Cricket Witness No 6 - His Captain's Hand on His Shoulder Smote

77 man in Harry Wharton’s team at Greyfriars.’ To the sound of plentiful ‘ha, ha, has’, Parker bowls the bespectacled Bunter first ball. Once more ‘the Owl of the Remove’ had his egotism punctured, although many of us might echo his grumbled comment, ‘what a game it is for flukes.’ One of the countless Billy Bunter books is in my possession. Slightly revised, it was re-published in hardback in 1982 and paperback in 1983, testimony to Bunter’s longevity. In Billy Bunter’s Double, he, being, as ever, in trouble, persuades his cousin Wally, not of dissimilar proportions, to replace him at Greyfriars until the heat cools down. Wally, although on the corpulent side, is more gifted than his relative. Having displayed a surprising grasp of Latin, French and Maths, the acid test is cricket, once more the device chosen almost like an ordeal by fire. Harry Wharton has organised a practice match prior to picking the eleven to play against Highcliffe School and arranged for Bunter, who qua Wally has shown signs of talent, to open the batting against a strong bowling attack. As a senior pupil Coker, armed with a cricket stump in angry search of the errant Bunter, remarks, ‘that frowsting tick doesn’t play cricket. The only game he plays is helping himself to other chaps’ grub.’ But Wally is a strong and commanding batsman. ‘Once again Bunter put on a marvellous performance..hammering ball after ball all over the field. Although other wickets fell, Bunter remained at the crease, quietly confident in spite of the keen fielding.’ Selected for the Highcliffe match, he keeps up his masquerade and opens the batting, ‘awaiting the first ball of the match. It was a good one, and the bowler confidently expected to see Bunter’s stumps go flying, but there was a sharp click, and the ball shot from the bat. Harry Wharton made a move as if to run, but Bunter waved him back. ‘Oh my socks and sandals’!’ shouted Bob, ‘A boundary! What a way to open the innings’..He whacked the ball around the field and he did it with a grace and agility that stunned everyone..Wally was the hero of the day. He carried his bat throughout both innings, and he knocked up the highest number of runs ever scored by a junior at either The Flood (1) Greyfriars For Ever..And Ever