Famous Cricketers No 95 - P.A.Perrin

1903 Despite ‘falling to pieces in August’, according to The Leytonstone Express and Independent , Essex fared better in this exceptionally cold and wet season, mainly because of better bowling returns. They finished eighth in the Championship alongside Kent, who were putting together a highly talented group of players who became the strongest county side for several seasons after this. Perrin finished seventh in the national batting averages, but did not play in any representative matches. Playing only in Essex Championship fixtures, he passed fifty in ten innings out of 36. He was the county’s leading run scorer for the sixth season, scoring almost 22% of the county’s runs. Wisden acknowledged that ‘he stood head and shoulders above his colleagues.’ He scored three consecutive centuries in June, although the second was ground out over 220 minutes, almost as though he was playing for talent money, when C.J.Kortright, the Essex captain, delayed a declaration in a match heading towards a draw. The Times referred to his ‘tedious methods’ in this innings. In the third century of this purple patch, against Derbyshire, he reached 102, and then received a hand injury from the last ball of the first day’s play off W.Bestwick, and did not continue when play restarted the following morning. Wisden ’s praise of Perrin was followed by some sharp criticism. ‘Were he only more sprightly in the field’ it said ‘he would have strong claims to a place in an England eleven. In the matter of fielding, however, he is apt to take things in too easy a manner. Apart from batting, cricket has little interest for him.’ Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 140. Essex v Yorkshire, Leyton, May 14, 15, 16 (Yorkshire won by 261 runs) [4] b S.Haigh 0 96 240 [6] b G.H.Hirst 17 72 189 141. Essex v Surrey, Kennington Oval, May 18, 19, 20 (Essex won by 260 runs) [3] c sub b H.P.Clode 43† 187 107 [6] st F.Stedman b E.G.Hayes 44 256-6d 76 142. Essex v Surrey, Leyton, May 25, 26, 27 (Essex won by three wickets) [3] c and b E.G.Hayes 46 257 169 [3] c F.C.Holland b M.T.Jackson 40† 167-7 253 143. Essex v Kent, Leyton, June 1, 2 (Essex won by four wickets) [3] c F.H.Huish b W.J.Fairservice 11 234 114 1 [3] c C.H.B.Marsham b W.J.Fairservice 14 89-6 208 144. Essex v Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge, June 4, 5, 6 (Match drawn) [3] b J.R.Gunn 170† 401 303 [3] not out 102† 229-6d 29-0 145. Essex v Derbyshire, Leyton, June 8, 9, 10 (Match drawn) [3] retired hurt 102† 360 136 did not bat - 11-0 256 146. Essex v Sussex, Leyton, June 11, 12, (13) (Match drawn) [3] c H.R.Butt b F.W.Tate 19 166 77 1 85-2 147. Essex v Warwickshire, Leyton, June 18, (19), (20) (Match drawn) [3] c F.Moorhouse b S.Hargreave 8 78 75-3 148. Essex v Sussex, Eastbourne, June 29, 30, July 1 (Essex won by six wickets) [3] c C.L.A.Smith b G.R.Cox 97† 360 273 [3] c H.R.Butt b G.R.Cox 7 51-4 136 149. Essex v Warwickshire, Edgbaston, July 13, 14, 15 (Warwickshire won by an innings and 78 runs) [3] run out 7 231 2 0 9 0 396 1 [3] c A.F.A Lilley b S.Hargreave 6 87 33