1932

The Committee’s Report

Your Committee begs to present its Annual Report and Balance Sheet for 1932.

Nottinghamshire finished the Season 4^th in the Championship, with 241 points out of a possible 420. Of 28 County Matches, 13 were won, 4 lost and 11 drawn. Ten Home Matches were won and 4 drawn.

At Cambridge, the University were beaten by an innings and the match against All India was won by 224 runs. Mr. Carr, who has been elected to the Committee played in every Match. He captained the side with judgment, fielded splendidly, and again scored over 1,000 runs.

The leading batsmen were Keeton, who scored over 2,000 runs in the season, making 7 centuries, including two double centuries, Walker, Staples (A.) and Harris, who all made over 1,000 runs. Gunn (G. V.) and Shipston, who scored two centuries, are also worthy of mention.

Hardstaff fielded splendidly, but had not such a good season as 1931. Lilley kept wicket admirably, and his batting average was much higher than in 1931. While not batting so well, Larwood and Voce, as bowlers, had their best season for the County, and were a most formidable pair on fast wickets. Each had several wonderful bowling performances, Larwood’s best being 13 wickets for 76 v. Worcestershire at Trent Bridge, and Voce’s 10 for 48 v. Cambridge University and 10 for 35 v. Leicestershire at Trent Bridge. They bowled unchanged through both innings against Leicester at Trent Bridge. They were ably supported by Staples (S. J.), who in his benefit year made a welcome return to form, and narrowly missed his 100 wickets. His 10 wickets for 21 v. Hampshire at Southampton was the best of his career. Staples (A.) was again the most valuable all-rounder.

The fielding of the team was a gratifying feature, the out-fielding of Keeton and Gunn (G. V.) was outstanding. Voce, Larwood and Staples (S. J.) with Mr. Carr in the slips and close in on the leg side have no superiors in the country.

Altogether 17 players were tried and two players made their first appearance for the County at Worksop v. Northants – Taylor and Winrow, each justified the opinion of their coach, James Iremonger, and pleased the critics. Larwood and Voce have well earned their places in the M. C. C. team now touring Australia, and have brought honour to their County. Keeton and Staples (A.) were considered worthy of playing in representative Trial Matches. George Gunn started the season in wonderful form, but an accident in the Surrey Match, and ill health later put an end to his activities for the Season.

The Match v. All India was a great success financially, and most interesting from a cricket standpoint and picturesque as a spectacle. Although the Indians were beaten, their quickness and supple grace were a joy to behold, and their untiring energy in the field gave very great pleasure.

In the interests of economy, your Committee reluctantly decided not to enter the Minor Counties Competition, but many Club and Ground matches were played with local and Colliery and School sides, in an effort to discover fresh talent, and trials were held on several occasions with no notable success.

Your Committee reports with satisfaction that the first Test Match v. Australia in the 1934 Tour has been unanimously allotted to the Trent Bridge ground on June 8^th, 9^th, 11^th and 12^th.

Willis Walker, who first appeared for the County in 1913, and has been a regular member of the side since 1925, has been granted a benefit in 1933, and has selected the Match v. Lancashire on July 15^th, 17^th, and 18^th. He has well earned this distinction, and your Committee confidently appeals to all members to make his benefit match a success.

No new buildings have been erected during the year, but necessary repairs to roofs, etc., have been carried out.

A new water supply was put in direct from the main in Radcliffe Road and carried to the middle of the Ground – thus the Ground can be watered to any extent by means of revolving sprinklers, and already great benefit has been derived from the installation.

At the close of the season the scheme of leveling the match wickets commenced in 1931 was completed.

This has been done under the direction and supervision of a small sub-Committee of the Club and Ground Committee, and reflects great credit on your veteran groundsman Walter Marshall. We congratulate him on his wonderful recovery from a very serious operation at the end of the 1931 season, and his restoration to perfect health.

The most up-to-date methods of dealing with casual water on or near the wicket have been adopted, including the new absorbent roller very kindly presented to the Club by Sir Julien Cahn.

A new Bell has been presented to the club by Mr. E. Denison Taylor, of John Taylor & Co., Bell Founders, Loughborough, to whom are due the warm thanks of the Club. The old bell will be placed in the Pavilion Collection.

Your Committee has authorized at considerable expense, a Scheme which is now in progress, by which eventually the whole of the pathways within the ground and under the concrete stands will be rendered dustless.

The Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Year Book has been specially written and compiled by Sir Home Gordon, Bart., at the insistence of Sir Julien Cahn – President for 1931 – who kindly presented copies to every member of the Club, and junior members.

Since the last Report was issued the following old County players have died:- Lockwood, W. H., born 25^th May, 1868; Mills, John, born 28^th January, 1853; Hardstaff, R. G., born 12^th January, 1863; Sulley, Joseph, born 28^th May, 1850.

The oldest Nottinghamshire County Cricketer is now Colonel W. F. Story, C. B., born 3^rd April 1852, who, we are glad to learn, is making a satisfactory recovery from a serious operation.

F. S. Ashley Cooper, to whom reference was made at the last Annual Meeting, a former Secretary of the Club and a well-known authority and historian of the game, born 2^nd March, 1877, died 31^st January.

J. Whitaker, J. P., F. S. A., one of the Club’s oldest members, and a famous ornithologist and authority on County life, died 27^th May, 1932, aged 82.

The J. A. Dixon Memorial – as was foreshadowed at the last Annual Meeting, your Committee has issued an appeal to all members of the club for subscriptions towards the cost of this Memorial. A full account, with sketch of the beautiful gates – has gone out with the Appeal, and the press has given wide publicity to the Scheme, which is universally approved. Towards the estimated cost of £450, a very satisfactory response is being made by members, County and other Cricket Clubs, and by friends and fellow crickets of Mr. Dixon. The subscription List will be closed on 31^st March, and the Memorial will be unveiled when the Season begins.