August Bank Holiday 1950 found Lancashire heading the table with 13 wins from 21 matches. They were 20 points ahead of Yorkshire with Surrey third, another 12 points behind. Brian Statham made his Roses debut at Old Trafford, skidding and falling down twice before knocking over Lowson’s off stump with his sixth delivery. Within six overs Yorkshire were 13 for four, Lester and Watson also falling to Statham. Such pace was a rarity in the Championship and at the other end Hutton, so often on the receiving end from Lindwall and Miller, had food for thought. Yardley remained defiant and was last out for 119 in a total of 226; Statham 21-4-52-5. Washbrook made 88 to guide Lancashire into a seven-run lead with the last pair together, Coxon and Wardle each taking five wickets and then Hutton and Willie Watson helped Yardley set up a declaration which left Lancashire to make 276 in 205 minutes. Washbrook made 74 out of 102 for the first wicket with Place but the game fizzled out. Statham’s bowling in this match led to his going to Australia as a reinforcement in 1950-51. In 1951 Yorkshire were second and Lancashire third to Warwickshire. Both Roses matches were drawn, the August weather allowing only Saturday’s play at Bramall Lane. The Roses counties were similarly placed in 1952, when Surrey began their seven-year run as champions. At Headingley, Hutton and Lowson ended a rain-shortened Saturday on 170 and they carried their first wicket partnership to 245 on Whit Monday. Declarations left Lancashire to make 233 in 150 minutes. They accepted the challenge but Close got among them and it was left to Washbrook, with a heavily bandaged bruised thumb, and the wicket-keeper Alan Wilson to defy Yorkshire in the last half hour with eight wickets down. There was another thrilling finish at Old Trafford in August. Rain prevented play until four o’clock on Saturday but on Monday 20,000 people saw 23 wickets fall for 234 runs. First Berry took six for 52 as Yorkshire were dismissed on a drying pitch for 200. Then Trueman and Eric Burgin, an in swing bowler who had a successful career in league cricket, shot out Lancashire for 65. Close hit 61 and a declaration set Lancashire 299 in 225 minutes. With half-an-hour left they were 157 for seven when Trueman and Burgin took the new ball. Trueman bowled Statham and Tattersall but the wicket-keeper (and jazz musician) Frank Parr and the last man Berry held out for a draw. A lean year for Yorkshire in 1953 failed to dampen the enthusiasm for the Roses game, more than 60,000 attending the Bramall Lane match in August. On Whit Saturday 1954, 29,000 packed Headingley to see Yorkshire, runners-up that season, make 348 for seven. On Monday 20,000 people waited in vain for the rain to stop but there was no further play. At Old Trafford in August, Vic Wilson made an unbeaten 130 in a total of 248, Statham taking six wickets. Lancashire were then completely bamboozled by Wardle, who took full advantage of a helpful pitch. His nine for 25 marked the most outstanding bowling feat since George Hirst’s nine for 23 at Headingley in 1910. Following on, Lancashire collapsed again, this time to Bob Appleyard and Yorkshire, by an innings and 38 had gained their first Roses win since the war and consolidated their title challenge. They promptly won again at Old Trafford in 1955 and were then robbed by the weather at Sheffield, where Watson made 174. Lancashire took due revenge at Headingley over Whitsun a year later, Tattersall taking six for 47 and eight for 43 to return a match analysis of 56.3-31-90-14. More than 66,000 watched an exciting game, Yorkshire chasing a target but failing against Tattersall. There was another fine match at Old Trafford in August 1956 when Lancashire finished Lancashire v Yorkshire 140