Famous Cricketers No 65 - Len Hutton

that “Hutton, Fisher, Davidson and Harbord could generally be relied upon for runs.” He also had the thrill of acting as 12th.man for the county first team at Leicester but blotted his copybook by taking on drinks wearing black civilian shoes, an act which incurred the wrath of the skipper! Far more serious a setback was the injury to his nose in the return “Roses” II match at Old Trafford when he was struck by a ricochet from the gloves of Farrimond, the Lancashire wicket-keeper. By the end of the season he was widely spoken and written of as a new Sutcliffe and it was evident that the two would become Yorkshire’s opening pair before very long. How this precocious youngster developed into one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game will, one hopes, unfold over the year by year account of his wonderful career. 1934 Although Yorkshire was a county generally cautious in giving first-team opportunities to very young players – Hedley Verity had to wait until he was 25 for his first game! – such was Len Hutton’s promise that it came as no surprise when he was given his senior debut at the age of 17. Many knowledgeable writers as well as county officials had already forecast a glowing career for this gifted, yet extremely modest, young man. Moreover, Herbert Sutcliffe’s illustrious partner for many years, Percy Holmes, had just finished his career with the county and there was a vacancy to be filled. His first game came at Fenner’s at the beginning of May against a very good Cambridge University side. Going in at no.5, and only too anxious to “get off the mark”, he attempted a suicidal single second ball to that excellent cover-point J.G.W. (Jack) Davies and, as with his second XI debut, he failed to score. In his second game versus Oxford University at the Parks he made his mark in the second innings with a polished 57* and had the great thrill of opening with his hero, Herbert Sutcliffe, who had done so much to encourage him. The reporter for the Bradford Mail and Argus, writing before his innings was properly under way, was in no doubt that” Hutton was certain to play for England.” Still only 17, he was given his championship debut at Edgbaston in his third game for the county in late May and had a very successful match. Not only did he score 50, but he also took three wickets and held three catches. A Yorkshire paper reported very favourably on his all-round talent and temperament. Of particular interest, perhaps, to those who consider him “merely” as a great batsman are the very favourable comments made on his bowling . George Hirst had said at the beginning of the season that in addition to his great batting potential he was a leg-break bowler who flighted the ball and who could bowl a very presentable googly. After his first game at Cambridge a journalist reported that “Personally, I liked his bowling very much”, whilst after his first championship match at Edgbaston it was reported in the Yorkshire press that “He has, indeed, quite exceptional ability in his power to flight the ball.” Incidentally, the bowler who dismissed him at Edgbaston, one Frederick Gross, could claim Len Hutton as his one and only wicket for the county! In his second championship match against Kent at Headingley he had the great thrill of playing against Frank Woolley who had just turned 47, but was still a power in the game. An even greater thrill was that of claiming his wicket, but of far more importance in his long-term development was his participation with Wilf Barber in a first-wicket partnership of 267. His share was 70 which led to criticism in some quarters of his slow scoring. As he was still only 17 and had hardly started to play 6