Hampshire Cricket History


A-Z (I1)
February 12, 2018, 7:46 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

And there is only one, because there are only two (!)

Imran Tahir can be found under T

Ingleby-Mackenzie, Alexander Colin David (323 – Amateur) born Dartmouth 15.9.1933, died London 9.3.2006. Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie will occupy for ever an important place in the history of Hampshire County Cricket Club, as the first captain to lead them as runners-up in 1958 and the Championship title three years later. This achievement by such a flamboyant man has often been attributed to his gambler’s instincts in encouraging the opposition to make generous declarations, but this is a complete myth; only three of Hampshire’s 19 victories in 1961 were won against opponent’s declaration and they equalled Yorkshire in capturing all twenty wickets in 15 of their victories.

Where Ingleby-Mackenzie’s approach was perhaps key, was in encouraging his team to “entertain or perish”, and by-and-large the experienced professional group he inherited were happy to follow his lead. Had they not suffered a disastrous August in 1958, they might have won the title then, but he was able to strengthen that first group of players with White, Wassell, Livingstone and Baldry, and even years later his team of tough, experienced professional cricketers would happily acknowledged the natural brilliance of his man management.

He was a left-handed batsman who learned his cricket at Eton, and was spotted in Southampton’s  Easter nets in 1946. In 1951, he appeared in representative schools matches at Lord’s, top-scoring with 67 v a strong Combined Services side, followed by a Championship debut at the end of the season v Sussex. Sadly the match was ruined by the rain, but not before the debutant had begun with a ‘duck’. By the following season, he had followed his father into the Royal Navy, albeit only on National Service, and played a number of non-first-class matches for them as well as seven first-class matches for Hampshire; coming in at 38-3, he scored 91 v the Indians at Bournemouth. In 1953, he played in just two first-class matches for the Combined Services, while 1954 was his first full county season with four half-centuries in 29 matches. By contrast, as Hampshire finished third in 1955 he played only once, deputising for Leo Harrison, in his capacity as an occasional wicketkeeper. There were more matches in 1956 including his first centuries, then in 1957 he began to deputise as captain and passed 1,000 runs, repeated in the next two seasons. Apart from a shortfall of just two runs in 1960, he would complete four figures each year from 1957-1962, by which time he had led his team to the title, again keeping wicket in a few games.  In 1958 he scored the fastest first-class century of the season. He celebrated with a somewhat premature, but amusing autobiography Many a Slip and a number of ‘pleasure’ cricket tours abroad, principally to the Caribbean.

What followed was something of an anti-climax as his team aged and his form declined. At the end of the 1965 season he retired with 11,140 runs and ten centuries for the county at 24.59, although he returned in 1966 as a wicketkeeper in the Gillette Cup, including Hampshire’s first semi-final appearance, ending in a heavy defeat at Worcester and the conclusion of his Hampshire career. He toured Singapore as a player with MCC as late as 1981/2 and was subsequently their President, playing a key role in admitting women to membership. In 2005 he was awarded an OBE for services to cricket, by which time he was Hampshire’s President, remaining in post until until his death. His importance to the county was recognised in the naming of the new East Stand a few years later.

Isherwood, Lionel Charlie Ramsbottom (203 – Amateur) born Southsea 13.4.1891, died Guildford 30.9.1970. Isherwood was a right-handed batsman who attended Eton College but was 28 when he played for Hampshire in the first year after the war. Over five seasons he played in 26 county matches, the majority in 1921, scoring 453 runs in 15 matches at 20.59, including three half-centuries, and a best for Hampshire of 61* v Somerset at Southampton in an eight wicket victory – he also scored 61 v Surrey later that season. From 1925-1927 he switched to Sussex, playing 28 matches and had a very similar record to that at Hampshire, where he had scored 627 runs at 16.50. He played also in a number of matches for MCC. John Arlott (1957) described him as “a conscientious, careful batsman with limited strokes, but much patience”.


2 Comments

I recall that Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie was spoken of as a possible England captain in the early 1960’s. I doubt if that was too serious, but perhaps it rang bells about Tennyson’s spell as England captain.
In my dream Hampshire team, those two would alternate as captain and manager.

Comment by Dave Pople

That would be fun Dave! They were the great characters and Ingleby was the loveliest bloke imaginable – but for my money, the finest Hampshire captain will always be Richard Gilliat. In no time, he lost White, Cottam, Castell, Holder, Livingstone, Marshall etc and he created the best Hampshire side ever (1973-1975).

Comment by pompeypop




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