Lives in Cricket No 6 - Bill Copson

Buxton versus Lancashire, where Derbyshire were dismissed for their lowest score of the season, 61, in a rain-interrupted drawn match. The county then won two consecutive matches conclusively by an innings margin against Worcestershire and Warwickshire. In the first of these, at New Road, Bill had most impressive figures of five for 38 and seven for 16, the latter of these being his best innings return to date. At one stage in their first innings Worcestershire had lost half their wickets for six runs. On a rain damaged pitch the county lost their last fourteen wickets for only seventy two runs after lunch on the last day, of which nine were claimed by Copson. They were dismissed for 64 and 47. The victory over Warwickshire placed Derbyshire at the head of the Championship table on 7 July, from which position they were never displaced. Their next game against Hampshire, also at Chesterfield, was the first time that Derbyshire had ever held a cricket week, with two consecutive home matches, at any of their home venues. This match was spoiled by rain, Copson bowling only eleven overs in the game fromwhich he took three wickets. He did not bat or bowl in Derbyshire’s next fixture at Old Trafford, where play took place only on the last day. 15 In the meantime Bill had been selected to appear for Players versus Gentlemen at Lord’s. At that time this was the most important fixture in the season’s calendar outside the Test matches and was virtually another Test Trial. A player performing well in this showpiece match could enhance his prospects considerably. The Players side was a strong one captained by W.R.Hammond and included several contestants for places in the forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand. Rain on the first day washed out play. The match was noteworthy for inspired fast bowling for the Gentlemen by J.W.A.Stephenson and Kenneth Farnes. The former took nine wickets for a mere forty six runs, including three wickets in four balls at one stage in the innings. The Gentlemen, captained by G.O.B.Allen, won the toss and were dismissed for 130 runs. Copson, who shared the opening bowling with Gover, had four wickets for 29 and Gover six for 41. Both bowlers made many deliveries keep unexpectedly low. The Players had a first innings lead of 64 runs and a second innings declaration by The Gentlemen set them 131 to win in 75 minutes. Farnes, with some spectacular bowling, three times sent the stumps of Gimblett, Annus Mirabilis 27 15 This match, incidentally, was the last first-class match in which Derbyshire fielded an entire eleven born within the county.