Book tickets to the various music and other events hosted at Utilita Bowl
Visit Hampshire Cricket and Utilita Bowl's online store to get your hands on official replica and supporter kit as well as a range of other merchandise.
The former Hampshire pace bowler has passed away, aged 97
Hampshire Cricket would like to express their great sadness at the passing of former Hampshire pace bowler Vic Cannings, aged 97.
Vic was born in April 1919, in the Hampshire village of Bighton, which tended to confuse people in his early days as he was listed sometimes as a man of Sussex! In his teens he played club cricket in north Hampshire, but then served abroad in the Palestine police so did not play county cricket until after war.
He initially joined Warwickshire and made his debut in 1947, taking 63 wickets at just under 30 apiece but he played less regularly in the next two seasons. Hampshire’s veteran pace bowlers Herman and Heath had no obvious replacements and Hampshire, seeking a partner for the promising Derek Shackleton, approached Vic.
He came back to Hampshire in 1950 just after his 31st birthday and took 83 wickets at under 25 each in that first season. He and ‘Shack’ bowled together for the first time at Lord’s, dismissing Middlesex for 103 and Vic’s dismissal of Denis Compton was the first of a number of times, such that the great DCS Compton became known as Vic’s ‘rabbit’. In 1952, ‘Shack’ and Vic bowled unchanged in both innings in a victory at Southampton over their traditional Whitsun opponents Kent – in the first innings Vic also held three gully catches as Kent were dismissed for 32.
The two formed a fine opening partnership through the 1950s, as Hampshire finished 3rd (1955) and 2nd (1958) for the first time ever. He took 100 wickets in four consecutive seasons, 1951-1954 and his 94 wickets in the wonderful 1955 season cost just 17.64 each and an economy rate barely above two runs per over. His batting was less remarkable with a career average of around 10 and one half-century (for Warwickshire) but in 1950 he and Charlie Knott steered Hampshire from 131-9 to 152 all out and a tie with Kent. Extraordinarily in 1955 at Eastbourne, Vic and Peter Sainsbury came together at 84-8 with Hampshire chasing 140 for victory. The ninth wicket pair brought the scores level, at which point Sussex took two wickets without addition and Hampshire recorded the third (of four) ties in their history with Vic’s dismissal twice enabling that result.
October was the saddest of months for Hampshire Cricket, losing three stalwarts of the County in just one month. Following the loss of Leo Harrison a mere three weeks ago, the County learned of the loss of both Vic Cannings and Jimmy Gray in the space of a couple of days. Both of these players made an enormous impact on the fortunes of Hampshire in the ‘50s and ‘60s and, in the case of Jimmy Gray, went on to serve as Chairman of Cricket for some years after his playing days were over. Once again, the Hampshire Cricket community are collectively mourning the loss of these wonderful contributors to the history and tradition of this great Club and our thoughts are currently focused on their families and many close friends.
Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire Cricket Chairman
In 1953 he had the odd record of being the only bowler to dismiss the Australian’s Bill Johnston. Vic was fond of last-minute thrills. In 1955 he had Kent’s Doug Wright lbw from the last ball to win the match, and against Oxford University one year later, Hampshire won by one run when Vic took two wickets with the last two balls of the match.
Vic was capped very soon on returning to Hampshire and having been similarly rewarded by Warwickshire, he added a third later with Buckinghamshire in Minor Counties cricket. In all he took 834 first-class wickets for Hampshire in ten seasons at an average of 21.68 - all after his 30th birthday.
He took his benefit in 1959 and then retired and coached at Eton for many years (John Barclay has written of being coached by him). At 97 he was the second oldest living Hampshire cricketer (after centurion John Manners).
Vic's funeral will be held at Slough Crematorium on Tuesday 10th January at 3pm.
