Lives in Cricket No 1 - Allan Watkins

‘Jenkins, Wright, Hollies, Lawrence not available STOP Appleyard available. Would you like him or any other? STOP Cable or telephone as convenient.’ Bob Appleyard had taken 200 wickets for Yorkshire that summer, but the tourists were determined to have another leg spinner, so it was Eddie Leadbeater, with only 81 wickets, who flew out to join them. After just one match he was thrust into the Test side as a spinner ahead of Malcolm Hilton, who had been in the party from the outset. Leadbeater bowled only 11 overs as India piled up 485 for nine, while Allan sent down 32. “I was over-bowled on that tour,” he says. “Because they made me a stock bowler and I bowled for hour after hour while Fred Ridgway and Brian Statham were resting. In those conditions – I was just above medium – I had to rely completely on what happened off the pitch.” Senior Professional in India 67 Tom Graveney batting in his long partnership with Allan in the Second Test at Bombay.