Lives in Cricket No 3 - George Duckworth

eventual first-class average of 14.58. Probably his finest batting contribution was at Headingley against Australia in 1930. Sent in as nightwatchman on Saturday evening, with the fifth wicket down and facing a heavy Australian total, he doughtily defied both bowlers and squally showers and, batting on Monday and into Tuesday, his 30 runs helped England secure a draw. More importantly, he stumped 15 and caught 45, a total of 60, with, as in county cricket, a goodly proportion - a quarter - of them being stumpings. More importantly even than that, he rallied and chivvied his comrades and made himself, at that top level, the focus of a comprehensive assault on the foe. The next summer of 1937 marked George Duckworth’s last full season, one in which he passed the fifty point for catches and stumpings, with a sum of 57. In The Times of 14 August, 1937 his retirement, ‘for business reasons’, was announced, although with the proviso that he would be available ‘if and when required in 1938’. In the event, he played just two matches for Lancashire in 1938. He did play one final first-class match after World War II. Always, understandably, a popular guest at end-of-season festivals, he was persuaded to play for the North against the South at the 1947 Harrogate Festival. The North won by 86 runs in that most memorable of summers. George Duckworth must have enjoyed watching his old team-mate, Eddie Paynter, who had not played first-class cricket since the war, whack his merry way to 154 (he went from 50 to 100 in fifteen minutes) and 73. For himself, the recalled stumper made 10 and 10, not out, and, showing much of his old skill, captured four scalps, two caught and two stumped. His last first-class victim was G.F.H.Heane, the Nottinghamshire amateur, caught for a duck of the bowling of P.F.Jackson, the Worcestershire spinner, who took twelve wickets in the match. George Duckworth’s retirement was described as a ‘big blow’ for Lancashire cricket. It did seem that. Although in his late thirties, he was fit and skilled enough to continue and there was some surprise expressed. Apart from a consideration about finding new avenues as his career was naturally tending towards a close, his family is quite adamant on the subject. He was resolved to give Bill Farrimond something of a sustained opportunity in the county colours, for he, too, was no chicken. Born in 1903, he was only two years younger than his senior partner, while, sticking closely to his The Cricket 41