Joe Root meets Wicket, the cricket lioness
Cricketing legend Joe Root got to meet the lioness roaring to celebrate Yorkshire’s cricketing achievements!
Howzat for a signing?! England and Yorkshire cricket legend Joe Root MBE has officially met Wicket – the cricket lioness celebrating Yorkshire’s incredible cricketing history as part of this summer’s Pride of Yorkshire trail.
Fresh from another busy spell representing England, Joe Root, Patron of Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, recently took time out to meet and sign Wicket at his home club, Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club, ahead of the trail launching this June.
Created by artist Rachel Hunt, Wicket wears her cricket whites and prowls towards the pitch ready to bowl in a few overs before tea break… or at least until the rain comes along!
She represents England’s most successful cricket team, who are proud to call Yorkshire their home. Wicket evokes the country’s pride of the sport, and Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s title as the most successful in English cricketing history.
On creating this design, Rachel said: “When you think of Yorkshire, you think cricket! My inspiration for Wicket was to create a fun and loveable character, who is instantly recognisable as a member of the Yorkshire County Cricket team! She is a very good fielder and keen to retrieve the ball – hopefully without holes in it from those shiny bright teeth!
“Wicket is proud of her Yorkshire roots and even sport the Yorkshire rose at her feet – although you won’t see one of these growing on the perfectly groomed cricket pitch!”
When the trail goes live, cricket fans will be able to find Wicket in Millhouses Park – a short hop from Joe Root’s home club, Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club at Abbeydale Park.
Wicket will join 149 other large lion and lioness sculptures across the streets, parks and public spaces of South Yorkshire this summer. Pride of Yorkshire will bring creativity, community and care to the region, and support the redevelopment of the Emergency Department at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Pride of Yorkshire roars to life across South Yorkshire from Monday 8 June – Sunday 6 September. Collect lions. See South Yorkshire. Support Sheffield Children’s!
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