History of Bucks CCC

Worcestershire, for whom he appeared in their Twenty20 side when this novel form of cricket began in 2003. Taylor started with a bang - 46 in 20 balls in his first innings to win the Man of the Match award, but thereafter he had little success, and the story was the same when he was briefly signed to inject fireworks into the Derbyshire National League side. Before the next season there was time for another overseas tour, this time a return visit to South Africa. Gary Black had come out of retirement to lead a large party in 1996. Now there were 13 players under manager Jon Coles in a party of 27. Once again it was the holiday of a lifetime for those who went to support the team, while four wins against three defeats was a heartening record in a country where no visiting team expects easy successes. Bucks’ reward for their one-day successes at the end of the previous summer was a home tie against Gloucestershire, the ultimate winners of the C & G Trophy in 2003. Ascott Park was at its most beautiful as the visitors elected to bat first in early spring sunshine. Soon the ball was flying to all parts with former Test players Craig Spearman and Jonty Rhodes supporting Man of the Match Tim Hancock’s 135 as Gloucestershire posted 401 for 7. Hancock later commented that minor counties usually provide a dodgy pitch to make the first-class batsmen struggle, but that Bucks had prepared a belter. It didn’t stop the Gloucestershire bowlers, led by Mike Smith and James Averis, from dispatching the home batsmen for only 77. A century by the captain set up a 76-run victory over Wiltshire in the Minor Counties Knockout, which had now replaced the 38 County competition, and Atkins stood alone in the next round with 88, but a total of 188 was never a stiff enough target for Shropshire, who won by five wickets. Meanwhile there was the most dispiriting of seasons in the Championship. With not one win – there had now been only one in three years - Bucks were rooted to the bottom of Eastern Division. It was at Stone that chairman Stuart York sat with the captain to reflect on what might be done. “It was the closest I got to jacking it in,” Atkins reflects. He had taken the field still one man short, and had then seen one of his few experienced players, Russell Lane, laid low with illness and replaced in the field by the 52-year-old manager, Steve Lynch. He had been powerless to stop Staffordshire piling up 450 for 5. Not since 1948 had a higher score been made against Bucks. The batsmen then managed just 89 in 37 overs, the lowest Bucks total for 15 years. It was less embarrassing in the follow-on, but reaching 213 could not prevent this being one of the heaviest defeats in the county’s history. At least there were no squabbles in the dressing room. “We had disappointment rather than discontent,” says Atkins. But the harsh truth was that the team comprised five or six genuine minor county players if no stars but, with the difficulties in getting High Wycombe players to play, the balance was made up with those who were at best unproven and at worst unlikely ever to make the grade. In the very next match Northumberland rattled up 426 for 3 at Jesmond, the second highest score off Bucks bowling in over 50 years. Despite the shaft of light in Matt Eyles’ 89 not out before rain came, it was clear that something had to change if the county was ever to move forward again. It was decided that time was up for Andy Clarke. Now 41, he still earned his keep as a bowler, but there his contribution ended. He was no batsman and a pedestrian fielder. Off the field he was a great character, but he was not an ideal role 110 The advent of three-day cricket Stuart York