On this day, 1963, the UMPIRES "declared" an innings closed in a County Championship match.
"Lofty" Herman and "Dusty" Rhodes basically did not have an option.
Here is what happened.
Kent were hosting Middlesex at Tunbridge Wells (yes, THE Tunbridge Wells).
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"Lofty" Herman and "Dusty" Rhodes basically did not have an option.
Here is what happened.
Kent were hosting Middlesex at Tunbridge Wells (yes, THE Tunbridge Wells).
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Kent were bowled out for 150.
Middlesex were 121/3 by stumps on Day 1.
They had lost the Russells (Eric and Sid) and Peter Parfitt. Bob White and Ron Hooker were at the crease.
It was a Saturday. They returned home for the weekend,the rest day.
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Middlesex were 121/3 by stumps on Day 1.
They had lost the Russells (Eric and Sid) and Peter Parfitt. Bob White and Ron Hooker were at the crease.
It was a Saturday. They returned home for the weekend,the rest day.
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The Monday morning traffic was heavier than usual.
The Kent cricketers, being locals, had anticipated this. They had arrived in time for a 11.30 start.
Not Middlesex.
Only three of their cricketers had arrived before the match started.
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The Kent cricketers, being locals, had anticipated this. They had arrived in time for a 11.30 start.
Not Middlesex.
Only three of their cricketers had arrived before the match started.
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White, not out overnight, was one of them. No problem there. He walked out to the middle, in full cricket gear.
Sid Russell was there as well, but he had already been dismissed.
The third Middlesex cricketer was twelfth man Ted Clark.
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Sid Russell was there as well, but he had already been dismissed.
The third Middlesex cricketer was twelfth man Ted Clark.
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Herman and Rhodes, the umpires, had been experienced professional First-class cricketers.
But even they had never encountered a situation like this.
What could they do? These were their (probable) options:
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But even they had never encountered a situation like this.
What could they do? These were their (probable) options:
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1. To rule Hooker out. Hooker was the other not out batter who had not arrived. But timed out applied to new batters...
2. They could award the match to Kent, but on what grounds? Middlesex had three representatives…
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2. They could award the match to Kent, but on what grounds? Middlesex had three representatives…
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3. They could force Middlesex to declare. But Colin Drybrough, their captain, was not there. Did one of the cricketers out there have the authority to declare?
Herman and Rhodes thought hard, and officially "closed the Middlesex innings".
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Herman and Rhodes thought hard, and officially "closed the Middlesex innings".
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Wisden added that it was a situation without parallel in the history of First-Class cricket.
But now there was another problem.
After 10 minutes, three Middlesex fielders walked out.
Among them was 12th man Clark, not allowed to bowl or, unless Kent allowed, keep wickets.
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But now there was another problem.
After 10 minutes, three Middlesex fielders walked out.
Among them was 12th man Clark, not allowed to bowl or, unless Kent allowed, keep wickets.
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This would mean White and Russell bowling and keeping wickets in alternate overs.
Kent captain Colin Cowdrey came to their rescue.
He allowed the tourists eight substitute fielders.
He also allowed Clark to keep wickets.
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Kent captain Colin Cowdrey came to their rescue.
He allowed the tourists eight substitute fielders.
He also allowed Clark to keep wickets.
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Amidst all this, three other Middlesex men showed up, including opening bowler John Price.
However, there were still five Kent substitutes fielding for Middlesex: Derek Underwood, John Prodger, Tony Catt, Alan Brown, and John Dye.
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However, there were still five Kent substitutes fielding for Middlesex: Derek Underwood, John Prodger, Tony Catt, Alan Brown, and John Dye.
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Some time later, Don Bennett found Brian Luckhurst's edge.
Prodger took an excellent catch at second slip to dismiss his teammate.
And it was his turn with the bat, Prodger scored 74.
He thus achieved the rare feat of taking a catch and scoring a fifty *in the same innings*.
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Prodger took an excellent catch at second slip to dismiss his teammate.
And it was his turn with the bat, Prodger scored 74.
He thus achieved the rare feat of taking a catch and scoring a fifty *in the same innings*.
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The match ended in a draw amidst rain.
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