Minor Counties Championship 1907

13 His agile wicket-keeping, coupled with his bold and uninhibited strokeplay in the middle order secured him a regular place in the Glamorgan side from 1896. In June 1897 he scored a remarkable century in just 43 minutes against Monmouthshire at Newport – a feat which remains the fastest hundred on record for the Welsh county. It came during an astonishing stand of 123 with Bertie Letcher, during which he struck the Monmouthshire bowlers for a six, 19 fours, 3 threes and 7 twos. By the time he retired in 1908, he had amassed over 2,000 runs in his career for Glamorgan, and had 240 dismissals to his name. The fact that he had almost as many stumpings as catches to his name spoke volumes for his deft glovework, as well as the bowling talents of spinners Jack Nash and Harry Creber. He also served on the Glamorgan committee from 1901, until his increasing business commitments forced his retirement from the Minor County side. He was subsequently appointed Chairman of Brains Brewery in 1914, but continued to play club cricket for Cardiff and the M.C.C., and led the family’s business until his death in 1934. His business contacts also proved invaluable as Glamorgan mounted a campaign for first-class status either side of the Great War, and he played a key role behind the scenes during the winter of 1920/21 as the Welsh county secured sufficient support to enter the first-class arena. He subsequently took great delight in the way two of his sons – Michael and Pat – both kept wicket in first-class cricket for Glamorgan. In 1993 the centenary of his feat of a hat- trick of stumpings was celebrated by Brain’s Brewery by a limited edition real ale appropriately known as “Hat - Trick Ale.” T A Brown – Bedfordshire 1895 and 1900 to 1907; Northamptonshire 1897 to 1899 (born 11 April 1863; died 12 March 1930) Played 81 Minor County Championship matches for Bedfordshire and 24 for Northamptonshire. For Bedfordshire he scored 2335 runs averaging 19.45 including scoring two centuries, his highest score being 126 against Hertfordshire on the Bedford Grammar School Ground in 1905. He held 68 catches and took 329 wickets at 17.55, his best innings bowling performance being 8 for 27 versus Buckinghamshire at Aylesbury in 1903, when he took 14 wickets in the match for 72 runs. He took 10 wickets in a match on 7 occasions and 5 wickets in an innings on 24. For Northamptonshire he scored 601 runs averaging 25.04, his one century being 123 versus Durham at West Hartlepool in 1899, held 25 catches, and took 46 wickets at 23.21, including taking 6 for 34 against Berkshire at Northampton also in 1899, his best innings bowling performance. His combined minor counties record is 105 matches, highest score 126, 2936 runs at 20.38 with 3 centuries, 11 fifties and 13 ducks. He held 93 catches and took 375 wickets at 18.25. Tom Brown came to notice in 1890 when he made his debut for Northamptonshire having qualified for that county by moving to Wollaston when he was around 20. He played for Northamptonshire pre-championship in 1890 and 1891. He played for Bedfordshire from 1892 to 1895, the last year being when the latter county made its Minor County Championship debut. With the Bedfordshire Club folding, he played for Northamptonshire in the championship between 1897 and 1899 under his residential qualification but returned to Bedfordshire when the county club was resuscitated in 1900. He played but one match for that county in 1907 before deciding to concentrate on his umpiring career. With the exception of 1909, he was on the first class counties umpires list from 1907 to 1922. It is estimated he umpired close to 250 first-class matches. Tom Brown was a member of the Lord’s ground staff from 1894 and it is possible he played one hundred matches for t hat club. His 12 first class matches between 1894 and 1901 were all played for the MCC. His first- class record was 333 runs at 17.52 with his highest score being 64 not out against Leicestershire at Lord’s in 1894, his debut match, and 12 wickets at 28.50, with 6 for 82 against Cambridge University at Fenner’s in 1900 being his best innings bowling performance.