Famous Cricketers No 65 - Len Hutton

Bowling O M R W BB Ave 5i 10m Other Yorkshire matches 21 6 77 0 - - - - Other matches 10 2 52 0 - - - - Season (6-ball) 31 8 129 0 - - - - Career (6-ball) 1265.5 252 } 5045 172 6-76 29.33 4 1 (8-ball) 264.7 40 1953/54 – MCC in West Indies Described by The Times correspondent as the second most controversial tour in cricket history, its atmosphere may be gauged from such book titles or chapter headings as Cricket Cauldron , Caribbean Cauldron , and Caribbean Conflict . This was a period of national independence movements within the islands with the emphasis on separate development and breaking away from colonialism and white supremacy. In addition, each of the new states was fiercely proud of its own identity with a strong resistance against moves to form some kind of West Indies Federation. This would lead during the forthcoming Test series to selections based on where the games were to be played. The once-great George Headley, who was now well past his best, was selected to play in Jamaica, Bob Christiani in Georgetown and Wilfred Ferguson in Trinidad. The situation was so potentially volatile that before the team set off it was given a briefing by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. To add to the pressures many publications referred to the Tests as being played for “the championship of the world”. Before the main part of the tour began the MCC played a series of matches in Bermuda with Len Hutton making a less than successful start by being dismissed from the first ball of the first game. The series began badly with heavy losses at both Sabina Park and Bridgetown. Although Hutton himself scored three half-centuries in his four innings, he was accused of allowing the West Indies spinners, Ramadhin and Valentine, to dominate, especially in the first innings in Barbados when their combined analyses read 104.5–60–111–7; moreover, it was alleged that he was discouraging such natural stroke-players as Compton and Graveney from playing in their usual style. Whatever the truth may be in this, there is no doubt that led from the front by their captain, England made a most remarkable recovery by winning the third and fifth Tests both by nine wickets and with the fourth Test being drawn, they managed to level the series. Hutton’s contributions were 169 at Georgetown and 205, his fourth Test innings of above 200, at Sabina Park. The Tests were, however, fraught with many difficulties, some for reasons alluded to in the first paragraph, and others by a heady mixture of rum and heat working on disappointed gamblers. For instance, in the Georgetown Test the local player, McWatt, was given run out going for what would have been the hundredth run of the partnership. Although he was clearly many yards short of safety, many bets were hinging on the century partnership which led to disgraceful scenes as bottles and planks of wood were thrown on to the field. The England players could have been in danger, but Hutton courageously refused to heed the advice of local officials and take his team off the field. England were in a strong position and needed more wickets before the close of play! He received great praise for his decisive action, including a cable of congratulations from the Secretary of the MCC for his leadership allied to superb batting, and did in fact manage another wicket before enforcing the follow-on the next day. Another flash point occurred in the first Test at Sabina Park when local hero J.K.Holt was given out lbw for 94. On both occasions the families of the umpires were threatened. His wonderful innings of 205 in the final Test at Sabina Park was not without controversy. When he came in at the tea-interval on 205, desperate for a rest and refreshment, so weary was he, he had not realised that amongst those offering congratulations was the Jamaican Chief Minister, Alex Bustamente, and he had not acknowledged him. Some official burst into the dressing room to complain vociferously about this perceived insult. Mr Bustamente had not taken offence and readily understood the situation. The incident, however, added to the stress of the tour, both in the long run and immediately, as Hutton was out without adding to his score. 56