Lives in Cricket No 46 - George Raikes

98 Raikes’ Third Spell For Norfolk: The Championship Won Again regular season games, did not let their backers down and won in two days. Berkshire won the toss but failed to take advantage, scoring only 153 and then being required to field whilst Geoffrey Stevens amassed 201 runs, taking him three hours and 40 minutes and including 30 fours. As usual in 1910, a Norfolk side led by Raikes went on to win comfortably as Berkshire were demoralised. Raikes again took seven wickets in the match. 1910: “Some Impressions of a Successful Season” An “Old County Player” wrote in the 1910-11 Norfolk Cricket Annual on the topic : “Some Impressions Of A Successful Season .” He stated that “In two years only has Norfolk been head of the second class counties, and in two years only – the same two years – has the Rev G.B.Raikes captained the County XI. What are the causes of this coincidence if there is casual relationship between the two sets of facts (note 5) ? Well, one reason no doubt, is that he is about the best all-round cricketer the county has ever had, and that he has been playing a little better this year than he has ever played before. Again, his name and reputation are a considerable asset to the side for which he has played so long and so successfully. Again he is a very keen and experienced judge of the game and of the powers of his own men and the weaknesses of his antagonists. But the chief thing which has made Mr George Raikes such a successful captain is probably his temperament. He is not merely a sanguine and plucky cricketer himself, The Norfolk Eleven that won the Final of the Minor Counties Championship in 1910. George Raikes captained the side to an innings victory over Berkshire. Standing (from left): B.K.Wilson (Hon Sec), E.Gibson, R.W.Thurgar, C.J.H.Treglown, N.W.Stevens, E.J.Fulcher, W.Thursby, C.B.L.Prior (Hon Sec). Sitting (from left): G.W.Birkbeck, M.Falcon, Rev G.B.Raikes, G.A.Stevens, T.C.Allsopp.