Over the next 23 years, he would play five times for England and make more than 750 appearances for Yorkshire in all competitions, scoring 22,000 plus runs and claiming more than 1,250 victims behind the stumps.

Now Richard Blakey is back where it all began, in the top order at Elland and helping them in their quest for Huddersfield League Premiership honours.

Like many first-class players, Blakey had no plans to return to the leagues while pursuing a career that featured three Lord's finals and a county championship win in 2001.

But after leaving the Yorkshire coaching staff last year, he could not resist when Elland came calling.

"I've made a lot of good friends at the club and always stayed in touch," said Blakey, 40, who runs his own hospitality and events company, Richard Blakey Leisure.

"It's not just about the playing side. I'll be doing some coaching, particularly with the young players, and hopefully raise the club's profile with a few events.

"The original plan was that I would bat lower down the order and not necessarily play every game. It doesn't seem to be panning out that way but I'm enjoying every minute.

"It's very competitive cricket and even though I'm an old man, the opposition seem to enjoy getting me out!"

And Elland cricket supremo Dennis Midwood said he could not speak too highly of Blakey and the impact he had made since returning to the club.

"When he came here as a junior he was a great lad and he hasn't changed," he said.

"He's been absolutely fantastic since he returned and it's great to have him back.

"Blakey's been superb on and off the field. He's got involved with the coaching and he's a great example for the youngsters to follow and they love him."

Blakey's ties with the White Rose have not been entirely severed, as he is working alongside new supremo Martyn Moxon as part-time wicketkeeping coach.

"After 23 years it's obviously a bit of a shock to the system not to be with Yorkshire on a day-to-day basis," said Blakey, who has been awarded a testimonial dinner in September.

"But it's good to go in there now and again to work with the keepers. It's an important role."

Yet specialist wicketkeeper coaching was not even on the radar when Blakey joined Yorkshire as he originally arrived purely as a batsman.

He began more regular keeping and eventually became an established wicketkeeper-batsman, taking over from David Bairstow as Yorkshire's first-choice in 1990.

But it will always be argued that Blakey, who scored a double century for England A as a 23-year-old, missed out on a lengthy Test career because he took on the dual role.

"Who knows? I might have played 100 Tests as a batter; I might have fallen by the wayside 10 years earlier," he said.