Lives in Cricket No 46 - George Raikes

57 permitted to travel to Maidstone where it was intended that he would represent the Dark Blues in the second and third days of their return match against Kent. Norfolk have never stood in the way of the ambitions of its youngsters and skipper, Redmond Buxton, agreed to release him on the grounds that it might favourably influence his chances of being awarded a second cricketing ‘Blue’. When Raikes took the field, Kent had reached 88 without loss in pursuit of Oxford’s total of 327. They were eventually bowled out at 313; Fry took five wickets but they cost him no fewer than 105 runs whilst Raikes clinically removed the tail (again!), recording figures of 12-5-36-4. Not for the first time, Oxford might have tried Raikes earlier as the other three bowlers had the combined analyses of one for 154. As usual, he failed with the bat but Oxford’s second innings amassed 384 before declaring with eight down; a demoralised Kent then caved in for 183, a defeat by 215 runs. For once Raikes was permitted to bowl at top-order batsmen as well as the tail and did not let Mordaunt down, removing two quality batsmen in Jack Mason and the eccentric Gerry Weigall on the way to a haul of 22- 7-50-4. This gave him figures of 34-12-86-8 for the match. Having been singled out and found far from wanting, Raikes was well placed to secure a place in the Varsity match; providing that he kept out of harm’s way in the match against the MCC. Writing before Kent’s second knock, the Eastern Daily Press was predictably hopeful for Raikes’ prospects: “G.B.Raikes performed so well at Maidstone …, securing four wickets for 36, and a couple of catches at cover slip [possibly somewhere between second slip and gully in modern parlance], that his chances of securing a place in the Dark Blue for the contest … at Lord’s … appear to be very rosy”. The need for Raikes to be snatched away from a prior commitment in the Minor Counties Championship, leading to ten men being fielded against Kent for the first day, needs some comment. One might have hazarded a guess that Oxford were short and that the call for Raikes was almost ‘scraping the bottom of the barrel’. However, inspection of the names of the players for the Maidstone match reveals that nine out of ten of Raikes’ team mates would go on to win a ‘Blue’ (note 5) ; far from being below strength, Oxford were actually very strong and the call for Raikes was a positive move in his favour rather than a negative choice of anyone who happened to be available (note 6) . The match against the MCC was of only two days and failed to reach a fourth innings. Raikes bowled adequately, taking two important wickets in MCC’s first innings – however, it was his batting that caught skipper Mordaunt’s eye. Up to this point Raikes had never been asked to bat higher than six in a first-class game and done little to suggest that he had much to offer with the bat; now he found himself asked to open the innings. He responded by making a career-best 58, his maiden first-class fifty; the Daily Telegraph described him as batting ‘admirably’ and the Times as “successful in batting”. He hit 11 ‘fours’ and provided stability whilst more dashing batsmen scored quick runs: he put on 69 in 55 minutes Playing Cricket At Oxford: A ‘Nearly’ Man