Historic cricket ball found in drawer

A cricket ball which gave rise to one of the sport's greatest anecdotes nearly 80 years ago has been found gathering dust in a drawer during a house clearance.

Horace Fisher, a county player, became the first bowler to register a hat-trick of leg-before-wicket victims during a match between Yorkshire and Somerset in August 1932. After giving two Somerset batsmen out LBW, the umpire, Alex Skelding, stared up the wicket at Somerset player Wally Luckes when the third appeal was made. Finally, he announced: "As God is my judge, that's out, too", before raising his finger.

Fisher was given a specially inscribed match ball and a place in the Yorkshire hall of fame. The ball was found in a house clearance in Wakefield after his widow, Mabel, died in April. "My eyes lit up," said Norman Hazell, a cricket enthusiast who came across the ball after being phoned by Fisher's niece. "I only intended to call in for two minutes but ended up staying for three hours when they found more stuff in a drawer."

Fisher, born in Featherstone, played 52 first-class games for Yorkshire between 1928 and 1936. He worked at Caphouse colliery for nearly 50 years and did not marry until he was 62. He died in 1974, aged 70. "I met him on the field," added Mr Hazell. "He was a lovely man – a really good sport."