Lives in Cricket No 39 - Alec Watson

48 notable for Crossland’s bowling and its consequences, as we shall see. In the next match, against Derbyshire, Watson had six wickets in an innings (31-22-28-6), and in the return against Oxford was in form with both bat and ball, scoring 37 in his only innings, and taking eight wickets in all, with figures of 57-32-97-5 in the first innings. On 9, 10, 11 July at Old Trafford a match was played between North and South for Watson’s benefit. The total sum raised was £1,101:11:1 plus ‘presents’, and Haygarth noted that as probably the record benefit result to date. Wisden supplied a eulogy of Alec. It certainly made no mention of his bowling action, nor did it have cause to do so in that particular match; for Watson did not play in his own benefit, though it has to be said that the North side was very strong. The anni mirabiles Drawing of Alec Watson in Cricket: a Weekly Record of the Game, 30/4/1885.