Lives in Cricket No 1 - Allan Watkins

captained by Len Hutton. Appointing a professional for the first time since MCC had assumed responsibility for selection was the big talking point. Another was their choice of a new fast bowler, Fred Trueman, to open the attack with Bedser. Though England would soon dominate opponents who lacked resolution against Trueman’s raw pace, the series began well for the visitors. After making 293, they held the whip hand as Ghulam Ahmed exploited helpful conditions to reduce England to 92 for four. At this point Allan joined Graveney. Together they added 90, Allan’s share 48. For Wisden their gritty batting was ‘the turning point of the match’. A sparkling innings from Evans helped England to a first innings lead of 41, after which the Indians made the worst start to an innings in Test history. Four batsmen dismissed, three of them to Trueman, without a run in the book spelt the end of any serious challenge, England easing home by eight wickets. For the Lord’s Test the Indians gained the release of Vinoo Mankad from his Lancashire League commitments to Haslingden. Scoring 72 and 184, and bowling 73 overs to take five wickets, he did all in his power to keep India in the game, but it was to no avail. England’s batsmen filled their boots, Hutton leading the way with 150, but poor Allan was bowled by Mankad for a duck just before The Best All-Rounder in English Cricket 72 Allan meets the Queen at the Lord’s Test in 1952.