Lives in Cricket No 6 - Bill Copson

season was complete when he received the high accolade of selection for the forthcoming winter’s tour to Australia and New Zealand. Derbyshire’s triumph was the pinnacle of what had been a steep progression from the depths of their experience in 1920 when, out of eighteen matches played, they had the abysmal record of losing seventeen with the other one abandoned without a ball bowled. They finished bottom again in 1924, but then showed considerable improvement by taking fifth place in 1927. In 1932 they were tenth and then had a very neat arithmetical progression, sixth in 1933, third in 1934 and second in 1935. This led ‘naturally’ on to their being acclaimed as well deserved and very worthy champions in 1936. They won thirteen out of twenty eight matches, being defeated only four times. The team’s undoubted strength was in their bowling. The county took its championship opponents’ wickets, 442 at an average of 18.47, 13 more cheaply than any of its competitors. The principal wicket-takers were Copson with 140 wickets at 12.80; A.V.Pope, Copson’s new-ball partner, 94 at 17.72; and Mitchell 116 at 20.45. Between them these three bowled almost three-quarters of Derbyshire’s overs. Backing them up, Leslie Townsend had 54 wickets at 19.66 and also scored over 1,000 runs again. Denis Smith, Worthington and Alderman also reached this latter target, although their batting did on occasions let the side down. The side suffered through an injury to George Pope, who had taken 62 wickets at 19.62 in 1935, but who developed cartilage trouble at Bristol in late May and played only four matches in 1936. At the end of the season, Mitchell fractured a thumb whilst batting and missed the last two matches, although by then the title was all but won. Analysis of Copson’s performances throughout this memorable season shows a very consistent record of sustained hostile bowling. 14 Derbyshire began their season by drawing against Hampshire at Southampton and losing decisively to Kent at Gravesend. This match was over before lunch on the second day. Annus Mirabilis 25 13 In the ten seasons 1930 to 1939, only Yorkshire improved upon this bowling average, with 16.81 in 1931, 17.63 in 1932, 18.23 in 1935 and 18.33 in 1939, all years when they headed the final table. 14 His captain later supported this assessment. Reminiscing on the season some thirty years later, Arthur Richardson said that Copson and Tommy Mitchell were ‘at the heart of the Championship victory.’ He called them both ‘killers . . . positive bowlers . . . and both likely to run through a side.’