Chris Waters: Reuben the latest to blaze a trail from Headingley to Lord's

IT is commonly held that a strong Yorkshire is a strong England, and now the ties have been strengthened further.
Headingley cricket ground in LeedsHeadingley cricket ground in Leeds
Headingley cricket ground in Leeds

On Monday, Danny Reuben leaves his role as Yorkshire’s head of media and marketing to join the England and Wales Cricket Board as head of team communications.

As such, he will travel with the full England side, home and away, and be responsible for organising press conferences, interviews, and so on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He replaces Rhian Evans, who resigned after four years in the post.

Reuben, 41, is the latest to make the journey from Headingley to Lord’s. He follows in the footsteps of former Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves, who is now ECB chairman, and former second team coach Paul Farbrace, who is England head coach Trevor Bayliss’s assistant.

Had Jason Gillespie got Bayliss’s job last year, Yorkshire would have practically taken over the governing body.

As it is, their staff have been increasingly recognised at international level, with the club also supplying more cricketers to England than any other.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That England have so many Yorkshire players will be a benefit to Reuben, who knows them well having worked with them closely for several years.

An affable character and a fine professional, he is liked and respected by players and press, and he also has a good relationship with Graves, who appreciates the job he has done at Yorkshire.

Since Reuben joined the club, Yorkshire have become even better at media relations.

There is a policy of openness and co-operation among players and coaches, and the club have increasingly understood the importance of promoting themselves and promoting the game, both in Yorkshire and beyond.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That culture of openness has grown even more pronounced at England level, where Bayliss and director of cricket Andrew Strauss have created a more relaxed environment than existed previously under Andy Flower.

It is a culture that seems to have permeated the team’s cricket too, with England playing in a much more open and positive style.

Reuben, who has also led communications as media manager and team spokesman for England Rugby League, would seem a perfect fit for the Team England philosophy.

He has plenty of experience, having also also led media operations at Old Trafford during the Olympic Football Tournament in 2012 and held senior communications roles at Bolton Wanderers FC.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The role of England media manager is not simply important from a press perspective.

It has a knock-on effect on how the game is covered and represented to the man in the street, who ultimately helps to keep the sport afloat.

Reuben has certainly done much to help the county champions raise their profile.

The turnaround between Reuben’s appointment by England and his exit from Yorkshire is swift, with the international season just around the corner.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The ECB wanted their new man in place ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting on May 19.

Reuben will be on familiar territory for that match, seeing as it takes place at Headingley.

Everyone connected with Yorkshire cricket wishes him well.