Lives in Cricket No 40 - Edwin Smith

100 Lord’s in the summer of ‘69 was built around keen fielding, aggressive batting and a varied attack, including left-arm spinner David Hughes and off spinner Jack Simmons. Peter Sainsbury - flat, slow left-arm for Hampshire - and another left- armer, Ray East, with Yorkshire’s Don Wilson, were three of the seven most prolific wicket-takers, suggesting that spin could not only survive in the format, but flourish. It does pose the question as to why Derbyshire were so staid in their approach. Perhaps the answer came in the new recruit for the summer. Fred Rumsey had given long and distinguished service to Somerset, after starting his career at Worcestershire. He had played five Test matches for England and had founded the Professional Cricketers Association in 1967. This gave players a greater say in the administration of the game and saw standard contracts and a minimum wage for the first time. Rumsey had taken up a position as Public Relations Officer for the club, who registered him to play in one-day cricket. He could still bowl tight lines and gave little away, although his fielding was mediocre at best and he had few pretensions as a batsman. He became a key member of the Derbyshire attack, alongside Harold Rhodes and Alan Ward. With Ian Buxton and Derek Morgan to offer all-round skills alongside Peter Eyre, it meant that Derbyshire’s bowling largely selected itself, even if it left a worryingly long tail. As it transpired, the march to Lord’s was played on wickets that helped those seam bowlers. Somerset were beaten at Taunton by three wickets, where Rumsey took three for 19 against his old employers, who made only 144. Then Worcestershire were beaten by four wickets, the winning target this time only 157. The third round took Derbyshire to Cardiff and on a damp pitch Rhodes’ four for 17 was decisive in bowling Glamorgan out for 117. Taking few risks, the county eased to a win by nine wickets, setting up a home tie against Sussex. While not quite the one-day force they had been, they were losing finalists in 1968 and had beaten Derbyshire by ten wickets at Hove on the way to that final. They batted long and usually opted for an all- seam attack themselves, in which future England captain Tony Greig and fast bowler John Snow played key parts. A crowd of 10,582 was recorded as being present for the semi-final, though how much of the action was seen by some is a moot point. The ground was still wet from heavy rain earlier in the week, but groundsman Harold Graham and his team ensured a prompt start was possible. Some of the rain had got under the covers so Derek Morgan opted to bat first on a wet pitch, mindful of how it may cut up later. The home side mustered only 136. Few among the huge crowd gave Derbyshire a chance, but in a tense atmosphere Alan Ward began in complete silence from the pavilion end. After a no-ball, Ward forced Les Lenham to play on with his fourth delivery. Four maiden overs followed, before Ken Suttle edged Harold Rhodes for four – remarkably, the only scoring shot off the veteran bowler in seven overs.