Darren Lehmann is the only player of recent vintage in Yorkshire’s Greatest XI, chosen by readers of the Yorkshire Post. Few would argue with the selection. In his first six seasons, three of them curtailed by international commitments, the South Australian made 7,165 first-class runs at 66. And he started the current campaign with another 533 from six innings and some sizzling one-day knocks.

Anthony McGrath was a young professional when Lehmann first appeared in 1997, since when he has seen plenty of the maestro. “Sometimes his batting takes your breath away,” says McGrath, who also made a bright start this year. “He has been the perfect overseas player because as well as producing the goods out in the middle, he is a tremendous influence behind the scenes. Soon after he had been named in the all-time side, an old member went up to him and said: ‘You are the best player I have ever seen.’ That says it all.”

For the record, Yorkshire’s Greatest XI is: Hutton, Sutcliffe, Leyland, Lehmann, Close, Hirst, Rhodes, Binks, Trueman, Bowes, Verity.
Andrew Collomosse, The Wisden Cricketer