Lives in Cricket No 30 - MJK Smith

63 Chapter Eight Endurance test in India 1960 was a disappointing year for Warwickshire, who slipped back to fifteenth in the championship table with only four matches won. There were usually enough runs. Mike, again the heaviest scorer in the country, topped the county’s averages with good support from Stewart; but among the bowlers there were injuries to Thompson and Cartwright and Bridge’s form deserted him, leaving too much on the willing shoulders of Bannister and Wheatley. Mention of Stewart prompts Mike to reflect on his curious misfortune: ‘Jim was a fine allrounder with an unusual record. He was a centre with the very strong Coventry side. He was born in Wales and selected for their final trial, but he had to withdraw through injury. And he was also chosen as twelfth man for the England Test team, but again he never got a cap.’ The summer’s Tests against South Africa also took Mike away from the county. With 54 and 28 he helped in a 100-run win at Edgbaston before taking part at Lord’s in a match that was to see the umpires take a stand against the scourge of illegal actions by Champagne award for Jim Stewart for the fastest century of the month, presented by Jimmy Hill with Mike on hand to pour the bubbly.