The 1925 English season
100 Years Ago: 2 May 1925
The ACS is delighted to announce the launch of its inaugural Women’s International Cricket Year Book—a companion volume to our long-running International Cricket Year Book (which henceforth will deal exclusively with men’s cricket). It’s available to order here, or with the men’s year book, as part of a discounted package, here. Don’t miss out!
The English season starts with its usual whimper (and perhaps its usual cold, wet weather) on Saturday 2 May, just three first-class matches being started. They will be:
Lancashire v Warwickshire at Manchester
Sussex v Leicestershire at Hove
Oxford University v Middlesex at Oxford.
As usual there is rain around and the weather is mostly cold and cloudy, which no doubt helps to explain why counties are reluctant to start their programmes before they have to. Probably most interest will centre on the deeds of Arthur Gilligan and Maurice Tate for Sussex, after their tour of Australia. We will be providing reports on the matches as usual.
The Oxford University Freshmen’s match was completed today, with Claude Taylor’s team beating John Guise’s team by nine wickets. It was mostly a bowlers’ match, but Errol Holmes scored 24 and 44 for Guise. The match-winning bowler was the South African Louis Serrurier, who had figures of four for 28 and six for 44 with his medium-pacers.
The Cambridge Seniors match was abandoned as a draw due to rain, with the second innings barely begun. The bowling in the first innings by both sides was very indifferent, so it seems Cambridge will not be able to look here to boost their attack. Hamer Bagnall played himself into form with 77, and probably into the University side for the first match, with 77.
1925 will be an entirely domestic season, with no first-class visitors from other countries, and a rather bloated county programme, perhaps in the hope that there will be enough spectators to make the home counties a profit, given decent weather, and offset the financial and meteorological disasters of 1924.
Yorkshire and Lancashire are to play each of the other first-class counties twice, 32 championship matches, while Sussex have arranged 30, and several other counties 28. Yorkshire are probably favourites to win the championship for the fourth consecutive time, although after an unexpectedly tight tussle with Middlesex last season they cannot be said to be strong favourites. They have a new captain, Major Arthur Lupton, and the Yorkshire committee believe they have found the right man to enforce discipline within their team and lead them to another title. The only problem is that, like Geoffrey Wilson, he is not worth his place in the team as a player — but as long as Yorkshire insist on an amateur captain, that is a burden they will have to bear.
Most of the other teams have fairly similar personnel to last season, with Somerset perhaps likely to be the worst hit by the loss of good players. Lancashire have a big boost in that they have now secured the services of the Australian pace bowler Ted McDonald for the full season, a move that displeases several other counties on a matter of principle. If Yorkshire are displaced as champions, Lancashire look the most likely team to do it.
No Test trial matches have been arranged in preparation for the visit of the Australians next year, 1926, a decision that is strongly supported by many and strongly opposed by others. The points system in the county championship remains unchanged: five points for a win and, in a drawn match, three points for the side leading on first innings and one point for the side behind; matches without a first-innings result are discounted, and the usual percentage system will again be used.
YORKSHIRE
1924 position: 1st
Captain: Major Arthur Lupton (1st season)
Notable player exits: Geoffrey Wilson (former captain).
New players anticipated: Arthur Lupton (RHB).
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Percy Holmes (38)
Herbert Sutcliffe (30)
Edgar Oldroyd (36)
Maurice Leyland (24)
Wilfred Rhodes (47)
Roy Kilner (34)
Emmott Robinson (41)
George Macaulay (27)
*Arthur Lupton (46)
Abe Waddington (32)
+Arthur Dolphin (39)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Robinson, Macaulay, Waddington, Kilner and Rhodes.
Apart from the change of captain, which has already been mentioned, the Yorkshire team should remain basically the same, barring illness or injury, so there are no easy openings likely for new young players, of whom the batsman Arthur Mitchell is said to be the most promising. Yorkshire have a strong, tried and tested all-round team and will be playing home and away against all the other 16 first-class counties. Sutcliffe and Kilner have both enjoyed success in Australia and Holmes in South Africa during the winter, while Rhodes and Robinson have coached in India. Hopefully under their new captain there will be no controversies surrounding the team this season, playing the game hard but in good spirit.
Yorkshire will again be the team to beat this season, their only real lack being of an aggressive fast-scoring batsman who can force the pace easily when desirable. A bowler of real pace would also be an advantage on suitable pitches ― but whom would he replace when all the other five are fit? It is hoped that Abe Waddington will keep out of trouble and be able to regain his best form after his injury of 1923. Roy Kilner will take his benefit match against Middlesex at Headingley starting on July 25. Last year Yorkshire had an all-time record membership of over 7000, and this should be maintained; their annual fee of one guinea (plus 1s 6d for entertainment tax) is one of the cheapest available in sport.
Players particularly to watch this season: Holmes, Macaulay and Robinson.
MIDDLESEX
1924 position: 2nd
Captain: Frank Mann.
Notable player exits: None.
New players anticipated: Joseph North (RSM bowler).
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Harry Lee (34)
Horace Dales (35)
Greville Stevens (24)
Jack Hearne (34)
Patsy Hendren 36)
Clarence Bruce (39)
*Frank Mann (37)
Gubby Allen (22)
Nigel Haig (37)
+Joe Murrell (45)
Joseph North (29)
Jack Durston (31)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Haig, Durston, Allen, Hearne and North.
Middlesex should again be challenging strongly for the county championship this season. Their teams usually have an even balance of amateurs and professionals. Many other counties will envy them their wealth of amateurs to choose from — except they cannot always be chosen from, as not all of them are always available. Hendren and Hearne are their two giants in county cricket and they are a strong batting side, better on fast pitches than Yorkshire last season, although less effective in all conditions. No county can match the Yorkshire bowling attack, but Middlesex are nevertheless well equipped, apart from the lack of a good finger-spinner.
Players particularly to watch this season: Hendren and Durston.
SURREY
1924 position: 3rd
Captain: Percy Fender.
Notable player exits: Willie Abel, Tom Jennings.
New players anticipated: Errol Holmes (RHB).
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Jack Hobbs (42)
Andy Sandham (34)
Andy Ducat (39)
Alfred Jeacocke (32)
Tom Shepherd (35)
Douglas Jardine (24)
Alan Peach (34)
*Percy Fender (32)
Bill Hitch (38)
Albert Geary (24)
Bill Sadler (28)
+Bert Strudwick (45)
Stanley Fenley (29)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Hitch, Sadler, Peach, Fender, Fenley and Shepherd.
Surrey are again expected to be a strong batting side that will be handicapped in the race for the championship title by a shortage of quality bowlers and the batting paradise that is the Oval pitch. Hitch is nearing the end of his career, although he refuses to retire yet, and will probably again only be selected on pitches suitable for him. They will need Fender, their captain, to regain his best all-round form, as he struggled last season, and he will need to do a great deal of bowling. Peach often does well with the new ball, and Surrey hope Sadler with continue to develop. There is good news that Fenley (leg-breaks), who had a job in the Gold Coast, has resigned from that and signed on for Surrey as a fulltime professional. The batting should be no problem, although Ducat is slow recovering from the arm injury that cost him a full 1924 season. They could not wish for a better opening pair than Hobbs and Sandham, if they are not exhausted from their Australian tour. Shepherd and Jardine are stalwarts of the middle order.
Players particularly to watch this season: Hobbs and Fender.
LANCASHIRE
1924 position: 4th
Captain: Jack Sharp.
Notable player exits: Alfred Hall, Bill Hickmott, Albert Rhodes.
New players anticipated: Frank Sibbles (age 21, RHB, RMOB)
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Harry Makepeace (43)
Charlie Hallows (29)
Ernest Tyldesley (36)
Frank Watson (26)
John Barnes (27)
Alfred Pewtress (33)
Jack Iddon (23)
*Jack Sharp (47)
Len Hopwood (21)
Dick Tyldesley (28)
+George Duckworth (23)
Ted McDonald (34)
Cecil Parkin (39)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of McDonald, Parkin, Dick Tyldesley and Watson.
Jack Sharp has been persuaded to postpone his retirement and captain Lancashire for another season, and he has a very strong side, now that his Lancashire League club Nelson has been persuaded to release Ted McDonald to play fulltime for the county. (As an aside, by a strange coincidence, Lancashire will play a match at Nelson for the first time, where Derbyshire will be their opponents.) Lancashire are therefore probably in a better position than any other county to challenge Yorkshire for the championship, with a very strong first-choice eleven, as shown above, which includes three Test-match bowlers. Their batting continues to increase in depth, with Barnes expected to be available more often. The only apparent weakness is a lack in bowling depth, with little backup for the three great bowlers in case of injury or illness, which would be a serious blow to the team. They certainly lack a quality left-arm spinner. Parkin has been given the Middlesex match starting at Old Trafford on July 18 for his benefit.
Players particularly to watch this season: Hallows and McDonald.
KENT
1924 position: 5th
Captain: Stanley Cornwallis
Notable player exits: Lionel Hedges, George Wood.
New players anticipated: Percy Chapman (at last!), Conrad Johnstone (on leave from India).
Likely first-choice team (age on 1 May in brackets):
Wally Hardinge (39)
Bill Ashdown (26)
James Seymour (45)
Frank Woolley (37)
Percy Chapman (24)
Sid Hearn (25)
+Jack Hubble (44)
George Collins (35)
Charlie Wright (30)
Tich Freeman (36)
*Stanley Cornwallis (33)
Also amateurs occasionally available, usually in August:
Jack Bryan (28)
Godfrey Bryan (22)
John Knott (24)
Father Marriott (29)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Wright, Collins, Cornwallis, Freeman, Woolley, with Marriott in August.
The great expectation in Kent is that Chapman will finally be qualified to play for the county as from the end of May. He has just been married in New Zealand, though, and there is an unlikely rumour that he will settle in that country and be lost to English and Kent cricket. As usual, Kent have numerous amateurs qualified to play for them, but most will be unavailable until August, and so the team until then will be composed largely of amateurs. Such a situation means that it is unlikely in the foreseeable future that Kent will be able to challenge for the championship title, but they should still be among the strongest counties. It is to be hoped that the captain, Cornwallis, will be fit and able to strike his best pace bowling form this season, and form a good combination with Wright, who improved greatly last season, with the spin of Freeman, Woolley and in August Marriott to follow.
Players particularly to watch this season: Woolley and Freeman.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
1924 position: equal 6th
Captain: Arthur Carr
Notable player exits: Joe Hardstaff
New players anticipated: Harold Larwood
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
George Gunn (45)
Dodger Whysall (37)
John Gunn (48)
*Arthur Carr (31)
Wilf Payton (43)
Willis Walker (32)
Sam Staples (32)
Fred Barratt (31)
+Tom Oates (49)
+Ben Lilley (30)
Bill Flint (35)
Frank Matthews (32)
Harold Larwood (20)
Len Richmond (34)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Barratt, Staples, Richmond and one or two of Flint, Matthews and Larwood.
Every year we wonder how much longer this ageing Nottinghamshire team, with four men over 40 and no regular player under 30, can go on performing well, but it has always got by so far. At last they have one new young player of real talent in Larwood, a bowler of considerable pace, who is highly thought of and likely to get at least a good trial this season. The side already has two bowlers of some pace in Barratt and Matthews, although the latter tends to be erratic at times, and this together with the depth in experienced batting keeps the side successful. Whysall, after his successful tour of Australia, is now regarded as the star of the side, while Carr will continue his aggressive policies both as batsman and captain amid of line-up of solid batsmen. The long-serving George Gunn takes his benefit match against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge starting on 18 July.
Players particularly to watch this season: Carr and Larwood.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
1924 position: equal 6th
Captain: Douglas Robinson
Notable player exits: Bev Lyon (unavailable), Francis Rogers (returned to India).
New players anticipated: Reg Sinfield.
Likely first-choice team (age on 1 May in brackets):
Alf Dipper (39)
*Douglas Robinson (42)
+Harry Smith (33)
Reg Sinfield (24)
Wally Hammond (21)
Bernie Bloodworth (31)
Michael Green (33)
Charlie Parker (42)
Percy Mills (45)
George Dennett (46)
John Bessant (32)
Tom Goddard (24)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Hammond, Parker, Mills and Dennett.
Robinson showed himself as a positive and encouraging captain last season, and continues in the job. The looming talent of Hammond is a great hope for the county and he still seems well short of realizing his potential still as batsman and bowler, although his fielding is always brilliant. He adds some pace to a bowling attack based around Parker in particular, Mills and Dennett, but there is not much depth to the batting and bowling. Sinfield will be a valuable asset to the side when he qualifies in July.
Players particularly to watch this season: Hammond and Parker.
SOMERSET
1924 position: 8th
Captain: John Daniell
Notable player exits: Tom Lowry, Dar Lyon (retired).
New players anticipated: Cecil Case, Bill Greswell (returning on leave from Ceylon).
Likely first-choice team (age on 1 May in brackets):
Jack MacBryan (32)
Archie Young (34)
Cecil Case (29)
Stanley Rippon (33)
Algernon Bligh (36)
Jack White (34)
Randall Johnson (44)
Reggie Ingle (21)
Guy Earle (33)
*John Daniell (46)
George Hunt (28)
Bill Greswell (35)
Raymond Robertson-Glasgow (23)
Jim Bridges (37)
+Mervyn Hill (22)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Bridges, Robertson-Glasgow, Hunt and White.
Somerset may struggle this season as several of their best players will rarely be available this season. MacBryan’s work will allow him little time to play after his tour to South Africa, Tom Lowry has returned to New Zealand, while Lyon has decided to retire from regular first-class cricket, and Robertson-Glasgow will again be available only in August. On the other hand, Greswell expects to be in this country on leave from Ceylon, and it is to be hoped he will be able to play quite frequently. It is likely to be a very unsettled side.
Players particularly to watch this season: Young and White.
WARWICKSHIRE
1924 position: 9th
Captain: Freddie Calthorpe
Notable player exits: None.
New players anticipated: John Fox (age 20, RHB, SLA).
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
+Tiger Smith (39)
Jack Parsons (34)
Len Bates (30)
Willie Quaife (52)
Reg Santall (21)
*Freddie Calthorpe (32)
Arthur Croom (28)
Bob Wyatt (22)
Norman Partridge (24)
Edward Hewetson (22)
Harry Howell (34)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Howell, Calthorpe, Wyatt and Quaife.
Warwickshire have a strong and stable batting line-up at the top, even though George Stephens may not be available so regularly this season, and should be stronger still next year when Norman Kilner is qualified to play for them. However, the bowling gives cause for concern. Howell is still a force with the ball, especially if there is a dry season, but Calthorpe was not so effective last season. Wyatt may be needed to bowl more, although many think he shows more promise with the bat, while Quaife again will probably be called upon to bowl his gentle leg-breaks.
Players particularly to watch this season: Wyatt and Howell.
SUSSEX
1924 position: 10th
Captain: Arthur Gilligan
Notable player exits: Kenneth Higgs, Herbert Wilson.
New players anticipated: Lionel Isherwood (from Hampshire, age 34, RHB), John Naumann (from Cambridge University 1919, RHB, LSM).
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Ted Bowley (34)
Harold Gilligan (28)
Dick Young (39)
Lionel Isherwood (34)
Tommy Cook (24)
Jack Holmes (25)
James Langridge (18)
George Cox (51)
*Arthur Gilligan (30)
Maurice Tate (29)
Arthur Watson (41)
John Naumann (31)
Jim Parks (21)
Bert Wensley (26)
+Tich Cornford (24)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Tate, Arthur Gilligan, Wensley, Cox and Bowley.
Sussex’s greatest assets are its pair of England pace bowlers and all-rounders, Arthur Gilligan and Maurice Tate, and their success will depend largely on the form of these two, if they are not exhausted by their arduous tour of Australia. The team is known for the evenness of its batting, with Bowley outstanding at the top of the order and moderate but inconsistent talent after him down to No 11, and if only some of these players can turn themselves into more productive batsmen the team will be far better off for it. Holmes shows good talent as a batsman but will not be regularly available as he is now with the R.A.F. in Lincolnshire. After Tate and Gilligan the bowling is very thin, with Cox the main stock bowler and Bowley often called upon to lead the spin.
Players particularly to watch this season: Tate and Wensley.
LEICESTERSHIRE
1924 position: 11th
Captain: Major Gus Fowke
Notable player exits: William Benskin, William Berridge, Arthur Mounteney, George Rudd, George Salmon, Aubrey Sharp.
New players anticipated: Haydon Smith (age 24, RHB, RF).
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Alan Shipman (24)
Albert Lord (36)
Les Berry (19)
John King (54)
Ewart Astill (37)
*Gus Fowke (44)
George Geary (31)
Sydney Coulson (26)
+Tommy Sidwell (37)
Haydon Smith (24)
Frank Bale (34)
Alec Skelding (38)
Also when available, University students Eddie Dawson (21) and Claude Taylor (21).
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Geary, Skelding, Astill, Bale, Shipman and Smith.
Leicestershire’s strong bowling attack has been well known for some seasons, and it remains strong, with five fine bowlers now backed up by the youngster Smith, who like Skelding has some pace about him. However, Leicestershire as usual still need strong batting to back up their bowling, with Astill so often having to prop up that department as well. Berry gives hope of developing into a fine batsman, and so do Dawson and Taylor, when free of their University duties.
Players particularly to watch this season: Astill and Geary.
HAMPSHIRE
1924 position: 12th
Captain: Lionel Tennyson
Notable player exits: none.
New players anticipated: Alexander Hosie (on leave from India).
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
George Brown (37)
Alec Kennedy (34)
Ronnie Aird (22)
Philip Mead (38)
Harold Day (26)
Alex Bowell (45)
Alexander Hosie (34)
*Lionel Tennyson (35)
Tom Jameson (33)
Jack Newman (40)
Charles Brutton (26)
+Walter Livsey (31)
Stuart Boyes (26)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Kennedy, Newman, Boyes and Brown.
Hampshire had an unexpectedly bad season in 1924, but there is a positive air about the club and a belief that that aberration will not happen again. Much depends, though, on the continued form and fitness of Kennedy and Newman — in particular a return to his best form by Newman, who was not at his best last year. The batting has more depth, with Philip Mead always at its centre. Alexander Hosie will add to its strength while he is on leave from military duties in India, but it is not yet certain how often Harold Day will be able to play.
Players particularly to watch this season: Philip Mead and Alec Kennedy.
GLAMORGAN
1924 position: 13th
Captain: Johnnie Clay
Notable player exits: none.
New players anticipated: none.
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Eddie Bates (41)
Tom Abel (34)
Norman Riches (41)
Cyril Walters (19)
Dai Davies (28)
Maurice Turnbull (19)
Emrys Davies (20)
Trevor Arnott (23)
*Johnnie Clay (26)
Jack Mercer (32)
Helm Spencer (23)
Frank Ryan (37)
+Dennis Sullivan (42)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Mercer, Ryan, Arnott, Spencer and Clay.
Last season Glamorgan had their most successful season in the county championship to date, and they are keen to build on this improvement. They now have a stable side, they have for the present completed all their importation of cast-offs from other counties, and they have more regular players under the age of 30 than any other county, a very hopeful sign for the future. Their youngest, Walters and Turnbull, won’t be able to appear regularly, but they are notable batting prospects. Great improvements have also been made to the Cardiff Arms Park ground which could not cope with all the rain of last season.
Players particularly to watch this season: Ryan and Mercer.
WORCESTERSHIRE
1924 position: 14th
Captain: Maurice Foster.
Notable player exits: None.
New players anticipated: None.
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Dick Pearson (44)
Charles Tarbox (33)
*Maurice Foster (36)
William Hampton (22)
Fred Root (35)
Harry Rogers (36)
+Francis Summers (38)
Richard Williams (24)
Cliff Wilson (22)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Root, Pearson, Wilson and Rogers.
Worcestershire, a county heavily dependent on amateurs who are so often unavailable, look to be in some disarray as they try to find players, especially batsmen, available and worthy of selection. They have three major players in Foster, Root and Pearson, and whatever victories they may have this season is likely to depend on the performances of these players. In batting especially they struggle: Tarbox does a dour but serviceable job opening the innings, but the sadness is that there are some brilliant Worcestershire amateurs like the Higgins brothers, Herbert Hopkins, Gilbert Ashton and William Shakespeare who are likely to be available for only a handful of matches during the season. The bowling is a little better equipped, with Wilson and Rogers now able to support the long-serving and long-suffering Root and Pearson, but another hard summer is likely for Worcestershire, who appear to have the most unstable team of all the counties.
Players particularly to watch this season: Root and Rogers.
ESSEX
1924 position: 15th
Captain: Johnny Douglas.
Notable player exits: none.
New players anticipated: none.
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
+John Freeman (41)
Jimmy Cutmore (26)
Jack O’Connor (27)
Jack Russell (37)
Percy Perrin (48)
*Johnny Douglas (42)
Laurie Eastman (27)
Whiz Morris (26)
Joe Hipkin (24)
Stan Nichols (24)
George Louden (39)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Douglas, Louden, Hipkin, Eastman and Nichols.
Essex actually have quite a sound, talented team, both in batting and bowling, and it is hard to understand why they have done so poorly in the last two seasons. The infrequent appearances of Louden through business are naturally a handicap, but Douglas is still going strong, Eastman is steady, Hipkin has developed well and Nichols is tipped to break through this year. They have a sound batting line-up but perhaps are rather too cautious in their approach.
Players particularly to watch this season: Russell and Nichols.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
1924 position: 16th
Captain: Maurice Fitzroy (1st season)
Notable player exits: Arthur Bull, Billy Denton, Bob Haywood.
New players anticipated: Maurice Fitzroy (captain), John Timms (unrelated to Wilfrid).
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Claud Woolley (38)
Hamer Bagnall (21)
Wilfrid Timms (22)
Vallance Jupp (34)
Richard Wright (21)
Fanny Walden (37)
Jack Timms (18)
+Ben Bellamy (34)
*Maurice Fitzroy (28)
Bumper Wells (44)
Philip Wright (21)
Albert Thomas (31)
John Murdin (33)
Nobby Clark (22)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Thomas, Murdin, Clark, Jupp and Philip Wright.
Northamptonshire have a new leader in Captain Maurice Fitzroy, who takes over from Arthur Bull. He is reported to be a brilliant fielder and an aggressive batsman, although not really up to first-class standard with the bat — but he is an amateur, so he qualifies! On paper Northamptonshire have quite a useful side and there is a strange air of optimism at the county ground. They have a good pace attack in Thomas, Murdin and Clark, while Jupp and Philip Wright are skilled spinners, and the batting line-up is taking shape well.
Players particularly to watch this season: Clark and Philip Wright.
DERBYSHIRE
1924 position: 17th
Captain: Guy Jackson.
Notable player exits: Bill Carter, Leonard Oliver, William Tomlinson.
New players anticipated: Garnet Lee (formerly Nottinghamshire).
Leading players (age on 1 May in brackets):
Garnet Lee (37)
Joseph Bowden (40)
Les Townsend (21)
*Guy Jackson (28)
Harry Storer (27)
Sam Cadman (48)
Arthur Morton (41)
James Hutchinson (28)
James Horsley (35)
+Harry Elliott (33)
Bill Bestwick (50)
The bowling attack should be mainly in the hands of Bestwick, Horsley, Morton, Cadman, Lee and Townsend.
If you were to tell a Derbyshire man, “It can’t get any worse than last season,” he would no doubt point you to 1920, when the county lost outright all 17 of the matches they started. Again there were no outright victories last season, but at least they managed points for some draws, and even for a first-innings lead in four of them. But we can’t really hope for much better this season, although the acquisition of Lee who lost his place in the strong Nottinghamshire team in 1922, and had qualified for Derbyshire by residence, will be valuable. Bill Bestwick has turned 50 — can he handle another season of pace bowling? The club has begun a benefit fund for him this season, although they cannot afford to award him an actual benefit match. The two main all-rounders, Cadman and Morton, are both in their forties, and apart from Townsend no young players of promise can yet be identified.
Players particularly to watch this season: Lee and Jackson.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
Captain (type of player, school and county, etc.):
John Guise (RHB, RM, Winchester, Middlesex)
Old Blues returning:
George Abell (RHB, WK, Marlborough, Worcestershire)
Edward Hewetson (RHB, RF, Shrewsbury, Warwickshire)
Tom Raikes (RHB, RM, Winchester, Norfolk)
Claude Taylor (RHB, LBG, Westminster, Leicestershire — secretary)
Returning Seniors:
John Burrough (RHB, RFM, Shrewsbury, Gloucestershire)
Cosmo Crawley (RHB, Harrow, Hampshire)
Geoffrey Legge (RHB, occ LB, Malvern, Kent)
James Richardson (RHB, RM, Uppingham, Essex)
John Stephenson (RHB, RM, Shrewsbury, Yorkshire)
Possible new blood:
Ivor Gilliat (RHB, WK, Charterhouse, none)
John Greenstock (RHB, SLA, Malvern, Worcestershire)
Errol Holmes (RHB, RFM, Malvern, Surrey)
Gordon Lyon (RHB, Brighton, none)
Walter McBride (RHB, RM, Winchester, Hampshire)
Louis Serrurier (RHB, RM, Cape Town, South Africa)
Philip Stewart-Brown (RHB, Harrow, none)
Oxford University at present do not look very strong this year. They have only five old blues available, and Raikes, one of their star bowlers, has put on too much weight during the winter and needs to work hard at his fitness. They do have two class batsmen in Guise and Taylor, if the last can break out of the stonewalling mode he adopted for most of last season, and Hewetson can bowl dangerously fast in short spells and hit dangerously — also usually in short spells.
Several players who missed selection for the University match last year have another chance this year, of whom Richardson, a good dedicated all-rounder, was the most unlucky then. Of the others Legge and Stephenson are very talented batsmen, although Legge is mainly a hitter who needs to work on his defence.
Of the freshmen, Holmes from Malvern College was an outstanding schoolboy last year, a brilliant strokeplayer who will be the man under pressure as so much is expected from him. Surrey picked him up rather than unlucky Worcestershire, though, but the latter do have the promising left-arm spinner Greenstock. All have been coached in the nets at the University by Tom Hayward, Jack Hearne and Jack Newman. Oxford play 12 first-class matches this season, six against county sides.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
Captain (type of player, school and county, etc.):
Cecil Bennett (RHB, Harrow, Surrey)
Old Blues returning:
Hamer Bagnall (RHB, Harrow, Northamptonshire)
Leonard Crawley (RHB, Harrow, Worcestershire)
Eddie Dawson (opening RHB, Eton, Leicestershire)
Tom Enthoven (RHB, RM, Harrow, Middlesex)
Jack Meyer (RHB, RSM, Haileybury, Hertfordshire)
Noel Sherwell (RHB, WK, Tonbridge, Middlesex)
Returning Seniors:
Tom Francis (RHB, Tonbridge, Somerset)
Mervyn Hill (RHB, WK, Eton, Somerset)
Reggie Ingle (RHB, Oundle, Somerset)
Sam Jagger (RHB, RM, Malvern, Worcestershire)
Richard Lowe (LHB, RFM, Westminster, Kent)
Wilfrid Timms (RHB, Northampton CG, Northamptonshire)
Possible new blood:
Maurice Allom (RHB, RFM, Wellington, Surrey)
George Brown (RHB, SLA, Felsted, Essex)
KS Duleepsinhji (RHB, occ LB, Cheltenham, Sussex)
Miles Formby (RHB, RMF, Cheltenham, none)
Alan Payne (RHB, RMF, St Edmund’s, Canterbury, none)
Cambridge University will start the season as favourites to win the University match, as they have a good strong experienced team, especially in batting. They are captained by Bennett, who was unfortunate to miss last year’s University match due to a hand injury; he is also a brilliant slip fielder. ‘Duleep’, nephew of KS Ranjitsinhji, however, is the man people will want to see, as he is a batsman who seems to have much of the same talent as his great uncle. Meyer and Enthoven are two good bowlers from the old blues, and perhaps Cambridge’s only problem is in finding good support for them.
There are some good players among the returning seniors, and it is remarkable that Timms of Northamptonshire has not had a better trial or more success with the University yet. Lowe of Kent has a high reputation as a pace bowler, but he missed virtually all of last season with a back injury. He seems to be fit again now and may have a major rôle to play.
Duleep aside, here are some useful players among the freshmen, and Brown and Payne are bowlers who may come in useful, even valuable. The batsmen, though, will probably have to wait their turn another year, as they will have to do extremely well to break into a team already packed with fine batsmen. Strong odds at present favour Cambridge over Oxford, so we will have to see how both sides actually perform in the run-up to the great match starting on 6 July at Lord’s.