Lives in Cricket No 52 - Schooled in Cricket (2nd edition)

114 of representative games as an England prospect who in the end never quite made it to Test level. The Australian was John McMahon a left-arm spinner who had joined in 1953 after previously playing for Surrey after both Hazell and Ellis Robinson had finished in the same year. Colin McCool from Australia had not yet joined the side. And their cheerleader was of course a Yorkshireman. It was in this period that Somerset were often, with intended humour, referred to as the ‘League of Nations’. Against Yorkshire at Taunton in July Johnny scored 58 before being bowled by Fred Trueman who had never previously got him out. Johnny then went on to take six Yorkshire wickets for 39. His victims were Vic Wilson and Brian Close when both were in and set, Ray Illingworth Two of Johnny's proteges, Malcolm Walker (left) and Lewis Pickles open the innings for Somerset against Yorkshire at Bath in 1958. A first class career with Somerset