History of Bucks CCC

young players, of whom the most successful was Leslie Baker with 367 runs at 26.21. Baker had first played for Bucks in 1924, but this was the first year in which his stylish batting had brought him many runs. He was the son of Harold Baker, a pace bowler and Jessopian hitter of the pre-War era who had played nine times for the county. A true stalwart of the High Wycombe club, Harold Baker was soon to embark upon a long stint as treasurer of the County Club, while his son was to become one of the select band who have made more than a hundred appearances for the county team and he in turn was to give long service on the committee. Bucks took third place in the Championship in 1927. Once again there was one dramatic match, against Hertfordshire at Ascott, on which the county’s fate hung. Thanks to a sound batting performance with half centuries for Franklin and Powell, Bucks gained a first innings lead of 152. Herts then batted with more resolution in their second innings, scoring 238 to set Bucks 87 to win. Wickets soon began to tumble and, with two overs to go, five were still needed with four wickets in hand. With Aubrey-Fletcher unable to score off the penultimate over, the tension began to mount. Battcock was now facing the final over from fast bowler Redhouse. The first ball rattled into his stumps and he departed for a well played 32. This brought a nerve-wracked Jim Pitchford to the wicket. He failed to connect with his first two balls then managed a single to get Aubrey-Fletcher back on strike. A heave to leg brought three more runs and the scores were level, but Pitchford failed to score off the last ball. Bucks believed that they had taken first innings points but, under the Law as it then stood, MCC ruled that the match was a tie, and at the end of the season this was to cost Bucks second place and another Challenge Match. Edwards was still a major force this year with 69 wickets at 8.57, but he had to yield top place in the averages to Harry Pitchford, another professional who had played only intermittently in earlier seasons with little use made of his bowling. One of a family of 15, Pitchford was the brother of the unfortunate Jim, whose game against Hertfordshire was one of only three appearances for Bucks. Their youngest brother, Leonard, played briefly for Glamorgan. Harry Pitchford worked for the Rothschild family at Ascott from 1912. For many years he was responsible for the care of the ground that the county has been privileged to use through the generosity of succeeding generations of the family. In the winter he used to help the gamekeeper. A greatly loved man, Harry Pitchford coached several members of the Rothschild family including Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, the present owner of Ascott, whose father 49 Success continues Harry Pitchford in his role of groundsman