History of Bucks CCC

left-handed batting was a bonus, bringing him 531 runs at the exceptional average of 75.86. With Johns and Hughes both in good form, there was disappointment that Bucks could finish no higher than ninth, due in part to the unsettled August weather that brought seven drawn matches. Tyson Chambers was stepping down as secretary at this time, handing over for just two years to Hugh Bayley, but he chose to remain a member of the selection committee and one suspects his influence in engineering the appointment of Barnett to take over the captaincy. In what was to be his last season, Battcock’s sharp outswing had still been good enough to bring him 32 wickets, but he had passed his forty-eighth birthday and those who sought change believed that Barnett could bring an extra dimension to Bucks’ cricket - the Australian brand of competitiveness. With 379 victims Battcock stands fourth in the all-time list of Bucks bowlers. He had brought boundless enthusiasm and commitment to the county’s cricket, and he was deeply hurt by the decision to replace him. Though still playing cricket until shortly before his death 20 years later, his time with Bucks was over. Barnett’s supporters were soon proved right. Going for a win wherever possible, the new captain opened his 1952 campaign with a crushing defeat of Norfolk at Lakenham, the first of seven victories before the summer was out. Coming to Ascott Park for their final match, the team knew they must beat Bedfordshire to gain home advantage in the Challenge Match. Victory hardly looked probable when the visitors’ first innings closed on 375 for 5, but after two more declarations Bucks were set to score 206 in 115 minutes. Norman Butler, who had made 130 in the first innings, came within seven runs of a second century, something no Bucks batsman had yet achieved, as he and the captain opened with 97 in 49 minutes. This was the skipper leading from the front and, when he was out, Cockett maintained the pace and Bucks got home by five wickets with 15 minutes to spare. Peter Isherwood, with 107, led the way when the challengers, Kent Second Eleven, came to High Wycombe and Bucks posted a useful 294. Early wickets for Don Rickard, a former Colt, maintained the advantage and when Bucks batted again with a lead of 82, Cockett, with 87, ensured that Kent were set an improbable 311 to win. Tigrish fielding made certain of victory, by 109 runs, and enabled the club to celebrate with a dinner at the Red Lion, High Wycombe, where the celebrity guests included Denis Compton and Bill Edrich and the toast of the County Club was proposed by Walter Robins. Not since 1946 had one of the minor counties been crowned champions in a competition dominated by county second elevens. For David Johns this had been his annus mirabilis. He set a new county record with 846 runs, and the highest of his three centuries, 191 at Bedford, surpassed O’Connor’s record. Moreover, for the first time, he became a force with the ball, his left-arm spin complementing Alf Hughes as the pair shared 83 64 Ben Barnett and another Championship Ben Barnett David Johns