All Ten: The Ultimate Bowling Feat

187 Bob Berry Lancashire v Worcestershire, 1953 County Championship Stanley Park, Blackpool on 29, 30, 31 July 1953 (3-day match) Toss won by Lancashire Lancashire won by 18 runs Umpires: E Cooke, TW Spencer Lancashire 265 (RTD Perks 7-115) and 262-8 dec; Worcestershire 191 and 318 (R Berry 10-102) Worcestershire second innings D Kenyon lbw b Berry 51 PE Richardson c Ikin b Berry 33 LF Outschoorn b Berry 25 *RE Bird c Ikin b Berry 3 G Dews c Wharton b Berry 5 RG Broadbent c Howard b Berry 92 LN Devereux c Ikin b Berry 67 +H Yarnold c Grieves b Berry 13 RTD Perks c Tattersall b Berry 12 JR Ashman not out 6 GH Chesterton c Ikin b Berry 0 Extras (b 7, lb 4) 11 Total (all out, 94.2 overs) 318 Fall of wickets 1-84, 2-89, 3-99, 4-105, 5-153, 6-258, 7-286, 8-300, 9-318, 10-318 Lancashire bowling: JB Statham 19-4-54-0, A Wharton 10-1-36-0, R Tattersall 24-6-91-0, R Berry 36.2-9-102-10, JT Ikin 5-1-24-0 Lancashire: C Washbrook, JT Ikin, GA Edrich, W Place, KJ Grieves, ND Howard (capt), A Wharton, FD Parr (wk), JB Statham, R Tattersall, R Berry Bob Berry was a diminutive and popular slow left-armer relying more on variations of flight than excessive spin. After league cricket he made his first-class debut for Lancashire in 1948 aged 22. Two years later, after only 23 first-class matches, he was playing for England against the West Indies on his home ground at Old Trafford. The selectors had tried a few slow left-armers since the War but nobody had really set the world alight, although Yorkshireman Johnny Wardle’s time would come, and so the relatively inexperienced Berry was given a go. Taking nine wickets Berry had a good first Test. He had less success at Lord’s in the Second Test, failing to strike as West Indies secured their first Test win in England. He played no more in the series but had impressed the selectors enough for him to be on the boat to Australia the following winter. He had a poor tour however and his brief Test career was over. Wardle and Surrey’s Tony Lock were now the main contenders for the England side, and even Berry’s Lancashire place was no longer certain because of the form of Malcolm Hilton (left-arm like Berry, but pushing it through and relying more on sharp spin than subtle variations of flight).