Oh for festival cricket

By Brian Sanderson

I recently purchased the above photograph of the Players team

at Scarborough on the 4 September 1954. It is a iconic picture 

of the pavilion with the hanging baskets.

The sun was shining when Hamer and Watson came out to bat 

against the Gentlemen opening attack of  Warr and Moss.

Hamer was soon out  which brought out Vic Wilson, above. He 

went on to play a chanceless innings,including one six and

eighteen fours in his 122.  Just before the end of the 

first day the Players declared at 346 for 8

On the Monday the rain reduced the day to just an hours play

which enabled Peter May to start his innings of 112 which

was finished the next day. It included eighteen fours against an

attack of Bedser, Moss, Appleyard and Wardle.

On the third day , the sun was out again and Players declared

on 78 for two leaving a total of 227 in just under two and 

three quarters hours. The Gentlemen were always going to 

entertain the good crowd with attacking batting. Wardle 

bowling his chinamen took five wickets to bowl them out 

for 176.

There was still one more match in the Festival that was 

T.N.Pearce X1 against Pakistan who were on their first 

visit to England as a team.They had beaten England at The Oval

a few days previously under the captaincy of A.H.Kardar.