Famous Cricketers No 65 - Len Hutton

Perhaps the selectors were to be congratulated on giving Hutton this “rest” from the ardours of Test cricket as he was on top form in the last two games of the series. Restored to his rightful place at Headingley in front of a cheering partisan crowd he scored 81 and 57, in the process setting up a record with his great partner, Cyril Washbrook, of a century opening partnership in each innings for the second time in Test cricket. Unfortunately this mighty achievement tended to be overshadowed by Australia’s astonishing victory when they scored 404–3 on the last day with Don Bradman scoring his fourth consecutive century in Headingley Tests. In the final Test at the Oval he was the only one to stand firm amidst the debacle as England were dismissed for 52. First in, last out for 30 to a miraculous catch by wicket-keeper Don Tallon to a genuine leg-glance, Wisden described his innings thus: “Hutton, the one exception to complete failure, batted in his customary stylish, masterful manner throughout the innings...” In the second innings his 64 in four and a quarter hours of defiance was by far the highest score of the innings. His form in county cricket was awesome with eight centuries and four half-centuries in twenty-two innings leaving him with an average of 92.05 for Yorkshire. His ten centuries were the most by an Englishman (Bradman inevitably leading overall with eleven). In the overall English averages of those with ten or more innings he finished second to Cyril Washbrook, 64.73 as opposed to 70.37. In the “Roses” matches Hutton and Washbrook scored centuries in each game. As a matter of interest, Washbrook’s Lancashire average for the season was 92.73! In the field of particular note was Hutton’s catching of Bradman off Bedser four times in the leg-trap, including three times in consecutive innings in the Tests. In the Gentlemen v Players match at Lord’s his captaincy was again commented upon in a seven-wicket victory for the professionals. His batting, particularly in the second innings, (132*) was described as “masterly” and “superb in stroke play.” The Players had been set 233 to win in 145 minutes and won with five minutes to spare. After the Scarborough Festival and a game at Cardiff to celebrate Glamorgan’s winning of the Championship, there would be a short rest before setting off on his second MCC tour to South Africa, a tour which he had enjoyed so much ten years previously. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 256. Yorkshire v MCC, Lord’s, May 1, 3 (MCC won by nine wickets) c J.D.B.Robertson b J.A.Young 31 111 - - - - 168 c W.J.Edrich b J.A.Young 7 99 3 2 7 0 44-1 257. Yorkshire v Australians, Bradford, May 5, 6 (Australians won by four wickets) c R.N.Harvey b K.R.Miller 5 71 101 1 c R.A.Hamence b W.A.Johnston 11 89 63-6 258. Yorkshire v Oxford University, The Parks, May 8, 10, 11 (Match drawn) b P.A.Whitcombe 4 170 8 1 29 0 351-9d 1 b P.A.Whitcombe 23 316-6 - - - - 144-8d 259. Yorkshire v Northamptonshire, Huddersfield, May 12, 13, 14 (Yorkshire won by ten wickets) c and b C.B.Clarke 72 247 233 not out 100 167-0 180 1 260. Yorkshire v Lancashire, Headingley, May 15, 17, 18 (Match drawn) lbw b K.Cranston 100 256 3 0 12 0 450 b W.B.Roberts 20 177-5 261. MCC v Australians, Lord’s, May 22, 24, 25 (Australians won by an innings and 158 runs) c A.L.Hassett b E.R.H.Toshack 52 189 552 lbw b I.W.Johnson 64 205 262. Yorkshire v Sussex, Bramall Lane, May 29, 31 (Yorkshire won by an innings and 65 runs) not out 176 309-5d 78 1 166 2 263. Yorkshire v Middlesex, Lord’s, June 5, 7, 8 (Yorkshire won by an innings and 80 runs) c and b J.M.Sims 133 392 186 126 1 36