Lives in Cricket No 46 - George Raikes

18 Raikes’ Progress: From ‘Iron Gloves’ to Allrounder Falcon) he failed to score in his first innings; going in at number eight, he was “splendidly caught by [Walter] Hoare before scoring”. The bowler was Henry Mordaunt, the elder brother of Gerry Mordaunt, who returned figures of seven for 41 as Norfolk made just 141. Raikes made a better start behind the timbers, the press stating that “G.B.Raikes, this year’s captain of Shrewsbury School, showed good form as wicket-keeper, and no doubt will figure again in that capacity for that county”, and remarking “Raikes, who had been keeping very well [brought] off a capital catch” – his victim was Mordaunt, caught off Charlie Shore, Norfolk’s skilful slow left- armer. Thanks to an unbeaten century by Hylton Philipson, who went on to play in five Tests over two Ashes tours, the Ramblers were able to declare with a lead of 150 and went on to win by an innings. Raikes did manage to open his account at his second attempt; he struck two boundaries off Mordaunt before becoming one of that bowler’s ten wickets in the match, being caught at cover point by Robert Gosling for 12. Two days later, the match between Norfolk and MCC began. For the second game in succession, Raikes found himself on a team that was defeated by an innings; this time left-armer Charlie Shore took 13 wickets in the match. There was no question of him keeping wicket as one of his team was the accomplished custodian, John Whiteside, who played over 200 times for Leicestershire and justified his place in this MCC side by taking a hat-trick of stumpings. Raikes was again unsuccessful with the bat, although no more than most of his comrades – his knock of 11 in the MCC’s first innings was one of only five double-figure scores made on behalf of the visitors. An Utter Catastrophe The match against Hertfordshire followed immediately and was single- handedly responsible for terminating Raikes’ career as a wicket-keeper. Although he did manage to catch Tom Pearce off Tom Morley in Hertfordshire’s second innings, the memories of their first knock will have haunted him for a considerable time. The Eastern Daily Press summed his performance up: “As the wicket was very much faster than last week, Mr Raikes did not show to such advantage.” He commenced by dropping Herbert Pigg twice, early in an innings of 58, then missed Charles Pigg, who went on to score 18, off his first ball (note 5) . Next to benefit was the Rev Frederick Poland, who was also grassed early on, only to accumulate 53 runs. Finally, W.H.Nicholls’ unbeaten 59 would not have been possible without Raikes’ generosity. His only innings saw him get off the mark by the narrowest of margins and, having failed both as a custodian and as a batsman, it was no surprise that the selectors mothballed him for the season. However, the Norfolk County Annual was kind to the Salopian schoolboy, stating that “G.B.Raikes, who was tried last year once or twice, is well worth trying again, as he is young and plucky, and ought to have more confidence this year; moreover he is a goodish bat and a fair change- bowler – although, of course, he cannot wicket-keep to his own bowling!”