Brothers in Arms

A few days away in Norfolk this week were, like everywhere else it seems, blessed with sunshine. Although there was no opportunity to watch cricket I was reminded of cricket in that county, perhaps best known for the contribution of the Edrich family, particularly W.J. (Bill) Edrich the England and Middlesex all-rounder who made his debut for his native county, against an All-India XI, when only sixteen.
It is probably true to say that Norfolk were at their peak in the 1930s. The 'Second-Class Counties'(as they were known then) table was calculated on a percentage basis with most teams, which included five county second elevens, playing eight matches but some as many as twelve.In 1933 Norfolk topped the table and played a challenge match against Yorkshire II who finished runners up. The match was worn by Yorkshire but seven weeks later it was discovered that the percentage points had been miscalculated and Wiltshire had in fact finished second, and they, not Yorkshire, should have played Norfolk. As the mistake was not discovered until the end of October the championship for that season was left 'undecided'. It is of interest that in the Yorkshire team that defeated Norfolk were Len Hutton and Norman Yardley.
Another family closely connected with Norfolk at this time were the three Rought- Rought brothers Basil, Desmond and Rodney who although Suffolk born, were almost ever present in the Norfolk eleven throughout the late twenties and thirties.
In addition to playing for Norfolk each enjoyed careers in first-class cricket, mainly for Cambridge University. With their double -barrelled names they must have been something of a scorer's nightmare. For instance in a match between Kent II and Norfolk in 1939 two batsmen found themselves caught BW Rought-Rought bowled RC Rought- Rought,sadly in neither case for nought.