HOW I CONQUERED THE ‘NERVOUS 90S’

Name: Bob Hinchliffe

Nickname: Prestwich Statto?

Current or past player: Definitely past (it) player

What sparked your interest in cricket: Watching all rounder Neville Heys. I would run (hard to believe) from Sunday School to PCC to watch him smack 6’s into the tennis courts.

Do you prefer the T20, 50-over, county or Test format of the game: Prefer Test cricket, although 50-over World Cup was pretty good last year.

Cricketing hero: Fred Trueman

Favourite current (professional) player:Ben Stokes

Most admired/best player you have played with: Tim Orrell. Hit the ball in the air (generally out of the ground). Would be worth a few bob today.

Most formidable opponent: Frank Hayes

Favourite away ground: Glossop. Top club where I have a lot of friends. It’s a fair trip so if Ozzie is driving I get earache!

Personal highlight/champagne moment:

Bowling: Taking 8 for 11 at Dukinfield in 1969 on way to winning Lancs & Cheshire League bowling averages
Batting: Hitting 3 sixes on the bounce to get from 86 to 104 for 2nd XI v Unsworth. No nervous 90s. My only ton and Neville Heys was one of the umpires.

Best way to relax after the game: Bar chat and a few shifters.

What will you miss most in cricket during this enforced break: Meeting up with the players, past and present. Also watching the juniors progress to senior teams and develop into top players.

Is there anything you’d change about the game: Bantering is ok with me but I’d impose big suspensions when it becomes personal abuse.

If you could invite 3 cricketing celebrities (players, presenters, commentators) round for dinner, who would they be and why:
Botham, Bumble and Broad (Stuart).