Famous Cricketers No 55 - Arthur Milton

1948 Arthur Milton began his Gloucestershire career on June 2nd 1948 in a rain-affected match against Northamptonshire at Northampton. Going in to bat at number 7, he scored 8 not out and did not bat in the second innings. His second, and last, appearance that summer was at the end of August at Gloucester against the Combined Services. In this match he made 5 and 58 not out, took a catch, and clean bowled three of the Servicemen in their second innings to take 3-15 in six overs. The Cricketer noted the arrival of this new recruit as “ an attractive batsman, a useful medium-paced bowler and a superb fieldsman ... his all-round performance made a great impression in the match versus Combined Services”. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 1. Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire, Northampton, June (2), 3, 4 (Match drawn) not out 8 229-7d 135 did not bat - 48-2d 99-9 2. Gloucestershire v Combined Services, Wagon Works Ground, Gloucester, August 25, 26, 27 (Gloucestershire won by four wickets) b J.N.Bartlett 5 234 - - - - 223 1 not out 58 301-6 6 2 15 3 B.C.Elgood b 309 E.G.Murphy b R.G.Wilson b SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Championship 1 1 1 8 8* - - - - Other Glos matches 1 2 1 63 58* 63.00 - 1 1 Season 2 3 2 71 58* 71.00 - 1 1 Bowling O M R W BB Ave 5i Other Glos matches 6 2 15 3 3/15 5.00 - 1949 The 1949 season saw Milton play in all Gloucestershire’s Championship matches as well as games against the Combined Services and the New Zealand touring team. He scored 960 runs, took 11 wickets and held 28 catches. He made five half centuries, including a top score of 92 not out against Derbyshire at Chesterfield when, accompanied by Tom Goddard and Sam Cook, he rescued the county from a score of 91-8 to 198 all out. Another fine effort was the 29 he scored at Huddersfield against Yorkshire when, apart from himself, only Ken Graveney with 31 not out scored more than 3. An innings of 49 against Kent at Bristol also rescued the side and earned him his county cap. He took four catches in an innings against Hampshire at Bristol out of eight men dismissed. Wisden noted that he “played many excellent innings, often when conditions helped bowlers and fielded splendidly”. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 3. Gloucestershire v Warwickshire, Edgbaston, May 7, 9, 10 (Warwickshire won by four wickets) b T.L.Pritchard 2 84 10 2 33 0 269 1 b A.Townsend 11 347 4 1 6 0 166-4 4. Gloucestershire v Sussex, Chichester, May 11, 12, 13 (Match drawn) b J.Y.Oakes 3 366 23 5 72 2 D.V.Smith lbw 552-6d 1 G.Cox c and b did not bat - 280-4 5. Gloucestershire v Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge, May 14, 16, 17 (Match drawn) not out 0 334-5 18 3 61 0 402 1 6. Gloucestershire v Sussex, Wagon Works Ground, Gloucester, May 21, 23, 24 (Gloucestershire won by four wickets) not out 56 341 11 3 27 0 241 st R.T.Webb b J.Langridge 0 74-6 4 0 12 0 171 2 7