Famous Cricketers No 56 - Laurence Barnard Fishlock

he reached 40 years of age – quite a rare feat. He was perhaps fortunate to have made two trips to Australia, but he had seized his opportunities at the right time to have had two particularly good seasons in 1936 and 1946. Many lesser batsmen have made more than his four Test appearances. His football abilities undoubtedly helped to train him in the art of fielding, at which he excelled. He always had a long throw and was generally a safe catcher in the outfield. 1931 Fishlock made his first-class debut the year after he signed professional terms with Surrey in the two friendly University games played at The Oval. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 1. Surrey v Oxford University, Kennington Oval, June 24, 25, 26 (Match drawn) run out 5 298 328-8d not out 41 134.3 199-5d 2. Surrey v Cambridge University, Kennington Oval, June 27, 29, 30 (Surrey won by 168 runs) c and b A.G.Hazlerigg 7 486-9d 208 c A.G.Hazlerigg b F.R.Brown 1 134-7d 244 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Other matches 2 4 1 54 41* 18.00 - - - 1933 Despite averaging over 50 in eight second-eleven matches in the Minor Counties Championship, Laurie Fishlock’s first team appearances were restricted to three Championship games in which he accomplished little. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 3. Surrey v Essex, Kennington Oval, June 17, (19), 20 (Surrey won by an innings and 100 runs) b A.G.Daer 7 268 66 1 102 4. Surrey v Lancashire, Kennington Oval, July 22, 24, 25 (Match drawn) c P.T.Eckersley b J.Iddon 27 345 2 0 5 0 305 c C.Washbrook b F.S.Booth 0 202-8d 7 1 21 0 100-0 5. Surrey v Kent, Kennington Oval, July 29, 31, August 1 (Match drawn) c sub b A.P.Freeman 18 482-8d 2 0 17 0 293 1 5 0 24 1 W.H.Ashdown b 374-4 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Championship matches 3 4 0 52 27 13.00 - - 2 Career 5 8 1 106 41* 15.14 - - 2 Bowling O M R W BB Ave Championship matches 16 1 67 1 1-24 67.00 1934 At last, Fishlock was given an extended run in the Surrey First Eleven and scored five fifties in the twelve matches he played, all in the County Championship. His proudest moment came in the match against Sussex at Horsham when he opened the Surrey innings with his boyhood idol, Jack Hobbs, then in his final season of first-class cricket. 8