History of Bucks CCC

Franklin takes command Fifteen of those who had represented Bucks returned to play at least once more in post-war matches. They were: ET Brocklehurst, F Edwards, WB Franklin, RN Hamilton, WE Hazelton, OP Horlick, WL Jackson, RA Janes, H Jennison, TR Kent, PWLe Gros, DLLMackey, H Pitchford, DAD Sewell and SL Trevor. Some on the list were the makeweights of the difficult pre-war years, men who had contributed little on the field and were to add little more; but the 15 names included one man who would stamp his presence on Bucks cricket for more than 20 years. Walter Franklin had first joined the committee in 1912 while still an undergraduate and in 1919 he was elected captain, a post he held until 1946. During these years he became renowned as one of the fiercest competitors in minor counties cricket. “He hated to lose,” says one who remembers opposing him, and there is little doubt that many of those who played under him lived in fear of his sharp tongue and withering stare if their standards slipped. Widely regarded as one of the finest wicket-keepers in the land and a useful if inconsistent batsman, Franklin played regularly for the Gentlemen and, had he chosen to do so, could have enjoyed an impressive first-class career. In the opinion of HL Collins, captain of the Australian touring team in 1926, Franklin was the best wicket-keeper in England and he was invited to tour Australia with APF Chapman’s team two years later, but he could not spare a winter away from his profession at the bar. However, life as a barrister with its long summer vacation was ideally suited to a minor county career. Injury cost Franklin four matches in 1921, but thereafter he missed only two more games until he retired at the end of the 1946 season having played 200 championship matches for Bucks. 41 Franklin takes command Franklin in action in the Gents v Players match. The batsman is Percy Holmes