History of Bucks CCC

Gentlemen. Tom Hearne’s last match for Bucks was in 1868. He suffered a stroke in 1876, but made a remarkable recovery going on to earn great respect as manager of the ground bowlers at Lord’s for more than 20 years. George Hearne, three years younger than his brother, did not play again for Bucks after this first match, making one of his rare appearances for Middlesex in the return fixture in1864. If the Bucks team included a second paid player alongside Tom Hearne it was most likely to be Tom Plumb from Aylesbury, rated one of the finest wicket-keepers in the land. But the county’s real strength lay in its amateurs, few of whom were more distinguished than the Reverend Edward Tyrwhitt Drake, who was most renowned for his under-arm lobs that twisted in from leg to off, and of whose batting it was said that he was ‘one of the most slashing that has yet appeared’. In 1863 Edward Drake was installed as rector of St Mary’s Amersham, where his family still hold the patronage, serving until 1904 when he was succeeded by another cricketing parson, the Reverend CE Briggs. Charles Edward Briggs had played six times for Hampshire before taking up his appointment. He was for many years captain of the Amersham club and made one appearance for Bucks. When he left St Mary’s in1947 he and ET Drake had given the parish 84 unbroken years with a first-class cricketer as rector. Henry Bull, a splendid long stop who seldom missed a match, and Robert Fitzgerald were both useful performers in the teams of the 1860s, but most notable of all were the three Marsham brothers, kinsmen of the Earl of Romney and all of them Oxford blues: the Reverend CDB, one of the best amateur bowlers of his day, Charles, who also served on the committee, and Robert, whose role in Bucks’ first match is tinged with uncertainty. In this match Haygarth credits Robert Marsham with batting at number four, but the Bucks Herald records that the player concerned was R Ridley, whose name is never seen again. Playing under an assumed name was not unknown in these times and one may speculate as to the reason. Might Robert have been mindful that for many years the Marshams’ first loyalty had been to Oxfordshire? Or did he not wish to advertise his whereabouts as he absconded from some professional or social commitment? The match ended as a draw, the scores being Bucks 189 and 165, Middlesex 238. ‘592 runs for thirty wickets lowered!’ gasps Haygarth, clearly unaccustomed to such dominance of the bat. 14 A first County Club is formed Tom Hearne ET Drake