The 60-year older former teacher has just been voted onto the Headingley-based club's members' committee – only the second time in the club's 145-year history that a woman has achieved the feat.

The self-styled "gentleman's game" – and listening to the sound of leather on willow at Headingley cricket ground – has been a lifelong passion for Ms Evers.

But while other cricket ladies occupied themselves with making the sandwiches and shouting words of support to the players, she was never happy just sitting back and watching the game.

At the club's recent annual meeting, its 1,000-plus members voted overwhelmingly in favour of Ms Evers' election.

For both her and the club, it seems, it was about time the boardroom had the feminine touch.

Ms Evers herself remained circumspect about her new role, but she acknowledged that her election – she got 643 votes to her opponent's 430 – was nevertheless a historical moment.

"There has only ever been one other woman on the Yorkshire cricket club committee in the past," she said.

"I have absolutely no idea why it's taken so long to get another one!

"But I felt this was the right year for me."

She said her job would not be to represent women or the women's game specifically, but to ensure the interests of the club's hundreds of paying members remained at the forefront of all boardroom discussion.

But she is proud of the fact that the county's women's team has come on in leaps and bounds and that the ladies' game generally is getting increasing recognition.

And although she hung up her own bat and pads many years ago, she can remember exactly when her passion for the game started.

"When I was 10 or 11, I started nagging my dad to take me to a game," she recalled.

"I think he only gave in because he thought I would get bored of it!

"But I was hooked. It is a marvellous and fascinating game.

"I just love the skill and the complexity of it.

"I am absolutely passionate about it."

Ms Evers, who formerly taught at Abbey Grange School in West Park and is single, will be one of eight people on the members' committee.

She and her colleagues will be responsible for feeding members' views back to the club's managing board, which is the final decision-maker.