IT is fair to say that the year 2020 has been quite something for Crossflatts Cricket Club's second XI skipper Lee Bailey.

The 41-year-old club stalwart started out by raising £15,729 for the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice Emergency fund and he has now been included in Cricket Yorkshire’s top 50 grassroots cricket champions, where he has been joined by several other names from in and around the Bradford District.

Bailey's nomination is testament to the tireless effort that the amiable middle order batsman puts in at the Ryshworth Park-based side.

He has been one of the driving forces in the club’s recent improvements both on and off the field in recent years.

Bailey played a huge part in setting up the new cricketing committee back in 2017 and the new committee’s work is now paying dividends.

The club now have a thriving youth set-up, which Bailey plays a pivotal part in, with several of his junior players not far away from senior team contention.

An emotional Bailey explained: “It is very humbling indeed to be listed in the top 50 in Cricket Yorkshire’s ‘grassroots cricket champions’.

“It is very nice to be nominated - but lots of others have played their part too.”

One of Bailey’s biggest achievements has been playing a massive part in the club’s successful campaign to join the Bradford Premier League.

The club got the green light back in June and now Bailey’s main focus will be on preparing for the their assault on the third division title in 2021.

He said: “It’s time to say goodbye to the Craven & District Cricket League.

“The hard work starts now and our preparations will be meticulous for our first season in the Bradford Premier League. We will be looking to make a statement next season.”

Bailey has been joined by several other names that have featured in our daily or weekly titles on the Cricket Yorkshire 50 list.

Here is what was said about them on the Cricket Yorkshire website:

Teenage Oakworth batsman Lucas Keslinke had an innings to remember last month, as he hit 151 not out for the club's third team.

That he did it in just 25 overs in the Craven League’s Group F competition and his team only finished on 160-3 makes the achievement all the more remarkable.

Shivanie Patel is one of the founding members of Bradford (Park Avenue) Ladies Cricket Club, which only began in August 2019.

Its momentum is growing all the time, from softball festivals to All Stars Cricket, and those involved in its evolution deserve credit for its eye-catching success.

Great Horton Church Cricket Club has been active over the summer in delivering plenty of junior cricket.

All their age groups won titles in the Upper Airedale Junior Cricket League and secretary Taj Butt is at the heart of the club.

How cricket clubs deliver their offering is one thing, but promoting that message is vital too, and one of Butt’s many roles is keeping a thriving Facebook community updated and involved.

Sam Lawrence has recently taken his 700th wicket for Bolton Villas in the Aire-Wharfe League.

Achieved over the past decade, it is an astonishing milestone and there are doubtless more wickets to come in 2021.

Groundsman at Saltaire Cricket Club, Billy Ricketts worked tirelessly at Roberts Park to get everything ready for the season.

His service to Saltaire spans 30 years and is a tribute to all those groundsmen out there who virtually live at their club to keep it in fine nick.

Dave Cooper is junior chairman and coach at Burley-in-Wharfedale Cricket Club. From organising All Stars Cricket to fundraising leadership, he is ever-present in driving Burley forwards.

Junior cricket has not been immune from the overall picture of less matches and opportunities to connect with the game in 2020.

Coaches have been vital in getting what cricket they could delivered and making it fun and memorable.

First-team bowler and club secretary for Low Moor Holy Trinity Cricket Club, Martin Jenkins, has excelled with club development.

From securing funding and co-ordinating the installation of an all-weather pitch, to coaching the junior sides, his input is considerable and ongoing.

Kirstin Smith is secretary of the Halifax Junior Cricket League, who arranged a star-studded video for young cricketers in lockdown.

A record-breaking player in her own right, she is a coach at Cricket Asylum and helped support youngsters involved with this year’s 24-hour Netathon for charity.

As secretary of the Halifax Cricket League, Tim Helliwell has been at the forefront of pushing for cricket to start, when many understandably felt it wasn’t possible.

That self-belief helped enable nearly all clubs in their league to get in as many fixtures as they could, after the UK Government gave the sport the green light to go ahead.

It has surely placed an enormous burden on all club officials in such an uncertain period, but Helliwell’s nomination is a nod to all those volunteer administrators working behind the scenes for the benefit of many.

Alex Daniel is a dedicated sports snapper.

Photographers of club cricket are fairly rare and Daniel’s work this season capturing the Halifax Cricket League was exceptional.