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

70 of self-discipline rather than to imposition. His decision not to go to India in 1951 was certainly affected by the realisation of how such a tour would disturb his lifestyle and diet – especially in the days when tour arrangements would not have been so designed to help matters as they later became. There are innumerable stories of Johnny’s sportsmanship where he applauds the batsman’s good shot but usually the story finishes with Johnny taking the batsman’s wicket. However Jimmy Walker tells me that a batsman, Hartley, playing for North Leeds against Bilton in 1975 hit three straight sixes in a row past where Walker was fielding on the boundary off Johnny’s bowling – and Johnny just stood in the middle applauding the batsman and his shots for several seconds – which was not only an unusual response but – Walker felt – a response which should act as a strong encouragement to fellow spin bowlers that the bowler to best develop his art (as well as his sportsmanship) needs to learn to appreciate the batsman at times! This was a wicket which Johnny on this occasion failed to take. A man of his times who became a role model for other players Johnny sitting at the organ socialising with Geoff Boycott.