History of Bucks CCC

the news reached Oliver Horlick he soon made sure that Edwards was back in the fold for the 1921 season. By the heady standards Bucks set themselves in these early post-war years, 1921 was an indifferent season and the county slipped down the table to eighth, the lowest position the team would occupy in the 1920s. It was a major blow that injury should keep Jack Whiting out of all the matches, especially as Hazelton also missed several games and was not at his best when he was able to play. Moreover, with 48 wickets at 16.10, Frank Edwards’ first full season was one of his least fruitful. To add to the team’s problems, Franklin broke a finger in the first match and, when he was able to return for the last three games, it was only as a batsman. Now opened the most glorious passage in the county’s history as Bucks reached the Challenge Match in three of the next four seasons, emerging triumphant on each occasion. In 1922, a year when scoring was otherwise very low, Hertfordshire’s 453 for eight at Watford was the only occasion on which the Bucks bowlers were mastered. Escaping from this match with a draw, the county’s only other upset was a loss at Bedford in which poor fielding left the batsmen requiring 79 for victory, a modest task that proved beyond them as Bedfordshire ran out winners by 14 runs. The match against Cambridge at Fenner’s was abandoned without a ball bowled, but winning their other five matches meant that Bucks earned the right to challenge Norfolk for the title. In the words of the Bucks Free Press the match at Lakenham had ‘more incidents than was good for people with weak hearts’. Bucks won the toss and with 67 from Franklin, the highest score by any Bucks batsman in the entire season, a respectable score of 225 was posted, to which Norfolk replied with 218, Edwards and Hazelton sharing the wickets. The Bucks batting then collapsed as opener Will Jackson fought a lone battle to be ninth man out for 41 when the score had reached 75. A few lusty swings from Jack Whiting raised the total to 89, setting Norfolk 98 to win. Hardly enough, spectators felt, until Norfolk plunged to 39 for five to swing the match in Bucks’ favour. A stubborn stand between their captain Michael Falcon and Richard Carter regained the initiative for Norfolk as they took the score to 81. Four wickets then fell without addition to the score, first Hazelton then Edwards capturing two in successive balls. With all resting on the last pair, Edwards appealed vainly for lbw. Another appeal, this time for a catch behind the wicket, was turned down. A possible catch eluded mid off. Eight precious runs were garnered; eight more would level the scores. Then Edwards tossed up a shorter ball tempting the Norfolk tailender to hit against the spin. The batsman’s eyes lit up at the prospect of a leg-side six, but he could only send up a skier. Four fielders converged on the ball as it descended in mid pitch. Edwards and Franklin collided but the captain clasped the ball and hung on to give Bucks victory by eight runs and Edwards his sixth wicket, at a cost of 35. In 1923 seven matches were won, the closest a two-run victory against Oxfordshire at High Wycombe. This narrow win came hard on the heels of Hertfordshire taking first innings points in the previous and only unfinished match, though when rain brought that game to a premature conclusion it was probably the visitors who were the more relieved. This year Bucks’ record placed them at the top of the table, giving them the privilege of playing at home when challenged by Surrey Second Eleven. When the two teams had last met it had been a story of humiliation for Bucks. The four matches in 1908 and 1909 had all ended in innings defeats with Bucks’ pitiful scores reading: 42, 42, 124, 69, 34, 100, 61 and 37. Now there was the chance for revenge. Bucks batted first in difficult conditions and, with some inexperienced players at the top of the order, were soon 23 for three. In strode Philip Le Gros and, with Jackson and then Franklin in support, he struck 71 in only 80 minutes. The value of his innings 44 Championship successes