James Lawton: Laker would have loved this Yorkshire tribute

We are just 18 months away from celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the most astonishing feats in the history of English cricket: Jim Laker's 19-wicket, Ashes-winning assault on Lindsay Hassett's tourists.

No doubt the tributes for the late hero bred in the Yorkshire Dales will be both rich and deserved. It is to be hoped they also have some of the charm of the respect paid by a club cricketer to the memory of his father in Barry Foster's newly published and delightful history Cricket in the Dales.

Mick Edwards, a veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, was invited by Foster, who is commemorating the 50-year history of the Dales Council Cricket League, to pick his all-time team.

Edwards completed his selection in this way: "Maybe I should have picked another spinner to balance my team but instead I chose my late father Vince, who could break partnerships and slog a bit. But my best memories are of his fielding. He was one of the best I ever saw and he could catch the proverbial swallow. So my dad can be captain."

No Yorkshireman, the great Laker included, could wish for more than that.