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There is a very interesting piece in today’s Daily Telegraph (online) by Scyld Berry about spin bowling which – with tomorrow’s match in mind – includes this: “the only spinners in the Division One who have taken more than six wickets are Lancashire’s leg-spinner Matt Parkinson, who has taken 11; Zafar Gohar, Gloucestershire’s left-arm spinner and overseas player from Pakistan with ten; and Danny Briggs, Warwickshire’s left-armer, who has eight”. He adds that like Mason Crane, England’s current spinner Jack Leach is yet to take one (Liam and Felix each have three).
This table is interesting, showing Johnny Wardle (who once nearly joined Hampshire) out in front on average and strike rate and level with fellow Yorkshireman Verity on economy, but Leach, while expensive, is second best on the strike rate (one every 11 overs). Who would have thought it?
ENGLAND’S LEADING LEFT-ARM SPINNERS SINCE WW1:
| Player | Wickets | Average | Strike rate | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Underwood | 297 | 25 | 73 | 2.1 |
| Tony Lock | 174 | 25 | 75 | 2.0 |
| Monty Panesar | 167 | 35 | 74 | 2.7 |
| Hedley Verity | 144 | 24 | 77 | 1.8 |
| Ashley Giles | 143 | 40 | 85 | 2.8 |
| Phil Edmonds | 125 | 34 | 96 | 2.1 |
| Phil Tufnell | 121 | 37 | 93 | 2.4 |
| Johnny Wardle | 102 | 20 | 64 | 1.8 |
| Jack Leach | 79 | 31 | 66 | 2.8 |
Today’s title is from a track by a relatively obscure American psychedelic band, HP Lovecraft. I’ve been neglecting music references a bit.
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Hampshire Cricket History 
It’s got to be of some significance that figures have mostly declined since around 1980 when county pitches were covered. On uncovered pitches these guys would bowl far more and I guess get better
Comment by Dave Allen April 27, 2022 @ 7:39 amThat comment led me to check something and discover this remarkable ‘stat’: Johnny Wardle bowled 17,000+ first-class overs during his 13-year county career with Yorkshire, an average of 1,316 per year. Ashley Giles was with Warwickshire also for 13 years and bowled 2,870 overs – an average of 221 per year.
Comment by Dave Allen April 27, 2022 @ 7:47 amLiam Dawson averages just under 200 overs per season in first-class cricket, Mason Crane around 220. Peter Sainsbury, who bowled mostly on uncovered pitches, averaged about 680 overs per first-class season.
Comment by Dave Allen April 27, 2022 @ 8:42 amUnderstand Wardle used to be incensed that Lock gained precedence in the England side as the latter blatantly threw in the 1950’s. From what I have read, he was probably the most versatile and talented spin bowler this country has ever possessed.
Comment by Alan Edwards April 27, 2022 @ 9:20 amI think that’s probably right Alan – had the range like Sobers a bit later. He and Lock were also feisty individuals – I was thinking maybe we might say that about Edmonds and our Liam too but not so sure about Underwood or Giles!
Comment by Dave Allen April 27, 2022 @ 9:57 amMJ Burton clearly Tailor-made for Hants 2nd XI attack (5-55) – Cardiff Uni all out 198 and following on miles behind (two wickets for Croom).
Comment by Dave Allen April 27, 2022 @ 2:34 pmSecond innings around tea 82-6 – three for Croom, two for Prest
Comment by Dave Allen April 27, 2022 @ 4:04 pmMason Crane to Sussex on loan for a month, at least he’ll get some playing time as Sussex have been terrible so far.
Comment by joelhesslegrave April 27, 2022 @ 5:01 pmThanks Joel
Comment by Dave Allen April 27, 2022 @ 5:35 pm