History of Bucks CCC

Back on the Field: The Early Post-War Years Franklin’s last fling ‘On behalf of the Committee, I have the pleasure to inform you that the activities of the Club will be renewed in 1946.’ Thus began the notice dated 1 January and circulated to the club’s 246 members by H Tyson Chambers, who had succeeded to the office of secretary after it had been in the worthy hands of George Brocklehurst, with just one year’s break, since 1927. The notice invited members to pay their annual subscription of one guinea (£1.05), but the plea fell on many deaf ears, just £146.17s being recorded as members’ donations by the end of the year. The cessation of hostilities in Europe had been marked by a handful of friendly matches the previous summer, the most memorable against the Australian Services team captained by Lindsay Hassett. This match at High Wycombe was marked by an explosive innings of 114 from Cec Pepper, which contained nine sixes. A game had also been played against Alf Gover’s Eleven and, when Northants were entertained, it was the first time that Bucks had taken a match to Agar’s Plough, the principal Eton College ground. For the next five years the county always played one match at Eton. As the first-class counties prepared for a full season, their minor brethren resumed with more circumspection. Just six matches sufficed for qualification in the Championship, though Bucks elected to play eight. Leading the county once more was Walter Franklin, now aged 55. He was not alone in taking up the challenge at such an advanced age. Michael Falcon, his old adversary from Norfolk, also served one more year after the war, even topping the batting averages at the age of 58. Frank Edwards, now 61, had expressed his eagerness to join his old skipper and wheel away for another season, but in his case age counted against him and the committee decided to award him a testimonial instead. Edwards was, however, chosen for one match, against Dorset at Canford, though he never set foot on the field of play as Bucks made 204 for 8 between interruptions for rain, still batting on when play resumed at 4.15 on the second day. In a wretchedly wet summer Bucks began well with a seven wicket victory over Berkshire, for whom the 17-year-old PBH May was playing his only match. The future England captain made an inauspicious debut: lbw b Lund 0. Hereafter five of Bucks’ matches failed to reach a decisive result on first innings. Under the scoring system of the day, later changed at Bucks’ instigation, these ‘no result’ games suited the county’s cause better than taking the points available for a first innings lead. This led to a farcical conclusion to the final match against Hertfordshire at Watford. Once again most of the playing time was lost to the weather and, when Bucks finally dismissed the home team for 91, two hours remained for them to bat. With two victories and one first innings lead, Bucks’ average points per match would fall if they were to overtake the Herts’ score, whereas another ‘no result’ match would take them to the top of the table. 57