All Ten: The Ultimate Bowling Feat

122 Alex Kennedy before being dismissed by Warwickshire colleague Bob (R.E.S) Wyatt. A remarkable man who served both Army and Church with distinction, Parsons played for both Players and Gentlemen and would not have been out of place in an England team. Having scored 424 for nine by the end of the first day, the Players immediately declared on Friday morning after rain had prevented any play on the second day. The Gentlemen now had to face Kennedy on a drying, wearing pitch. Hampshire’s Scot took full advantage, consistently putting the ball in that difficult spot around leg stump that compelled the batsman to play at his awkwardly lifting leg cutter. First to go was dentist Norman Riches, who in 1921 had become the first Glamorgan batsman to pass 1,000 runs in first-class cricket. He failed to trouble the scorers this time, but at 44 he could still bat, as shown the following season when he scored centuries against Warwickshire and against a powerful Lancashire attack. After that, although Kennedy’s county colleague Charles Brutton was the only other batsman to make a duck, nobody could resist him for long. He received admirable support from his close fielders, particularly Hendren who snaffled three catches including Kennedy’s own county captain Lionel Tennyson. Although without doubt Kennedy got considerable help both from the pitch and the batsmen, it is worth noting that the two bowlers who delivered 22 wicketless overs at the other end, Newman and Hearne, eventually took nearly 3,900 first-class wickets between them. Utley was the last to go, smartly stumped by Tennyson’s valet Walter Livsey, a very capable keeper who despite the conditions kept for 45 overs without conceding a bye. Kennedy’s figures will remain the best ever in a Gentlemen-Players match, and are also still the best ever by a Hampshire bowler in any match. Following on, the Gentlemen began their second innings after lunch. The heavy roller had made the pitch a little easier and this time the amateurs were more resilient, most of them at least reaching double figures. Nevertheless, at 152 for eight and with half an hour left, defeat still looked likely, but a gallant unbroken stand of 29 between Falcon (11 not out) and Franklin (20 not out) saved the Gentlemen from the ignominy of being bowled out twice in a day. Kennedy took two more wickets, but this time it was the medium pace of Surrey allrounder Tom Shepherd with four for 20 that did most damage. With the exception of the special circumstances of 1970, 1927 was the last peacetime season in which England played no home Test matches. The Gentlemen-Players match at Lord’s a week later was therefore the most important match of the season. Unfortunately it was spoiled by rain. However, the Gentlemen were able to put out a much stronger side. Only Franklin would not play for England and, thanks particularly to a Jardine century, in the time available they gave a much better account of themselves. Kennedy did not appear for the Players. On retirement from the county game Kennedy became coach first at Cheltenham College and then at King Edward’s School, Johannesburg. His