First-Class Counties Second Eleven Annual 2011

in its inaugural year, although Messrs Duckworth and Lewis were called upon at several games. Surrey’s Tom Lancefield took the honours with 222 runs in just two innings, each of which reached three figures. Five other centuries were registered. Two players, Chesney Hughes and Lee Goddard, both of Derbyshire, scored theirs in the only innings each played in the tournament. David Stiff of Somerset led the way with nine wickets. The closest game in the knock-out was the six-run victory achieved by Lancashire over Durham at Parkgate, Neston, in the second round. It is reckoned that the game of cricket can hold the mirror up to nature as well as any other codified sporting pastime. For 99.5% of that time it provides pleasure and pain in fairly equal measure but just occasionally, total mystification is the dominant emotion. I saw my first County Championship game at Acklam Park, Middlesbrough, my home town, in 1976. The match resulted in a seven-wicket victory for Yorkshire, the home side. I now find that the ground is still used but now counts as a home ground for Durham games and, when Yorkshire played a second eleven game there in 2010, they had to use the visitors’ dressing room. How times change! Readers may also like to study the scorecards of two matches in particular. The game against Northamptonshire, in the delightful setting of Whitgift School in Croydon, was remarkable as the Surrey scorecard of 288 all out included Laurie Evans’ 186, 64.58% of the total of 288. Only two other players made double figures. The full card is at cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/276/276028.html Continuing on this theme, Scott Borthwick, Durham’s left-hander, scored 133 out of a team total of 222 against Lancashire at the Riverside, 59.81 % of the all out total. The full card is at cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/276/276085.html Some counties reported a struggle at certain times of the season to find enough players to field a full eleven. Northamptonshire used 65 players in their fixtures to ensure that they did not have such a problem. Other counties used players for the odd game and never called on them (or, in one case, saw them) again. This helps to explain certain gaps in the biographies as no time was available to pursue the requisite details. In closing my first review, I will say that I have immensely enjoyed the work as cricket statistics have always fascinated me. I look forward to a sun-drenched Summer and to meeting up with as many of you as possible. You never know, I might even get to Derby if they keep the M1 open this time. 7