By Sandipan Banerjee in Headingley
With Headingley hosting matches during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, the focus this week has understandably been on the action taking place inside one of England’s most historic cricket grounds.
Yet some of Headingley’s most cherished cricket memories can be found outside the stadium gates.
A short walk around the leafy streets surrounding the venue reveals a collection of colourful artworks painted on ordinary utility boxes. They celebrate some of the moments that have helped define Headingley’s place in cricket folklore — from Ian Botham’s famous 149 and Bob Willis’ remarkable 8 for 43 during the Miracle of Headingley in 1981 to Ben Stokes’ unforgettable Ashes innings against Australia in 2019.
The artworks are the creation of Leeds-based artist Andy McVeigh, better known as Burley Banksy.
What makes McVeigh’s story particularly interesting is that he is not a full-time artist. He is a primary school teacher who began painting utility boxes around Leeds in 2018 after noticing many of them had become eyesores covered in graffiti. What started as an effort to brighten up his local neighbourhood gradually evolved into a city-wide public art project.
Initially known for Leeds United-themed artwork around Elland Road, McVeigh’s work soon expanded to celebrate Leeds’ wider sporting and cultural identity. Today, his creations can be found across the city, turning everyday street furniture into landmarks that tell local stories.
His Headingley pieces are perhaps among the most meaningful for cricket followers.
Most cricket grounds preserve their history inside museums, hospitality suites or honours boards. Headingley certainly has its share of those. But these artworks do something different. They bring cricket’s history into the community itself.
Supporters walking to the ground during the Women’s T20 World Cup pass reminders of Botham, Stokes and Ashes battles that have become part of cricketing folklore. The journey to the stadium becomes a journey through the venue’s past.
That connection between the ground and its surroundings is what makes Headingley unique. The stadium does not feel isolated from the neighbourhood around it. Instead, it feels woven into the fabric of the area.
At many venues, history is preserved behind glass.
At Headingley, it lives on the streets.
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