Famous Cricketers No 82 - H.E. 'Tom' Dollery

against the “old enemy” was worse than against any other county), and he only managed to scrape together 111 runs at an average of 9.25 with a top score of 39 in his last eight games of the season. He could come up with no explanation for his lack of runs; he just suffered one of those losses of form that happen to all batsmen at some time or other. The highlight of the season came right in the middle of Warwickshire’s slump in form, when they became the only county to beat the West Indians on their triumphant tour. Warwickshire’s form was so bad that a Committee member actually suggested that he should put the tourists in to bat if he won the toss to ensure the match went into three days! As it happened the West Indies won the toss and batted on a greenish pitch but were whipped out by Charlie Grove who took 8-34 with his seamers, backed up by brilliant catching. Frank Worrell confided to Tom at the after-match function that he considered Grove, at the age of thirty-seven to be the best pace bowler they had encountered on the tour! Dollery was again dismissed twice by Valentine for low scores, but his team managed to secure a good first innings lead and this time Eric Hollies ran through the tourists with 6-57, and Warwickshire scrambled home by three wickets. The win was Dollery’s proudest moment as a captain so far. His poor late season form meant he finished second to Fred Gardner in Warwickshire’s averages, but he had impressed everyone, including the cricket Establishment, with his talent as his county’s captain. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct St Total Total 253. Warwickshire v Hampshire, Southampton, May 3, 4, 5 (Warwickshire won by 58 runs) * c J.R.Gray b R.A.Dare 33 161 160 1 c E.D.R.Eagar b C.J.Knott 56 334-9d 277 254. Warwickshire v Gloucestershire, Wagon Works Ground, Gloucester, May 6, (8), 9 (Match drawn) * lbw b C.J.Scott 3 165 197-5d did not bat - 25-0 255. Warwickshire v Middlesex, Lord’s, May 10, 11, 12 (Warwickshire won by 244 runs) * c J.A.Young b P.I.Bedford 26 326 143 not out 59 218-7d 157 256. Warwickshire v Oxford University, The Parks, May 13, 15, 16 (Oxford University won by eight wickets) * c A.D.Jose b R.C.V.Lewis 13 89 349 b R.V.Divecha 25 335 78-2 1 257. Warwickshire v Essex, Edgbaston, May 17, 18, 19 (Warwickshire won by 118 runs) * c T.H.Wade b I.J.Skinner 27 213 155 c R.Horsfall b R.Smith 46 303-8d 243 258. Warwickshire v Lancashire, Edgbaston, May 20, 22, 23 (Lancashire won by 153 runs) * lbw b K.J.Grieves 33 228 236 run out 2 99 244 259. Warwickshire v Sussex, Hove, May 24, 25, 26 (Warwickshire won by eight wickets) * c R.T.Webb b A.E.James 58 198 224 1 did not bat - 124-2 97 1 260. Warwickshire v Derbyshire, Derby, May 27, 29, 30 (Match drawn) * c A.Hamer b D.C.Morgan 163 300-7d 190 did not bat - 21-2 276 261. Warwickshire v Glamorgan, Edgbaston, May 31, June 1, 2 (Match drawn) * run out 43 214 289 b B.L.Muncer 22 284 23-0 262. Warwickshire v Essex, Ilford, June 3, 5, 6 (Match drawn) * lbw b T.P.B.Smith 17 335 309 1 c T.H.Wade b G.R.Pullinger 38 289-4d 213-5 263. ENGLAND v WEST INDIES, Old Trafford, June 8, 9, 10, 12 (England won by 202 runs) c G.E.Gomez b A.L.Valentine 8 312 215 1 c G.E.Gomez b A.L.Valentine 0 288 183 264. Warwickshire v Worcestershire, Dudley, June 17, 19 (Warwickshire won by an innings and 144 runs) * c L.Outschoorn b R.O.Jenkins 49 365 105 116 39