Cricket: Close voted out at Yorkshire

BRIAN CLOSE, the former Yorkshire and England cricket captain, has been voted off the general committee at Headingley after nearly 50 years of service to the county.

The 67-year-old Close, who also played professional football for Bradford, lost his seat on the committee to Tony Vann by 707 votes to 611 before yesterday's annual general meeting. He was widely regarded as one of Yorkshire's finest post-war captains and also skippered Somerset during his career.

"It is a sad day for me, but life goes on and I will now have more time for charity golf and cricket," Close said. "It saddens me that we are now down to two former players on the committee, but there it is."

"The way English cricket is going, I think I have more chance of making a playing comeback," added Close, who also said that he would not stand again for election to the committee.

Yorkshire members were assured at the annual meeting that they would be the ones to eventually decide whether the county stays at Headingley, or moves to a new site near Wakefield.

Sir Lawrence Byford, who was re-elected for another year in office as president of Yorkshire, said talks were still continuing between the club and Headingley's owners, Leeds Cricket, Football and Athletic Company, over Yorkshire's possible future at the ground.

l Worcestershire have appointed the England batsman Graeme Hick as vice- captain to their Australian captain, Tom Moody.