100 Years Ago: 6 October 1924

Derbyshire’s year of rain, debt and decline

The next in the ACS’s planned series of auctions takes place this month, commencing at 08:00 BST on Saturday, October 12, and closing at 22:00 BST on Monday, October 21. It has much to interest those of you with an interest in cricket in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The auction also contains some statistical material, a small selection of narrative books by EW Swanton, and a tranche of 35 lots on women’s cricket. Register now to avoid missing out.

After reaching the giddy heights of tenth last year, Derbyshire now came crashing down to finish at the bottom of the championship table without a single victory.  At least it was not as bad as 1919, when they lost all 17 matches that they started, and they won first-innings points in four matches, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow.  The weather gave them a worse time than most counties, with every home match being either affected or ruined by rain, and they finished the year £2000 in debt.  Both batting and bowling declined, although Guy Jackson and Cadman did their best to hold the fragile batting together.

Unfortunately the amateur Hill-Wood, who had batted so well for the county last year, was rarely able to appear this season.  That brilliant cover fielder Hutchinson and Townsend gave batting hope for the future.  The bowling burden was carried by three men, and Bestwick, at the age of 49, was always thoroughly wholehearted, but struggled with declining stamina and had to be rested at times.  Elliott kept wicket superbly throughout the season.

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