Lives in Cricket No 15 - Michael Falcon

At the end of the season Falcon received an enthusiastic review in the Eastern Daily Press : ‘Michael Falcon, who once again heads the batting and bowling averages had brilliant days when he almost carried the rest of the side on his shoulders.’ 1929 Michael Falcon continued to thrive with the bat in 1929. The highlight was an innings of 189 against Leicestershire II at Hinckley, his second highest ever for Norfolk. He hit three sixes and 29 fours and added 170 in 67 minutes for the sixth wicket with John Bally, his driving being described as ‘superb’. Leicestershire II put up little fight and lost by an innings, Falcon taking five for 50 in their first knock. For the rest of the year he was consistent rather than spectacular with both bat and ball, and in a season dominated by Rodney Rought-Rought’s haul of 59 wickets, his bag of 29 was more expensive than those of all the other regular bowlers. He did, though, perform well against his old foe, the South Africans, taking three for 65 at Lakenham. He also faced the South Africans representing MCC in his last first-class fixture against a touring side, picking up a couple of wickets. At His Peak: 1919-1929 81 Players and officials in the Norfolk v South Africans match at Lakenham in June 1929. Back row (l to r): H.G.Owen-Smith, B.W.Rought-Rought, E.L.Dalton. Standing: H.B.Cameron, H.F.Low, J.H.Bally, A.J.Bell, W.A.Beadsmoore, W.McMillan, R.C.Rought-Rought, G.A.Stevens, R.H.Gladden, A.L.Ochse. Seated: J.A.Christy, J.E.Nichols, H.W.Taylor, S.Christopherson (Norfolk President), M.Falcon, H.O.Frielinghaus (SA manager), C.L.Vincent, B.Mitchell. On the ground: F.R.Bell, G.N.Scott-Chad, E.A.Van der Merwe.