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

59 on a string he could not have mystified the Crompton batsmen more than he did. Not one of the last seven men reached double figures, and the uninterrupted procession to and from the pavilion ended at 4pm after an hour and fifty minutes play.” With former Test players Pollard and Oldfield playing for Crompton; and with Bill Farrimond, the Lancashire and England wicketkeeper and a more than useful bat, skipper at Heywood as well as Alan Wharton who would go on to play for England in the batting line up, the match was not short of stars. But as we have seen repeatedly Johnny – sometimes recognised and sometimes undervalued – was as much a star as any other and on this occasion if there had been such an honour in those days would have undoubtedly won ‘man of the match’. One interesting match