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

1962 There were only two matches for Fletcher in this his first-class debut season. He had a rapid baptism to the vagaries of the game at county level when Essex took a first innings lead over Glamorgan in his first match, only for them to lose by 81 runs. His second match was against Yorkshire, the county whose supporters were to deride him, if not hate him, later in his career. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 1. Essex v Glamorgan, Ebbw Vale, July 25, 26, 27 (Glamorgan won by 81 runs) c P.M.Walker b O.S.Wheatley 11 105 64 c A.R.Lewis b O.S.Wheatley 27 130 252 2. Essex v Yorkshire, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, July 28, 30, 31 (Yorkshire won by an innings and 44 runs) c J.H.Hanpshire b R.Illingworth 8 207 363-9d 1 lbw b R Illingworth 0 112 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Championship 2 4 0 46 27 11.50 - - 1 1963 Fletcher made his mark in his second season when his batting was described as the outstanding feature of Essex’s season. He was awarded his county cap, at nineteen years of age. He showed himself as one of the best English batting prospects reaching his 1000 runs by the end of July. He then went on to gain an invitation to represent the MCC and Young England sides at the Scarborough festival. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 3. Essex v Cambridge University, Fenner’s, May 4, 6, 7 (Essex won by seven wickets) c J.M.Brearley b R.C.White 38 317 193 did not bat - 172-3 293-6d 4. Essex v Lancashire, Brentwood, May 8, 9, (10) (Match drawn) lbw b J.Dyson 0 258 281 1 199-6 1 5. Essex v Somerset, Brentwood, May 11, 13, 14 (Match drawn) c F.E.Rumsey b D.G.Doughty 37 168 297 1 did not bat - 22-0 70-7d 1 6. Essex v Warwickshire, Edgbaston, May 15, 16, 17 (Match drawn) c R.Miller b R.W.Barber 32 138† 323-9d lbw b R.E.Hitchcock 0 365-9d 58-6 7. Essex v Surrey, Kennington Oval, May 18, 20, 21 (Match drawn) c M.D.Willett b R.A.E.Tindall 4 310 320-4d 1 c M.J.Stewart b R.A.E.Tindall 3 40-4 197-4d 8.$ Essex v Northampton, Romford, May 25, 27, 28 (Essex won by an innings and 13 runs) c K.V.Andrew b A.Lightfoot 94 326-6d 132 181 9.$ Essex v Derbyshire, Romford, May 29, 30, 31 (Essex won by 80 runs) lbw b H.L.Jackson 74 285-6d† 155 c R.W.Taylor b H.L.Jackson 0 140-9d 190 10. Essex v Worcestershire, Worcester, June 1, 3, 4 (Match drawn) not out 18 355-5d 356-6d 7