Former Yorkshire batsman & coach
After a delicious pie & pea supper, Kevin started off by paying tribute to the recently deceased Duncan Fearnley and Doug Padgett. Doug for his guidance and help as a youngster at Yorkshire and Duncan for his support which almost saw him join Worcestershire when his promise at Yorkshire seemed to be going unrewarded.
Fortunately, interventions by Ray Illingworth, Geoff Boycott and John Hampshire saved the day, albeit by typical old school methods; Boycott sent him home on day one to shave and smarten up, and Hampshire had him practise in the slip cradle until his hands bled!
Sharp learned that the Yorkies’ dressing room was a hard place but he wasn’t overawed and went on to score around 12,000 runs. He conceded that, “I probably underachieved” for a player who was tipped as a future Test player after hitting 260* for England Young Cricketers.
It was a shock to be released at 32, unprepared, with a family to support. Playing for Shropshire, and in club cricket for four years, saw him through before rejoining Yorkshire where he found that coaching was as fulfilling as playing.
His work included helping develop Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Gary Ballance, and his recollections of Root were revealing in terms of the youngster’s emerging talent, dedication and thoughtful personality.
In 2011 an opportunity to become Head Coach at Worcester led to a seven year spell in charge that included winning the T20 Vitality Blast, before stepping back as Head of Coaching and Player Development.
Kevin, a keen walker and traveller, is now set to become President of the Yorkshire CCC Past Players’ Association.