History of Bucks CCC

Ten victories in ten matches The Bucks team had been regular contenders for the Championship title and in 1932 they made no mistake. The nucleus of an outstanding side was Brooke and Skinner in commanding form as top order batsmen, reinforced for a few matches by the return of JWA Stephenson and the arrival in mid-season of SS Peters, a fine if sometimes impetuous stroke-maker from Aylesbury, who was also a brilliant cover point. In an otherwise subdued season Leslie Baker chipped in with one century. With the ball Frank Edwards captured 79 wickets at 7.67. This was his swansong as a true sorcerer - never again would his average be below 12. With 63 wickets at just over ten apiece for Ronnie Rutter there was little scope for others to shine, though Henry Aubrey-Fletcher’s son John, who had made his debut the previous year at the age of 18, was starting out on a useful career as an all-rounder that would see him representing the Minor Counties in 1933. Behind the stumps Walter Franklin was directing affairs as shrewdly as ever and with few signs that his wicket-keeping skills were diminishing. This was the team, with only Franklin and Edwards over the age of 30, that was to win all ten of its matches, five of them by an innings. Victories by four wickets with a weakened team away to Norfolk and by five wickets against Bedfordshire at Bletchley Park were the closest the county came to defeat. The players were deprived of the icing on the cake that they so richly deserved when the Challenge Match against Berkshire did not start until 12.15 on the second day and was abandoned shortly after lunch on the third. The match had not started propitiously for Bucks. At one time they had been 23 for 6, but a brave recovery was led by Graham Skinner whose 72 not out, with help from Aubrey-Fletcher and Edwards, took the score to 164 for nine. However, the abandonment meant that, as the challenged county, Bucks were still crowned champions. 52 Ten victories in ten matches The 1932 team that won all its championship matches. Standing: GH Quint (scorer) , JWA Stephenson, JHL Aubrey-Fletcher, CV Raffety, BO Byass, H Baker (Hon. Treasuer) Seated: LG Baker, RH Rutter, WB Franklin (Captain) , RHJ Brooke, F Edwards On ground: AG Skinner, AP Powell