Jim Parks, who played in 44 Sussex-Middlesex games, recalled Whit Monday at Lord’s in 1955, a joint benefit for Harry Sharp and Alex Thompson. There was no play on Saturday but 20,000 saw an incredible display by Compton on the second day. Going in when two wickets had fallen at four, he soon lost Edrich but went on to make 150 out of a total of 206 against an attack including Thomson, James, Marlar and Oakman in a total of 206. Only two other batsmen reached double figures, John Warr’s 13 being the next best effort. “He never played and missed,” said Parks. “He eventually holed out and I can see it now, Ken Suttle catching him off Robin Marlar in front of the grandstand. It was magnificent.” Parks also had good cause to remember the Lord’s game in June 1954, which was for Leslie Compton’s benefit. Middlesex had won their first six Championship matches but Sussex were at the bottom of the table when they arrived at headquarters. Sheppard, Doggart and Suttle batted well and Parks was unbeaten with 92 when the declaration came at 263 for eight. Six Middlesex wickets then fell for 96 when Leslie Compton came in to join his brother. “We caught them on a wet pitch,” said Parks. “We batted well on Saturday and then it rained and, of course, pitches were left uncovered in those days. Once again Denis played a marvellous innings. About the only thing he didn’t do well was run between the wickets. Bill Edrich reckoned that instead of calling you had to negotiate with him. Leslie came in and you usually gave the beneficiary one off the mark. I was at cover point when Leslie played the ball there and we gave him the single. The very next ball Denis played straight to me and Les had just crossed so he was run out by his brother in his benefit game for 1. Fred Titmus had been run out for 14 earlier and when the last man, Alan Moss, strolled to the wicket, he said ‘there’s one thing certain – he’ll not run me out’. Shortly afterwards the scorecard read Moss run out 2. Again, Denis never played and missed in making 72 not out in a total of 144.” Crowds of 20,000 looked on but rain washed out the third day. Middlesex ended the year in seventh place, Sussex finishing ninth. The run-out incident involving the Comptons was also recalled by David Sheppard. “Les was calling out, ‘He’s done it again,’ when he was only halfway down the pitch.” Middlesex and Sussex continued to attract the crowds and the beneficiaries generally reaped the rewards. Sussex won a thriller at Hove in 1952 in what was a field day for the fast medium bowlers: Wood, Cornford and Ian Thomson for Sussex and Alan Moss, John Warr and Don Bennett on the visitors’ side. Sussex finished 13th that year; in 1953 under the inspiring captaincy of Sheppard they were runners-up to Surrey. Sheppard, Ken Suttle, Jim Parks, Cox and John Langridge made most of the runs and the leading wicket takers were Thomson, Ted James, Wood and Alan Oakman. They were beaten at Lord’s and the August fixture at Hove found them in second place to Middlesex in the table. Edrich won the toss, put Sussex in on a damp pitch and Moss rewarded him with seven for 35 in a total of 118. By the close Middlesex were 104 for two, an unbroken partnership by Edrich and Compton having added 94. On Bank Holiday Monday conditions were much better when a record 15,000 crowd attended. Middlesex occupied seven and a half hours – nearly 150 overs – in making 346 but Doggart, Parks and Suttle ensured Sussex were safe from defeat. As the seasons passed there was little evidence of a decline in popularity. The first two days at Lord’s in 1954 attracted 20,000 before rain washed out the final day and the Hove fixtures remained well attended. Sussex continued to even up the score, with a win by an innings at Lord’s in 1956 and victories at Hove in 1954 and 1957. The latter year marked the end of Denis Compton’s career. Middlesex v Sussex 135