Chapter Eighteen Breaching the Big Six Warwickshire finished bottom of the Championship table in 1919; their new holiday opponents Derbyshire were to do so in 1920 when they endured the worst season in their history. It was not an encouraging start but better times were ahead with the appointments of Freddie Calthorpe as captain of Warwickshire and Guy Jackson as his Derbyshire equivalent. Both counties also had the benefit of strong administration. Rowland Ryder was associated with Warwickshire for nearly 50 years, beginning as assistant secretary in 1895 before succeeding William Ansell as secretary, a post he held until his retirement in 1944. Will Taylor served as secretary of Derbyshire from 4 August 1908 until 31 December 1959, a period of 51 years and 149 days which exceeded that of the previous longest-serving secretary AJ Lancaster of Kent by 17 months. Taylor and Ryder could appreciate the financial benefits from alternating holiday matches at Derby and Edgbaston, each ground handily situated for away support. The problem was the contrasting nature of the venues. Edgbaston had already been recognised as a ground fit to stage a Test match and would soon do so again. But the County Ground at Nottingham Road, Derby, was another story. Facilities were basic, to say the least. In 1920, Warwickshire won both matches with ease, Harry Howell’s pace proving too much, with Calthorpe also joining in the fun at Edgbaston. Howell took eight for 69 in the second innings as Derbyshire succumbed again at Edgbaston in 1921 but he was upstaged by Bill Bestwick, who returned to Derbyshire at the age of 46 to take 147 wickets at 16.72 each. Derbyshire had been dismissed for 181 but Bestwick returned figures of 31-10-65-9 to bowl his side into a 40-run lead. Warwickshire won easily enough in the end but Bestwick was again among the wickets when the teams met at Derby in August, when Len Oliver scored 151 and Harry Storer registered his maiden century for the home side. This set up what could have been an interesting finish before rain restricted play to 25 minutes on the final day. Bestwick was at the centre of a celebrated occasion in the 1922 Whitsuntide match at Derby. Warwickshire won by 10 wickets after more devastation from Howell but during their first innings Bill Bestwick and his son Robert bowled to Willie Quaife and his son Bernard – the only time in first-class cricket that father and son have bowled to father and son. Six overs were delivered from opposite ends on Whit Monday but it was one of the fathers, WG Quaife, who came out best with 107 before he was bowled by Bob Bestwick. In addition to two fathers and sons in the match there were brothers Cyril and John Smart and the cousins Guy and Anthony Jackson for Warwickshire and Derbyshire respectively – quite a family affair. 80