Author Biographies: Gill Smith & Neil Brinsdon

Gill Smith first picked up a bat on the beach at Sandsend, near
Whitby in 1975 - playing cricket with her Dad and the family dog,
Cindy. Little did she know that ten years later she would be
representing Yorkshire Women in the County Championships,
followed by six seasons with Middlesex.

In 1986, Gill achieved a life long dream when she was selected to
play for England, making her debut in a Test and One Day
International series against India. Over the next seven years, her left-
arm medium pace bowling took her around the world, competing at
the highest level of the women’s game. She was fortunate to play in
two World Cup Finals, including the unforgettable 1993 victory at
Lord’s.

Remarkably, Gill still holds the world record for the best One Day
International bowling average - though as she modestly says, “the
game has change a bit since then.”

Cricket gave Gill more than just opportunities on the field; it gave
her a lifetime of memories and friendships. She remains deeply
grateful for the experiences, the people, and the sense of belonging
the game has brought her.

Neil Brinsdon took the opportunity in 2014 to pursue his passion for
photography after a successful career in the financial services
industry. A keen sportsman at school he captained the school cricket
team for a while before his love for football took him into coaching
football at a grassroots level.

Neil’s interest in cricket continued at a distance with a visit to Trent
Bridge during the famous 1981 Ashes series, and, since then he has
been an armchair viewer of cricket in all its forms.

Neil’s passion for photography has developed into telling the stories
of remarkable people in both images and words, a unique and
heartwarming format.