Yorkshire restore order

 posted by John Winn

Warwickshire went from 1911 to 1951 without winning the county championship and even allowing for the interruptions caused by two world wars this is a long period. The years between 1919 and 1930 were particularly barren for only twice in this time did they finish in the top ten, ninth in 1924 and 8th in 1925, years in which they could rely on the hero of my last posting, Harry Howell, to bowl a thousand overs and take at least 100 wickets. 

In 'The trouble with Harry' I referred to the one occasion in his career when Howell took all ten wickets in an innings, at Edgbaston in 1923, a season which was typical of many for Warwickshire between the wars. Wisden describes that season as 'disappointing' with twelve out of twenty six games lost and only six won, a set of results that saw them finish 12th out of 17 counties. Harry's 'tenfor' was achieved against Yorkshire in a match beginning on May 23rd and 'put into the shade everything else that was done for the county during the season'. (Wisden). Too much reliance on Howell and a decided lack of class in the batting explained their lowly position. 

Warwickshire came into the match with an easy win over Worcestershire, a draw against Northants and a defeat by Derbyshire to their name. Yorkshire had thrashed Glamorgan, Worcestershire and Middlesex and drawn with Lancashire (of course) before arriving in Birmingham. Rain washed out much of the first day, there was no play until 4:30, but before the close Howell had reduced the champions to 67 for 5, Oldroyd 32 not out. Refreshed possibly by a couple of pints of Brew XI*, our Harry returned next day to clear up the remaining five wickets and leave Yorkshire 113 all out, Oldroyd top scored with 44 and Howell's figures were 25.1-5-51-10.

That was about as good as it got for Warwickshire for they succumbed to 110 all out with Macaulay and Kilner in the wickets. Batting did not get any easier and at 59 for 5 in their second knock Yorkshire's condition was 'critical' but they were rescued by Kilner and Leyland with a stand of 84 and although play could not begin until 3:30 on the third day Yorkshire were able to 'force a win' by 84 runs. WG Quaife top scored for Warwickshire with 22 and Macaulay added four to the five wickets he had taken in the first innings. The two sides met again at Hull in July when Howell bowled another 50+ overs with nine wickets in the match. Yorkshire won by 96 runs but on the first morning Howell threatened briefly to repeat his feat of taking all ten. Yorkshire's first five contributed only 16 runs but Harry's progress to another clean sweep was thwarted when Leyland was run out and Harry had to be content with just six victims to which he added another three in the second innings. Not content with his efforts with the ball our hero scored 36 in the first innings, his highest score in first class cricket. What a man. 

*Brew XI is still available but the beer for 'The Men of The Midlands' is brewed in Cardiff. And people ask what's wrong with the world. 

Six Warwickshire stalwarts of the 1920s

(left to right) 

EJ Smith WG Quaife, FSG Calthorpe, JH Parsons, LA Bates, H Howell