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

71. Kent v Somerset, Dover, August 15, 17 (Kent won by eight wickets) c M.M.Walford b J.Lawrence 1 231 159 not out 6 79-2 150 72. Kent v Yorkshire, Dover, August 19, 20, (21) (Match drawn) c F.A.Lowson b H.Halliday 79 336-9d 205-9d 1 c F.A.Lowson b R.Illingworth4 47-7 73. Kent v Lancashire, Old Trafford, August (22), 24, (25) (Match drawn) not out 19 73-3 74. Gentlemen of England v Australians, Lord’s, August 26, 27, 28 (Australians won by eight wickets) c R.R.Lindwall b R.Benaud 50 157 154 c I.D.Craig b W.A.Johnston 57 249 253-2 75. Kent v Australians, Canterbury, August 29, 31, September 1 (Australians won by an innings and 176 runs) c R.Benaud b W.A.Johnston 25 181 2 0 19 0 465-8d c and b A.K.Davidson 3 108 76. M.C.C. v Yorkshire, Scarborough, September 2, 3, 4 (Match drawn) c and b J.H.Wardle 10 362 - - - - 391-4d st D.V.Brennan b J.H.Wardle 33 255-6d 12 1 43 1 E.I.Lester st T.G.Evans 184-7 77. Gentlemen v Players, Scarborough, September 5, 7, 8 (Gentlemen won by five wickets) c W.Watson b T.W.Graveney 100 447-8d 5 0 29 1 M.Tompkin c R.G.Marlar 532-5d 1 st T.G.Evans b J.H.Wardle 16 252-5 5 0 33 1 J.H.Wardle b 165-6d SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Gentlemen 1 2 0 116 100 58.00 1 - 1 County Championship 10 18 4 499 81 35.64 - 5 8 Other Kent Matches 1 2 0 28 25 14.00 - - - Oxford University 14 24 2 1124 154 51.09 3 6 7 Other Matches 2 4 0 150 57 37.50 - 2 - Season 28 50 6 1917 154 43.56 4 13 16 Career 77 138 9 4601 154 35.66 7 31 38 Bowling O M R W BB Ave Gentlemen 10 0 62 2 1-29 31.00 County Championship 41 4 147 1 1-37 147.00 Other Kent Matches 2 0 19 0 - - Oxford University 47.5 7 176 7 4-30 25.14 Other Matches 12 1 43 1 1-43 43.00 Season (6-ball) 112.5 12 447 11 4-30 40.63 Career (6-ball) 436.2 54 1711 32 4-22 53.46 1954 A very wet season was perhaps a big factor in Cowdrey not reaching the heights of 1953. As captain of Oxford University his leadership impressed, despite the side not winning a match. (Indeed Cowdrey was never on the winning side in any match during his time at Oxford.) He scored impressive centuries for the University against his own county and Sussex but for Kent he “rarely did himself justice with the bat” ( Wisden). A Championship century yet again eluded him with 95 during Canterbury Week being the nearest. It was then something of a surprise that he should find himself included on the winter Ashes tour, not the least as it followed a poor run for Kent. Following his selection he was 12th man in the final Pakistan Test at The Oval, not a happy experience, being unwell. Again he captained Kent as stand-in for Wright in the last three matches of the season. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 78. Oxford University v Gloucestershire, The Parks, May 1, (3), (4) (Match drawn) * c A.E.Wilson b B.D.Wells 78 309-9d 16