Lives in Cricket No 43 - John Jackson

49 At the Height of His Powers at all as the Players won by 157 runs, scoring 110 and 246. The Gentlemen made 130 and 69 with Jackson taking nought for 29 in 18 overs. There was only one clash between the two great professional Elevens and it took place at Lord’s on 9, 10 and 11 June, with the AEE triumphing by four wickets. £214.9s was raised for the benefit of the Cricketers Fund. Jackson took four wickets for 87 in 48 overs in the match as the UAEE scored 126 and 129 in their two innings. The AEE made 203 and were set only 53 to win. After collapsing to 14 for six they were seen home by A.Clarke and G.Anderson without further alarms. Nottinghamshire played home and away matches against Cambridgeshire and Surrey. At the Fenner’s Ground on 6, 7 June, (it should have started on 5 June, but rain washed out the first day), Jackson was the batting star for Nottinghamshire with innings of 28* and 37* in a low-scoring encounter in the County’s totals of 100 and 145 for seven. He bowled 90 overs, 52 unchanged in the first innings, as Cambridgeshire were bowled out for 96 and 148. Jackson took four wickets for 105 in thematch as Nottinghamshire won the match by three wickets. The return match at Trent Bridge on 3 and 4 July was easily won by the Midland County by an innings and 39 runs. Nottinghamshire scored 231 and R.C.Tinley starred with the ball, taking fifteen for 78 with his underhand lobs whereas Jackson bowled only 8 overs, taking one for 4 as the Cambridgeshire innings totalled 45 and 147. As the match had finished early, a single wicket match was arranged between Jackson, R.Daft and Clarke for Nottinghamshire, and Tarrant, Hayward and Carpenter for Cambridgeshire. Jackson brushed aside the Cambridge trio for 1 run between them. The Nottinghamshire three mustered a total of 12, but no second innings was possible as rain washed out the remaining time. The Oval fixture against Surrey was played in dreadful weather on 13 and 14 June. Jackson starred as a batsman scoring 59 in the Nottinghamshire innings of 172 after which he took three for 11 in Surrey’s 108. In reply Nottinghamshire were seven for no wicket when the rains came and caused an abandonment. At Trent Bridge on 28, 29 and 30 July Nottinghamshire won by five wickets. Jackson took five wickets for 89 in 40 overs in this match, with Surrey scoring 133 and 187, and Nottinghamshire 224 and 99 for five. The first North v South fixture of the season took place at Old Trafford on 29, 30 and 31 May. Scheduled for three days, it was left unfinished when the second day was rained off. Jackson took four for 42 in 33.1 overs in the South’s first innings, and three for 33 in the second. The South scored 127 and 137, batting one short in their second innings as Caffyn had an injured knee. In the return match at Lord’s, which began on 21 July and was played as a benefit match for Jem Grundy, Richard Daft hit a brilliant 118 for the North, and F.W.Wright made 50 as they totalled 271. George Tarrant had a fine spell of eight for 26 in 23.2 overs as the South were dismissed for 61, and although they did better in the second innings, making 200, the North still won by an innings and 10 runs. Jackson, only required in the second innings, took two for 18 in the match.