History of Bucks CCC

Those from the pre-war teams who had survived the war with Franklin and were to become his key players of the early seasons were: Philip Le Gros, vice-captain and number four batsman; opening bowler Wyndham Hazelton; Will Jackson, an opening batsman from Wycombe; and the incomparable Frank Edwards as a left-arm spinner. Of the others survivors Captain Spencer Trevor, who had played in 1914, was elected the first post-war secretary, while EHD Sewell’s son David became his assistant in 1921. Oliver Horlick, with just two matches before the war and two more in 1920, was a more modest performer on the field. His greatest contribution to the cause began when he took over from Herbert Bull as treasurer in 1920 and stretched on throughout the decade, first as Trevor’s replacement when he left the area, then as assistant to his successor. Bucks were fortunate to enjoy the services of Spencer Trevor. A man who would later play the part of Period Blimp in the film ‘The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp’, Trevor’s dedication to the cause was captured in the columns of The Cricketer : ‘Climbs into the ground before play starts on the second day, and copies rough score sheet into vellum-bound score-book, scrutinizes the Sportsman report to make sure no Bucks runs have been missed, wades into Bradshaw for intricate train services back to Bucks, assures himself that all boots are spotlessly white and bats properly oiled and fills in accidental moments with little thoughts on championships.’ On the field Trevor was a useful lower order batsman and occasional strike bowler. The Minor Counties Championship was not resumed until 1920, but Bucks played a full programme of matches in 1919, suffering only one defeat - by eleven runs at the hands of a strong MCC side at Lord’s. There were centuries for RN Hamilton and TR Kent against Herts at Slough, but neither of these survivors of pre-war Bucks teams was to be much of a force in future years, Hamilton moving overseas and not reappearing until 1931, when he played a couple of games, and Kent seldom making the runs to warrant selection, though still reappearing as late as 1933. Championship successes As Bucks awaited the resumption of championship cricket the handbook reflected the committee’s confidence: ‘The 1919 Bucks side has every prospect of ranking with the best sides produced by the County in the past.’ These high hopes were not misplaced: the inter-war period remains the golden age of Bucks cricket. Between 1920 and 1939 the county could boast of 89 victories against 28 losses with 57 matches drawn and one tied. In the 20 seasons that spanned the two wars Bucks contested the Challenge Match six times, losing on only one occasion with one other match, against Berkshire in 1932, abandoned before the completion of a single innings. In 1920 five of the eight matches were won with a solitary loss, to Berkshire by 31 runs, depriving the county of the chance to challenge Staffordshire for the title. The key to success, as it would continue to be, lay in the bowling. Of 136 wickets to fall to bowlers two men accounted for 97. Wyndham Hazelton, who had promised so much before the war, took 50 at 14.26, but the star performer was Jack Whiting with 47 at 10.21. 42 Championship successes SL Trevor