All Ten: The Ultimate Bowling Feat

185 Trevor Bailey Essex were still a nomadic side, spreading themselves around the county in a series of cricket weeks, achieved by turning the side into a travelling circus with a convoy of lorries bringing everything needed to convert a club ground into a county ground. In 1949 the Vista Road Recreation Ground, home of Clacton-on-Sea Cricket Club, was one of six venues where the circus came to town. Essex played their last game there in 1966, although the ground is still used by Clacton-on-Sea. To attract holidaymakers matches were played in late July or August. The pitch had a reputation for unpredictability, perhaps because, like other seaside grounds, its performance could seemingly be affected by the state of the tide. Playing two matches there each season Essex had not found Clacton to be a very successful venue for them since the War, and in the match just finished there they had lost by an innings, Bailey taking one for 133 as Somerset piled up 488. Essex and Lancashire, their opponents in the second match of the Clacton week, would both finish in the middle of the Championship in 1949. However, the following season Essex would fall to the bottom of the table for the first time ever whilst Lancashire, with a number of good young bowlers coming to the fore, would share the title with Surrey. Lancashire had a useful batting side, starting with three England batsmen: Cyril Washbrook, Jack Ikin and Winston Place. Journeying from Liverpool they had not arrived in Clacton until 3.00 am and were no doubt glad to bat first. The main contributors were Geoff Edrich (82) and Nigel Howard (66). Howard was the son of influential administrator Rupert. He was in his first year as Lancashire captain, a position he would hold until 1953, and also captained a second string England on the 1951/52 tour of India and Pakistan. It was apparently not until the eighth wicket fell at 268 that Bailey, or anybody else, realised that an all-ten was possible. Numbers nine, ten, jack were not renowned batsmen and he must have anticipated finishing the visitors off quickly and completing the job, especially as captain Tom Pearce helped by putting on two (very) occasional bowlers, including himself. The tail took advantage of this largesse before Bailey eventually bowled both slow left-armer Bill Roberts and wicketkeeper Alf Barlow, but only after their contributions in support of Roy Tattersall’s 34 not out had seen Lancashire through to a match-winning score. Bailey had swung the ball away at a lively pace, as well as bringing the occasional ball back, and many of his wickets came from tentative shots outside the off stump. He was particularly well served by allrounder Frank Vigar at slip and wicketkeeper Tom Wade, who each took three catches. On a good pitch Bailey had had to work hard for his wickets, bowling nearly 40 overs on a warm day taking three wickets by lunch and another three by tea. Once again the cousins Smith (186 wickets in the season) had bowled without reward whilst somebody cleaned up at the other end. In time-honoured fashion the ball was mounted and inscribed, and later presented to Bailey by club president Lt-Col Hubert Ashton MP. Bailey would eventually play 28 matches against Lancashire but never took five wickets in an innings against them again, although he achieved the feat at least twice against each of the other counties. He is the only bowler to have