has also written three plays, with one, Playing The Joker premiering at Headingley stadium. He was a sportswriter at the Sunday Mirror for 18 years and is now a freelance writer.

John Fuller

John Fuller is an award-winning author, freelance journalist and owner of the popular website, CricketYorkshire.com. A member of the Cricket Writers’ Club, he offers bowlers a cheap wicket and has a PhD in cricket teas.

Stuart Rayner

Stuart Rayner is the author of The War of the White Roses. Born in Scarborough, he worked as a sports sub-editor on the Liverpool Echo before joining The Journal as a sports writer in 2005. Since 2009 he has also written for sister papers the Newcastle Chronicle and Sunday Sun.

About The Chair

Huw Turbervill

Huw Turbervill is managing editor of The Cricketer magazine (and writer) after 15 years on Telegraph Sport. He has also written on cricket for the Daily Express, Daily Mail, East Anglian Daily Times and the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. He is the author of The Toughest Tour: The Ashes Away Series Since the War.