Famous Cricketers No 93 - Keith Fletcher O.B.E.

1968 1968, his seventh season in first-class cricket, saw Fletcher move his career forward significantly. Following an unbeaten century at Bath and two good innings against Surrey and Middlesex, he was selected by England for the fourth Test, at Headingley versus Australia. His Test debut was not a happy occasion played in trying circumstances as the Yorkshire supporters vented their venom on him for the exclusion of Yorkshire batsman Phil Sharpe, who they had expected to play. Fletcher spilled three half chances at third slip and was caught at the wicket for a duck, in the first innings. He did play out time in the second innings, upon instructions, to remain unbeaten on 23, but again the Yorkshire crowd thought he should have gone for victory. Always the fighter he put behind him the disappointment of not playing in the fifth Test, and at Hastings scored his highest innings of 228 not out. Then at the Scarborough Festival, still the butt of Yorkshire venom, he responded in the best way possible by scoring two centuries. Another prize was the wicket of Geoffrey Boycott. Selection for the MCC tour to Ceylon and Pakistan crowned a very successful and eventful season. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 182. MCC v Surrey, Lord’s, May 1, 2, 3 (Match drawn) b G.G.Arnold 9 185 257-8d 1 run out 17 163-7 130 183. Essex v Warwickshire, Edgbaston, May 15, 16, 17 (Match drawn) c D.L.Amiss b T.W.Cartwright 40 152 308-9d c A.C.Smith b L.R.Gibbs 0 217-3 184. Essex v Kent, Romford, May 19, 20, 21 (Match drawn) not out 29 283-4d 338-8d 1 c M.H.Denness b J.N.Shepherd 27 143-8 109-4d 185. Essex v Surrey, Romford, May 22, 23, 24 (Surrey won by eight wickets) c M.J.Stewart b J.Cumbes 24 138-9d 207 1 c M.J.Stewart b P.I.Pocock 51 141† 75-2 186. Essex v Glamorgan, Ilford, June 1, 2, 3 (Essex won by an innings and 84 runs) c Majid Khan b E.A.Cordle 13 395-8d 202 1 109 187. Essex v Gloucestershire, Ilford, June 5, 6, 7 (Match drawn) c B.J.Meyer b J.B.Mortimore 74 217† 310-8d 1 not out 52 139-3† 156-8d 188.$ Essex v Middlesex, Lord’s, June 8, 10, 11 (Match drawn) c J.T.Murray b A.H.Latchman 3 155 228-8d b J.S.E.Price 88 254-8d† 177-8 1 189.$ Essex v Somerset, Bath, June 12, 13, 14 (Match drawn) c G.I.Burgess b G.S.Chappell 37 125† 260 1 not out 131 335-9d† 121-5 190. Essex v Surrey, Guildford, June 15, 16, 17 (Match drawn) c A.Long b J.Cumbes 0 376 251-8d not out 57 156-5d† 148-4 1 191. Essex v Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge, June 19, 20, 21 (Match drawn) c D.L.Murray b M.N.S.Taylor 13 307 334-6d 1 not out 29 83-3† 178-7d 192. Essex v Middlesex, Southend-on-Sea, June 22, 24 (Essex won by 88 runs) run out 5 134 110 3 lbw b P.H.Parfitt 84 133† 69 193. Essex v Australians, Southend-on-Sea, June 26, 27 (Australians won by an innings and 58 runs) c K.D.Walters b D.A.Renneberg 6 140 320 1 c N.J.N.Hawke b D.A.Renneberg 2 122 20