Gareth White has been one of the leading batsmen in the Cumbria League for a number of years and is a Cockermouth stalwart.
I thought it would be a good time to catch up with Gareth and find out a bit more about his cricketing career and his views on the current game.
Just to start us off Gareth, how did your cricketing career start and were there any other sports you played as a young man?
I was brought up at Sandair watching my early cricketing heroes in the 1st XI at Cockermouth CC. They are great memories looking back; my dad was a good cricketer and mum did the teas, it was perfect.
There was no better upbringing than being around the changing rooms, picking up the different bats, trying them out and dreaming of playing for the club. I got my first kit bag with my whites in at 6 and made my under-15s debut that season when they were short at Caldbeck one Friday evening fielding fine leg to fine leg.
Age group cricket was sporadic then so we developed a great youth setup, which I worked right through, making my 1st XI debut at 11 at Kirkby Stephen when dad had broken a finger on the Saturday and my cricketing dream came true of playing for Cockermouth 1st team!
I played right through county age groups with some great lads and players and represented England Schools at u13, u15 and u19 levels, which was an honour.
Cricket was always my passion but football is second. My all time hero is Ally McCoist but although I captained Allerdale Schools under Dave Prothero and played County Level football, playing for Rangers and emulating him (or stepping out for my favourite local teams Workington Reds or Carlisle) was sadly never going to happen!
I was also county badminton champion in three age groups and also had county trials as a fly-half at Rugby Union but cricket was always number one for me.
Your dad Ken and uncle Ashley were both good cricketers, did they play a big part in your early career?
I wouldn’t have made anything of myself without the support of my parents. Dad was an excellent footballer and good cricketer and despite being 36 when I was born, was as fit as anything, him playing 1st XI cricket into his 60s was testament to that.
He had a huge influence on my career and development. By his own admission, he was very hard on me as he wanted the best for me and put hours into my game without which, I wouldn’t have achieved as much as I have.
It did make for some pretty intense return car journeys if I’d played a poor shot mind you! Mum provided brilliant support too and whether it was driving me around or listening to me talk about stuff, she was and still is, always there for me.
Unfortunately, my Uncle Ash lives down in North Lincs, so I didn’t get to see him that often but he was an excellent player and as I moved into my teens, worked with him on the more technical aspects of my game where he was a brilliant coach and actually ahead of his time in terms of the mental approach to batting.
You had experience playing County Second X1 cricket. Where was that and what was it like for you?
This is probably the only area I have disappointment in although I wouldn’t change it for the world. My career was pre-academy days so I ended up playing for Leicestershire CCC on a match contract before signing for Northamptonshire CCC the following season.
I had done really well during the season and we had talked about a two-year contract extension but during my time there, the Kolpak Ruling came into force which allowed Counties to sign experienced overseas cricketers with European Passports and with my contract ending, I was overlooked in favour of this which mentally, for a 19 year old, affected me for a good while afterwards.
I was on the cusp of a 1st team call up against Yorkshire CCC when I got injured and ended up as 12th man against a team that contained: Michael Vaughan, Darren Lehmann, Craig White and Darren Gough to name but a few.
County cricket was really strong then and diving full length to stop a Vaughan cover drive at cover-point as sub-fielder was something I’ll never forget – or indeed the bruising afterwards.
I hasten to add, I did enjoy the social aspects of being a cricketer which took me to places I would never have got near without the game, such as Australia, with some wholly memorable hangovers along the way!
Of the cricketers you’ve played against who left the biggest impression and why?
In terms of playing, I’ve encountered everything from brilliance to downright bizarre!
Eldine Baptiste was pure class, Terry Hunte at Kendal CC was unreal. He used to saunter out to bat to a full house in derby games when I was keeping for Netherfield CC, take guard and say: “Whitey, I been out til 4am on the rum, stumps could be everywhere here.”
He would look like he’d never seen a bat for his first two balls, then dispatch the third into the trees before saying, “Feel okay now, Whitey!” before racking up a massive score. I was lucky enough to play with and against Andrew Flintoff who was just brilliant as a cricketer and as a bloke.
The most bizarre was Heath Davis at Blackpool CC; he was just absolutely bonkers. He bowled 95mph and didn’t have a clue where it was going, which was pretty scary! He locked me in the most uncomfortable stare I’ve ever received, which lasted about 30 seconds after I hit him for four. I ducked the next ball as he started running in!
Former West Indies captain and legend, Jimmy Adams was the stand-out for me though. An absolutely gentleman on and off the field; you genuinely could not meet a nicer man and wow, could he play.
He looked like he had so much time at the crease and it was like he was playing a different sport to everyone else but off the field, he was just the most down-to earth, approachable person regardless of what he had achieved in the game.
You also played alongside Ben Stokes at Cockermouth, what was he like back then and how good was he as a teenager?
I first became aware of Ben when he was 13 and I returned to Cockermouth CC when he was 15 and playing 2nd XI cricket for us.
In 2006, when we first won the Premier Division, he broke into the 1st XI and started to really show his potential. He was always powerful with the bat and an outstanding fielder but that year his bowling really started to develop as well.
At Cleator, I found I was only 3/4 yards in from the 30yd circle keeping and he bounced out Ian Clark. I thought if he can keep developing like this, he has a great chance of playing First Class cricket.
I don’t think anyone could have predicted the stratosphere he is in now but that is down to Ben and the hard work he has put into his game to maximise his unbelievable talent.
Back then, he was a cheeky chappy and full of beans. He used to wind up our legendary president, Raymond Denham and poor Ged would drag Ben down to Sandair to apologise humbly to Raymond, which they still wind each other up about whenever Ben comes back.
I’m good friends with Ben and stay in touch regularly and he has never changed or forgotten his roots. He has been through tough times but the way he has spoken about managing his mental health and done so in such an open fashion, has shown an insight as to what Ben is really like It takes a strong and honest person to do that and that is Ben 100 per cent.
He loves coming back to Cockermouth for a pint (or two) and when he does, it isn’t the global cricketing superstar and icon that comes back, despite the flash motor(s)! It is Ben coming back to where he grew up, to see his mates, kick back and relax. That’s the real Ben Stokes.
You’ve had involvement with Cumberland/Cumbria county cricket. How do you think it is coping with the modern game?
As a very proud Cumbrian, I was honoured to play for and serve as chairman of cricket for our county side. Unfortunately, a career change left me without sufficient holidays so I had to leave the role which was disappointing, as I enjoyed working with the Committee and the players a lot and they are a good group of people at both levels.
The rule changes to more ‘home-grown’ selections was two decades too late in my opinion but it is there now eventually and although there is the average age rule to throw confusion into the mix, it has given great opportunity to players who previously wouldn’t have had the chance to represent their county before.
To be involved in this from for the outset was particularly satisfying and rewarding, especially given the success we had which has been consistent now for 2/3 years. Closer alignment now with the Cumbria Cricket Board will hopefully see that progression continue.
I do think that with modern life, there is maybe too much National Counties Cricket in the calendar, especially given players work/ club/ family life commitments and it does make headaches for League cricket committees trying to fit everything in!
Looking at the Cumbria League, have they got the points system right. A lot of people think that games can drift when a team makes a big score and there’s no incentive to bowl out the opposition?
Although I would say I am a traditionalist in a lot of ways, I think 50 overs cricket should always be win/ lose but there should be some reward in terms of bonus points for efforts in run chases/ sides bowling second.
Trying to explain to a non-cricket person how a team can get a losing draw in a game of one-day cricket is just nuts! I have had many experiences over the years of teams not even trying to chase a score down, blocking from ball one and spectators drifting away from grounds as they end up way short of a total they weren’t even trying to get.
That’s just my personal view and I accept others will think differently but having conversations about it is the great thing we are able to do. I know my old mate and adversary, Kristian Moffat at Workington disagrees with me but if we all thought the same it would be dull wouldn’t it?
I do think we need to maybe look at the bonus points aspect and have a maximum of 3/4pts for a losing side as, at the end of the day, getting 5pts and being beaten is probably a little generous but again, this is a just a personal view and everyone has one of those!
How long do you intend to keep on playing and would you consider winding down and helping youngsters in the second team?
It depends on whether my wife reads this piece really! Joking aside, I had said that this was going to be my last season as a player but with the recent issues with our square and the fact I have been seriously limited in my batting by tennis elbow pain, I feel a little aggrieved by finishing off having not played on Sandair at anywhere near its best and limited by quite significant pain, so we will see on that one but at this moment, this will be my last after 32 years of 1st XI cricket.
I am heavily involved in club life, as I have been Cockermouth CC Chairman since 2019 and also coaching within the club, now at u15 level where my son, Cam plays, so I am putting a lot of effort into those roles.
I did also say that when I do hang up my boots and bat, I wouldn’t be tempted into playing again, so once I am finished as a player, that will be me done and I will be putting in more miles on the bike and spending more time with my family.
What do you feel about standards in the Cumbria League over the last 10 years – how do they compare?
I think that the game in general has changed massively in the last ten years. The number of franchise options and expanded cricketing calendars around the world has seen changes in the standard of professionals and also the availability of professionals as well. Clubs are looking to maximise the coaching aspects of their appointments now, which is a vastly different landscape to say a decade ago.
Across the board, it is fair to say that league cricket is not as strong as it was, not limited to Cumbria alone but our league endorsing bowling limitations and being forward-thinking and proactive in terms of change, it doing its bit and more to ensure it tries to keep participation levels as high as possible, which should be applauded when you see the same names bowling the majority of overs in other leagues week-in-week-out.
My major worry is for the future of some clubs in the league set-ups. We’ve seen local household name senior sides in Rugby League like Broughton Red Rose lose their adult teams, which at one point would have been unthinkable and I would hate to see other towns/ villages in a similar plight cricket-wise.
Cockermouth grant you a benefit game. You can bring two celebrity players to captain the teams in the match at Sandair. Who would you choose and why?
Great question! My favourite batsman was Mark Ramprakash, who was just incredible in county cricket. He actually captained the PCA England Masters at Sandair in 2017 when we beat them so I am sure that he would be well up for returning to Sandair to avenge that defeat and also my Mum would like another photo opportunity with her favourite Strictly Come
For someone so laid back and quiet off the field, he actually has a reputation for being a fiery character, especially when dismissed; I’m not quite sure, being so mild-mannered and placid when I’m out, how he ended up being my favourite batsman really?!
The other skipper would have to be prime Ian Terence Botham. He was just the ultimate all-rounder of my generation. A cricketing pop star before all that jazz was invented and the stories that surround ‘Beefy’ from his career are absolutely legendary.
The iconic photo in the Lord’s changing room of Sir Ian buckling up his pads, cigar in mouth is just utter class. My personal favourite though is when Brian Johnston was commentating and the camera panned to the balcony where Sir Ian was doing some reading and Johnners commented as to whether it would be the Financial Times or the Independent… Let’s just say that the magazine that was held up to the cameras by the legend was neither of those two reputable publications!
I think that this is the team I’d like to play in and I’d love to have some of the great people I’ve played with and against in both of those changing rooms as it would be an unbelievable game and without question, a memorable night afterwards.
