A kinder and gentler world.

http://wisdencricketer.com/item.php?parent_id=12&child_id=18&item_id=343

Thanks for posting that, Alan. Not as graceful as "Our Len" but my! what a distinguished contribution Sutcliffe made to Yorkshire and England. Courage, concentration and courtesy, in measures hard to equal.

Many people have wondered if Sutcliffe's batting would have been affected to some degree, had he accepted the captaincy offered to him at the end of the 1927 season. Maybe it would, if he ever let the uniqueness of being the county circuit's sole professional captain get to him. But probably it wouldn't, as he tucked the responsibilites carefully away with his silk handkerchief.

Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that, since it brings up thoughts about today's captaincy. O tempora o mores!