Lives in Cricket No 15 - Michael Falcon

preparations for restarting county cricket – the club had closed down during the war with no subscriptions being taken. The following letter, signed by Michael Falcon, C.B.L.Prior and J.W.Corran – respectively captain, chairman and acting secretary of the club – appeared in the Eastern Daily Press , dated 21 May 1945: Although the war with Germany is over, it is not expected that Norfolk C.C.C. will be in a position to participate in matches this season, as many of its potential players are still in the services. In spite of this we desire to make a start this season by arranging Norfolk Club and Ground matches. The main object of [these] is to enable the county selectors to keep in touch with young cricketers from schools and clubs. In order to enable this object to be attained any cricketers who would like to be considered for selection to represent the Club and Ground are invited to send their names and addresses to the Acting Honorary Secretary ... as soon as possible. In doing so they should say whether they are batsmen or bowlers and give some details of their previous clubs. The co-operation of all cricketers and cricket clubs is requested in these first efforts to restart cricket in the county. As well as seeking new blood on the field, the County committee also launched a membership drive, as was reported in a ‘Circular Letter to Members and Prospective Members’ issued in February 1946 above the names of C.B.L.Prior (now chairman), M.Falcon (still captain) and D.G.Buxton (the new secretary). This also reported that the Lakenham ground was in need of considerable renovation; that C.S.R.Boswell had been re-engaged as a professional for a further year; and that six county fixtures had been arranged for the 1946 season. The Club and Ground matches in 1945 were considered a success, but no new players were discovered who were both mature and talented enough to make a significant impact as soon as 1946, when it was decided that the Championship would recommence. Thus things looked fairly bleak for Norfolk. As well as losing Walker and Ballance, the following players from the squad of the late 1930s were also no longer available to the county: Rodney Rought-Rought (one of Norfolk’s greatest-ever pace bowlers); Geoff and Eric Edrich; Jack Lingwood; George Langdale, who was turning out for Somerset; and Michael Barton. 104 Second World War and Beyond