Hampshire Cricket History

We reach 1963, and rather than launch straight into Hampshire’s first match (with an interesting incident) there is a context to be set, because it wasn’t just the Beatles (etc) who turned entertainment upside down – English (and in some cases world) cricket saw a number of major changes – some of which resonate today. Consider these:

The distinction between amateurs and professionals was abolished along with historic Gents v Players matches

The new 65-over knock-out cup sponsored by Gillette (the first domestic sponsors) was launched. Sussex beat Worcestershire in the first Lord’s Final

The no-ball law changed from back foot to front foot

The four year experiment with covered pitches was abandoned until the 1980s. Pitches could now be covered only before the match, over the weekend and once the pitch is saturated

All counties played 28 matches, abandoning the average system, while points for wins were increased and first innings points reduced.

Counties were able to enforce the follow-on, after it had been abolished for three seasons

The West Indies tourists brought an exciting approach to Test cricket rarely seen from other countries (including sadly, England). They won the series 3-1.

In January 1963, Alex Bannister wrote an article about all this in the Playfair Cricket Monthly, entitled “The Most Important Decisions the Game has Known”

Tomorrow, Hampshire’s first match of the often soggy 1963 season

A worrying but very fine piece – many thanks to Paul who keeps me on track with the Daily Telegraph

http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/178/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/178/pub/178/page/126/article/28646

Back to the series now – and I’d like you to know that with these main posts I’m copying and enlarging them and sending them to Susanne Marlow who I’m sure you know – loyal supporter for many decades, one of only three women Committee members, Vice President and of course the leading light of Hampshire Cricket Society for many years. She’s pretty isolated out in East Meon and struggling with her eyesight, so she enjoys these posts.

1962 and Hampshire started the season with a match when they weren’t actually Hampshire. Having won their first Championship title in 1961, the Duke of Norfolk invited them to be his XI to play against the visiting Pakistani tourists in a one day (but not limited overs) match at Arundel.

Hampshire flew their Champions flag for the first time on Saturday 28 April 1962 and batting first with 12 players, posted 204-6 declared from 63 overs with Roy Marshall scoring 61 and Henry Horton 55, while opening bowler Mohammad Farooq took 4-42.

Pakistan replied with 173-6 from 54 overs with five Hampshire bowlers taking one wicket each plus a run-out.  Intikhab Alam top-scored with 45 before dismissed by Marshall, while Mushtaq Mohammad was 37*.

1962 was the last English season before the introduction of the knock-out cup and the abolition of the amateur/professional divide and Hampshire slipped from the peak to 10th place. This photo shows Arundel on that day – pinched from the Handbook.

There that was a surprise I guess, but it’s OK, it’s not Liam or Mason or Brad or even that new bloke from ‘down under’

It’s this chap – remember?

In his two matches for Hampshire in 2018 he managed two ‘ducks’ and took 5-196. Having been released by Middlesex, Ollie Rayner has retired.

If you are feeling dismayed that you might not see the launch of the GREAT new competition, don’t worry. The ECB has staged “the complete first season” behind closed doors and it’s out now on DVD (do you have photo ID? Are you over 18?):

Finds the Silver Lining:

(Many thanks to Colin for spotting this in yesterday’s Evening Standard)

https://bythesightscreen.com/

https://bythesightscreen.com/

It’s very good

(Thanks Stephen)

https://bythesightscreen.com/

Very good!!

(Thanks to Stephen)

I hope you guys are still out there and feeling OK(?)

My computer has just been returned rebuilt but I’ve had to re-install all sorts, including the Blog for which I needed the password from 10 years and three days ago (Hah! Fat chance – I have a new one). Anyway I’m finally back and so, here’s the second instalment in my series of opening matches of each season – it’s 1961, a great season, but a dodgy start:

The first Hampshire match of 1961 didn’t provide enough cricket to indicate the magic to come, although Hampshire had the better of their meeting with Worcestershire at Bournemouth which started on Wednesday 3 May. On that first day Mervyn Burden (4-60) and Derek Shackleton (3-38) dismissed Worcs for a slow 208 in 104 overs and one ball – and the visitors were indebted to the ‘other’ Horton, Martin, who opened the batting, scoring 115 before he was seventh out at 165.

There was just time for Marshall and Gray to score three runs before the close, but the following day, Thursday, was wrecked by rain and there was no play. Even Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie could not engineer a result from that situation, so the final day was a matter of Hampshire pursuing first innings points. They were given the best possible start by their openers, Marshall (74) and Gray (58) who added 117 and when Danny Livingstone added 48* Hampshire went past the Worcs score and ending on 217-5 from 96 overs obtained two points for the lead and two more for a faster scoring rate.

Hampshire won their next two matches and they were off in pursuit of the title. After the first two matches Mervyn Burden had 16 wickets at an average of 10.5 but by that great day back at Bournemouth on 1 September he was 12^th man. On that Friday in early May, Hampshire made the short journey from Bournemouth to Frome as the ‘Spurs’ players prepared to clinch the first twentieth century ‘double’ at Wembley the following afternoon (beating Leicester 2-0). In the charts, American Doo-Wop group the Marcels were at number one with “Blue Moon”, while Astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space that week – but for just 19 minutes and a long way from the (blue) moon.