by Mayukh Ghosh

Yorkshire v Northamptonshire.
August 1970.
A solid 66 from Geoff Cope in the first innings earns him the coveted Yorkshire cap.
Brian Close throws it across the dressing room and yells, "Here lad, catch it. They've given it to you."

Cope gets ready to go out to field, wearing his 2nd XI sweater.
John Hampshire sees it in the nick of time.
"Hey you're not going out like that. You're one of us now."
And he gives Cope his own sweater.

One of them. One of the proud Yorkshire cricketers.
There was no one in that team more proud than Hampshire.
He thought he was fortunate to play cricket at the top level.
And that too for his own Yorkshire.

May 27, 1982.
Benson and Hedges Cup.
Derbyshire v Yorkshire at Chesterfield.
John Hampshire walks in to bat in the afternoon.
2 for 41, chasing 179 for victory.
Peter Kirsten and John Hampshire.
The Yorkshire section boo the new batsman.
He is no more one of their own.
Hampshire feels the pressure.
Then he says to himself: " You are a professional cricketer. That is what you do for a living. Derbyshire are now the county which pay your mortgage. Your job is to do the best you can for the people who pay you."
But the romantic in him revolts, ever so slightly.
It asks questions which he is not keen to answer.

A partnership of 34 and then Kirsten departs.
Geoff Miller and John Hampshire.
107*.
Hampshire 66*
A six into the lake to finish the game.

There is professional satisfaction. But nothing more.
A few drops of tears.
That's how the Yorkshireman ends up celebrating this win against Yorkshire.
A bit like doing it against the family.

But John Hamphsire, the professional cricketer, triumphed that day.
As he did on most occasions while playing for his beloved team.

Less celebrated but one of those men who gave their all to the game which gave them everything.

Born on February 10, 1941.