Renowned Broadcaster and Cricket Commentator OS Andy Peebles (GH,HH, 60-66) muses over the 2022 cricket season with Geoffrey Boycott at Old Trafford. Andy also shares how inspiration from College cricketing & grounds legend, Ted Witherden was untimately responsible for his professional commentary career:

'As another cricket season is committed to record this disappointed Lancashire Life Member enjoyed a splendid day at Old Trafford for the Roses Match, in auspicious company.

Geoffrey Boycott & I go back over 40 years & he still talks with wonderful authority about the game he loves. We reminisced over lunch about the last man to take 100 dismissals in an English county season (Roy Booth, the Worcestershire wicketkeeper in 1964). Geoff rated the two pacemen in that side, Len Coldwell & Jack Flavell, very highly indeed & wasn't surprised that they won the Championship in 1964 & 1965.

I remember covering Surrey v Yorkshire at The Oval in the 1980's. Boycott played a delicate late cut down to third man & I remarked that he had played the shot almost as well as Ted Witherden, my school coach! One of Geoffrey's mates heard my comment & reported back to the maestro. The door of the BBC Commentary Box flew open and there he stood. "Who's this bloke who plays the late cut better than me?" I very proudly gave him Ted's CV to which I got "If he plays it better than me he must have been flippin' good!!" Shy, retiring Geoffrey Boycott continued with "Why is there nothing named after me at Headingley? Even Dickie Bird's got a clock with his name on!"

Without Ted Witherden I would have never covered cricket for the BBC for 27 seasons or met Colin Cowdrey, Sir Leonard Hutton, Fred Trueman, Jim Laker, Ted Dexter, Tom Graveney & Lord Botham Of Ravensworth! Pictures with Geoffrey & his Lordship!!'