Lives in Cricket No 6 - Bill Copson

Burton-on-Trent. Their record at this stage of the season comprised nine wins out of seventeen matches played, and there was serious talk about the repeat of the glories of 1936. Although the county maintained the leading position until 10 August, the side then fell away considerably and won only two of their last nine matches, gaining only twelve points from their last seven games. In Copson’s enforced absences, Derbyshire relied on their other fast bowlers Gladwin and George Pope. They were assisted by a new bowler Leslie Jackson, another former coalminer who had previously only played one game, in 1947. Jackson finished with sixty one wickets in sixteen matches and created an excellent first impression, just as Bill had done, way back in 1932. Because of very keen competition from the many fine bowlers England possessed in the fifties however, Jackson only ever played two Test Matches in his career, one fewer than Copson. Pope completed the double in all Championship matches, but the only other player to score over one thousand runs was Charlie Elliott. Rhodes also bowled well, taking 66 wickets in Championship matches, including two hat tricks. Copson had, perhaps, ceased to Final First-Class Seasons 73 Derbyshire’s side in 1948. Back row (l to r): C.S.Elliott, D.C.Brooke-Taylor, A.F.Townsend, C.Gladwin, A.C.Revill, F.E.Marsh, G.O.Dawkes (wk). Front row: A.E.G.Rhodes, D.Smith, E.J.Gothard (capt), W.H.Copson, G.H.Pope.