Lives in Cricket No 14 - Jack Bond

minutes to spare. As the match reached its climax, with Robin Hobbs and David Acfield at the crease and Statham and Shuttleworth striving for the last wicket, Jack played a crucial part: ‘It looked as though Essex were going to get away with a draw. Brian was always reluctant to bowl a bouncer. He was afraid of hurting people as much as anything. So when we got it the right way round and Ken was bowling at Acfield, I said “Come on, Shutt, you’ve got to let him have one.” And he bowled him one and Acfield looked at Ken as if to say, “This is not on, bowling it at tailenders” – the old university attitude. Well Ken bowled him another one and there was arms and gloves and everything. It popped up for an easy catch and we all walked off the field with the game won.’ For their fifth championship win of the summer Lancashire could thank the little battler from Bolton. Fourth in the championship averages behind Pilling, Pullar and Atkinson with 27.26, he had earned his retention. Though few could have guessed it, his best years lay ahead. ‘We need someone to read nine verses’ 59