Lives in Cricket No 40 - Edwin Smith

78 Bottom and that he wouldn’t be around for a second benefit, while I probably would. My testimonial year was 1966, after 15 years at the club. Had I been given it in 1964, I would have been entitled to another when I left for good in 1974. Given that we were never well paid, it left me feeling a little undervalued, to say the least. In 1964, Derbyshire climbed off the bottom of the table, finishing in 12th. It was a strange season, in which the county fielded a somewhat modest pace attack compared to past standards. Brian Jackson toiled away manfully and finished top of the averages among the regular bowlers, while Derek Morgan lent solid support in bowling more overs than anyone else. The all-rounder also contributed 1600 Championship runs in a fine personal season, as well as holding the most catches among the outfielders. Edwin felt he was among the best in the country. Time after time he came to the rescue with bat and ball. The physical demands of batting at number five and bowling first change are considerable, but Derek didn’t miss a match all summer andmaintained a very high standard. He was an obvious choice to take over as captain for 1965. Charlie Lee struggled in his final summer, but Johnson, Hall and Buxton passed a thousand runs and Mike Page showed early signs of the talent that was to see him mentioned as an England possible. The biggest concern was over Harold Rhodes. Several years of scrutiny seemed to have had an impact on the fast bowler and the new front foot ruling for no balls proved a problem for him to overcome. He missed around a third of the summer through illness and injury, looking some way removed from the England hopeful of a few seasons before. He took only 46 wickets and the side missed the penetration that he had previously offered. As for Edwin, the summer was one in which he showed true all-round capabilities. He contributed 722 Championship runs at an average of just under 19, as well as taking 58 wickets. As so often he did well against Yorkshire, taking two for 50 in a 30-over spell, while his efforts against the touring Australians were exemplary. In the first innings he had figures of 25-12-34-1 and in the second he had 25- 5-67-4, almost bowling the county to an unlikely win after a high-scoring game. His season best came against Nottinghamshire at Ilkeston. After Johnson’s imperious century enabled the home side to make 277, a good team effort enabled a first innings lead of 84. A declaration on the final morning left the visitors a target of 279 to win in four hours, but they never got close. Edwin took five of the first six wickets and finished with the remarkable figures of 32-23-25-6.