Famous Cricketers No 98 - Tom Goddard

1931 Goddard started the 1931 season in indifferent form taking only 21 wickets in the first nine matches but he then struck form again and finished the season with 141 wickets at an average of 18.69. He took five wickets in an innings eight times and twice took ten wickets in a match. Gloucestershire finished as runners-up in the Championship, again, thanks to Goddard and Parker who took 327 wickets between them in the Championship, Parker taking 205. The other bowlers took 91 wickets between them. With 15 points being awarded for a win this year the County were involved in a unique match at Sheffield against Yorkshire. The first two days were washed out and the two captains agreed that both first innings should be declared closed after just one ball at 4-0, leaving the teams to play for 15 points on the second innings. Goddard ensured that Gloucestershire took the honours taking 5-21 in thirteen overs. It was Yorkshire’s only defeat of the season. Ironically, Gloucestershire would have won the 1930 Championship under this points system. As a batsman Goddard scored only 93 runs in 33 innings and he took 17 catches. He played in two representative games, both at Folkestone, for Players against Gentlemen and for MCC South African Team against the Rest of England when his second innings figures of 6-72 set up victory for his side. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 155. Gloucestershire v Surrey, Kennington Oval, May 2, 4, 5 (Gloucestershire won by three wickets) did not bat - 175-7d 55 27 75 1 H.T.Barling c B.H.Lyon 258 did not bat - 145-7 10 2 34 1 A.Sandham c H.Smith 60-6d 156. Gloucestershire v Derbyshire, Victoria Park, Cheltenham, May 6, 7 (Gloucestershire won by four wickets) b T.S.Worthington 14 112 16 7 26 1 D.Smith b 100 1 did not bat - 111-6 33 18 30 1 A.W.Richardson lbw 120 157. Gloucestershire v Nottinghamshire, Bristol, May 9, 11 (Gloucestershire won by an innings and 131 runs) b S.J.Staples 3 376 16 5 55 2 B.Lilley b 114 A.W.Carr c H.Smith 20 7 50 3 W.Walker b 131 H.Larwood b A.W.Carr c C.J.Barnett 158. Gloucestershire v Middlesex, Lord’s, May 13, 14, 15 (Match drawn) c H.W.Lee b I.A.R.Peebles 12 200 18.5 2 26 4 E.H.Hendren c H.Smith 258 N.McCaskie b F.J.Durston st H.Smith R.Beveridge b did not bat - 46-1 9 0 37 0 254 2 159. Gloucestershire v Sussex, Hove, May (16), 18, 19 (Match drawn) did not bat - 289-5d 16 7 25 2 E.H.Bowley c R.A.Sinfield 107 1 K.S.Duleepsinhji b 32 13 48 0 278-3 160. Gloucestershire v Oxford University, The Parks, May 20, 21, (22) (Match drawn) c B.W.Hone b D.L.Russell 5 374 35 7 92 0 398-8 161. Gloucestershire v Hampshire, Bristol, May 23, 25, 26 (Hampshire won by 66 runs) b G.S.Boyes 0 195 38 12 81 1 C.P.Mead b 267 not out 1 122 8 1 18 0 116-9d 162. Gloucestershire v Somerset, Bristol, May 27, (28), 29 (Match drawn) c G.F.Earle b J.W.Lee 0 214 - - - - 31 1 6 3 6 0 36-2 163. Gloucestershire v Worcestershire, Stourbridge, May 30, June 1, 2 (Worcestershire won by 101 runs) b R.T.D.Perks 0 207 24 12 37 1 F.D.Ahl b 178 c C.F.Walters b G.W.Brook 4 118 12.1 4 26 4 T.L.Winwood b 248 F.D.Ahl b C.F.Root c C.J.Barnett R.T.D.Perks b 164. Gloucestershire v Yorkshire, Bramall Lane, June (3), (4), 5 (Gloucestershire won by 47 runs) did not bat - 4-0d - - - - 4-0d 23