Famous Cricketers No 72 - Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge, C.B.E.

1951 In a full season of county cricket before going up to Oxford University, Cowdrey advanced, finishing fourth in the Kent averages. The Kent Annual Report noted he “showed considerable promise” and that he “should have a great future”. Kent had a very poor season. The premature retirement of Ames after the first match was a blow and Cowdrey’s development was the one redeeming feature he being, as Wisden noted, “the most reliable batsman in the side after Fagg”. His advance was rewarded by his becoming the youngest ever recipient of a Kent County Cap. He narrowly missed a first hundred for Kent with a mature 90 during Canterbury Week. But for the Free Foresters against his upcoming home in early June he scored a big maiden century heralding an invitation to play for the Gentlemen at the end of season Scarborough Festival. There, another century against the likes of Alec Bedser and Roy Tattersall, not known for relaxing in such convivial surroundings, made a very firm impression, not the least upon Len Hutton who was to play such a significant part in his early career. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 5. Kent v Nottinghamshire, Gillingham, May 5, 7, 8 (Match drawn) c A.Jepson b F.W.Stocks 2 169 - - - - 134 2 2 1 3 0 207-2 6. Kent v Hampshire, Southampton, May 12, 14, 15 (Hampshire won by 36 runs) c L.Harrison b D.Shackleton 4 258 4 0 19 0 357-7d 2 c C.Walker b V.H.D.Cannings 0 138 - - - - 75 7. Kent v Northamptonshire, Northampton, May 16, 17, 18 (Kent won by six wickets) c sub b A.E.Nutter 27 225 217 b V.Broderick 47 145-4 150 8. Kent v Lancashire, Old Trafford, May 19, 21, 22 (Lancashire won by 159 runs) c N.D.Howard b P.Greenwood 19 178 233 b M.J.Hilton 34 151 255-8d 9. Kent v Leicestershire, Gravesend, May 26, 28, 29 (Kent won by 21 runs) b V.E.Jackson 54 300 5 2 13 1 V.E.Jackson c T.G.Evans 210 b V.S.Munden 0 130 - - - - 199 10. Free Foresters v Oxford University, The Parks, June 2, 4, 5 (Oxford University won by eight wickets) c J.C.Marshall b P.H.Wreghitt 143 317 25 5 79 1 P.H.Wreghitt b 395-5d b T.S.Penny 39 355 9.2 1 41 1 J.C.Marshall b 278-2 11. Kent v Worcestershire, Kidderminster, June 9, 11, 12 (Worcestershire won by eight wickets) c N.H.Whiting b R.T.D.Perks 38 209 5 0 12 0 218 2 c E.Cooper b J.A.Flavell 0 129 3 0 7 0 124-2 1 12. Kent v Surrey, Blackheath, June 16, 18, 19 (Surrey won by 212 runs) c J.F.Parker b A.V.Bedser 0 143 1 0 7 0 252 c G.A.R.Lock b J.C.Laker 18 165 7.1 2 22 4 J.F.Parker b 268 1 A.J.W.McIntyre c T.G.Evans A.V.Bedser c T.G.Evans W.S.Surridge b 13. Kent v Sussex, Tunbridge Wells, June 23, 25, 26 (Sussex won by an innings and 94 runs) b A.E.James 0 156 3 0 15 0 389-5d b D.J.Wood 4 139 14. Kent v Lancashire, Tunbridge Wells, June 27, 28, 29 (Lancashire won by six wickets) c G.A.Edrich b J.B.Statham 0 116 - - - - 202 b J.B.Statham 51 266 8 0 37 1 R.Tattersall c B.R.Edrich 184-4 15. Kent v Sussex, Hastings, July 21, 23, 24 (Match drawn) c J.G.Langridge b R.G.Marlar 11 169 2 0 6 0 294 c D.V.Smith b J.H.Cornford 84 221-5 - - - - 203-2d 16. Kent v Derbyshire, Folkestone, July 25, 26, 27 (Derbyshire won by 177 runs) c G.O.Dawkes b H.L.Jackson 26 191 2 0 22 0 240 1 c A.C.Revill b A.E.G.Rhodes 35 135 3 0 10 1 J.M.Kelly c T.G.Evans 263-5d 11