Lives in Cricket No 14 - Jack Bond

Fifteenth place in the Championship, twelfth equal in the John Player and failure to progress beyond the group stage in the Benson and Hedges were the components of another disappointing season, leavened only by reaching the final of what was now styled the NatWest Trophy. This match, against Sussex, was notable for an emotional farewell to Lord’s from Clive Lloyd, playing at the expense of Patterson’s fire power. The genial giant could not live up to supporters’ hopes, departing lbw to his fourth ball. Lancashire posted 242 for eight, with a young Neil Fairbrother making 63. It was not enough to prevent a Sussex victory by seven wickets with ten balls to spare. Two days later Jack was sacked, a decision taken by five votes to four by a committee that also decided to dispense with the services of the coach. Even looking back to this lowest hour in his time with Lancashire, Jack’s humour remains intact, the story of his dismissal featuring in his after dinner speeches. ‘Cedric was at one end of this great long table and I’m at the other end of it. Cedric said, “I’m sorry, I think it’s time to call it a day.” And I said, “I don’t really think so, chairman. I think you’re doing a grand job.” He said, “No, not me, I mean thee!”’ There was to be a more acrimonious sequel when the Annual General Meeting came round in December. A member, Ken Thomas, paid tribute to Clive Lloyd as a player, but questioned the wisdom of his appointment as captain. Was this, he enquired, a decision taken on the recommendation of the manager? Informed that all such appointments were taken by recommendation, Thomas repeated his question to which, as recorded in the minutes, ‘the Chairman replied in the affirmative.’ Jack, who attended the meeting as an ordinary member, held his tongue. But he was incensed and was soon putting the record straight. After making the recommendation that the club should seek an outsider, he and Peter Lever had left the room. The committee then decided against such an appointment. ‘At no stage did they come back and ask us to recommend someone from within the club,’ he informed the media. ‘I thought at the time that it would cost me my job –and it did.’ There was a hostile response to Rhoades’ misleading of the members, with Frank Hayes calling for a Special General Meeting. Jack simply wished the truth to be known, but Rhoades took the message and quickly resigned. The appointment as the new ‘I don’t mean me – I mean thee!’ 127