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We are celebrating the Queen’s 70 years of ‘service’ this week which began on 6 February 1952 with the death of her father – the 70th anniversary of her coronation will be 2 June next year but it’s handy that the celebrations are in June this year because 6 February 1952 was not a very exciting day in the history of Hampshire County Cricket Club, whereas over 31 May and 1 & 2 June 1953 we were down in Bristol for a Championship game.
Desmond Eagar won the toss, we chose to bat and Neville Rogers and Jimmy Gray went past 50 for the first wicket before three quick wickets for spinners ‘Sam’ Cook (2) and ‘Bomber’ Wells reduced us to 61-3. That brought together Cliff Walker who had come down to Hampshire from Yorkshire and Alan Rayment who had played for Middlesex 2s before also moving south. The pair posted their highest scores in adding 246 before Rayment went for 126 while Walker was still there at the close and went on to 150* in a Hampshire total of 375 (151 overs) early the next morning.
To force a win, Hampshire would need quick wickets after batting on into day two and after ‘Shack’ struck early they struggled to 138-5 but the Gloucs captain Jack Crapp went to a century and found good support from ‘keeper Arthur Wilson (94) and pace bowler George Lambert (62*) and they closed on 323-6 which meant the final day would be a battle for first innings points.
The first two days had been extended to allow a late start on day three, enabling players and spectators to watch (or listen to) the Coronation broadcast and when play began at 2pm it was Gloucestershire who took the points finishing on 393 in 161.3 overs – a lead of 18. The wickets were shared around with Jimmy Gray taking 3-46 which he followed with 25* as Hampshire played out time at 62-2 – both unusually falling to Tom Graveney (2-16) who bowled in tandem with Arthur Milton; Neville Rogers retired hurt with a damaged thumb which would keep him out for a few weeks. At the season’s end Hampshire had dropped two places to 14th while Gloucestershire were equal with Derbyshire in 6th place. Surrey won the second of seven consecutive titles.
Below, a few years later (of which more tomorrow) HM the Queen meets the Hampshire side at Guildford and shakes hands with Alan Rayment who had his own reasons for remembering her Coronation.
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Hampshire Cricket History 
Gubbins in this morning and has started well (30* at lunch). He finished 67* and the counties won by 7 wickets
Comment by Dave Allen May 29, 2022 @ 11:41 amI rather enjoyed the fall of the first Yorkshire wicket today. After 14 balls they were 24-1 with Lyth out for 24, having faced every ball.
Comment by Dave Allen May 29, 2022 @ 4:40 pmAn advert has just appeared on Sky Sports TV for the First Test, England v New Zealand starting Thursday. The header and the running commentary ran “Remembering Shane Warne”. Why?
Comment by Dave Allen May 29, 2022 @ 5:19 pmThe Sky commentary box has been renamed after him
Comment by dmashala May 29, 2022 @ 5:37 pmThank you
Comment by Dave Allen May 29, 2022 @ 5:50 pmAlsop 65 off 30 today
Comment by dmashala May 29, 2022 @ 5:37 pmThe only half-century in the match and Sussex (just) won, so they are off the bottom of the table and despite a narrow defeat, Kent’s goal difference improved, so we need at least a tie (or rained off) tomorrow to be off the bottom. Elsewhere Warwickshire won again with two wickets for Danny Briggs and one for Lintott.
Comment by Dave Allen May 29, 2022 @ 6:03 pm