From The Archive: Cricket Balls

We have an extensive collection of cricket balls in our Archive, stretching back over more than 150 years and while most are locked away and inaccessible right now, I do have pictures and information about a couple from the 1950s and 1960s, both telling remarkable stories. The first from 1955 is the ball with which Derek Shackleton took 14-29 v Somerset at Weston-Super-Mare, including 8-4 in the first innings.

If you have seen my recent booklet about Kyle Abbott’s record 17 wickets last season you will have seen that I suggested that 8-4 is as great a performance as has ever occurred in a Championship match. Wisden described it as “remarkable”, adding Shackleton “accomplished one of the best performances in the history of the game” - and while Yorkshire’s Hedley Verity once took 10-10, that was an average of 1.0 whereas ‘Shack’s’ was twice as good at 0.5!

But there is an uncertainty about the ball, inscribed and presented to him to mark that extraordinary achievement because the inscription shows his match figures, so we must for ever wonder in which innings was this particular ball used? It’s quite possible that even ‘Shack’ didn’t know and perhaps he wasn’t worried – the work was done, and there was another match ahead. But no doubt he was very proud of the achievement and it is a delight to have it as part of a large loan from his family of our great bowler’s achievements.

I hope we can be more certain about my second choice today – a performance that you will see had a huge impact on the club’s history; and a rather bitter-sweet resonance for me personally. This is a ball from six years later recording an achievement by the men who had then become ‘Shack’s’ opening partner David William ‘Butch’ White, who until the arrival of a West Indian or two was the fastest bowler in Hampshire’s history.

The match in question was against Sussex in my home city of Portsmouth at the start of August 1961. ‘Butch’ was 25 and playing his second full season in the County Championship, and his breakthrough contributed significantly to Hampshire’s chances of going one better than three years earlier and winning their first title. He had already had his moment in Portsmouth when his blistering innings of 33* took Hampshire to victory against the odds against Gloucestershire.

Hampshire went into the match against Sussex with Roy Marshall captain in place of the injured Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie and having one just one of their previous three games. On the previous day they had to settle for a tedious draw against fellow-challengers Middlesex, while Richie Benaud was bowling Australia to the Ashes at Old Trafford. As was the way of things back then, the Sussex captain Ted Dexter, whose 76 so nearly won it for England, then drove about 250 miles to be there for the toss on that Wednesday morning. He won it, and chose to bat, but Don Smith with 35 was the Sussex top-scorer (Dexter 4) as the gentler medium pace of Shackleton and Gray took five wickets each, Sussex 141, Hampshire, overnight, 90-4 and the next day all out for a lead of just 38.

It was a typical Portsmouth pitch, favouring the quicker bowlers, and a tight game, but approaching the 7pm close on day two Sussex seemed in charge on 179-4. Marshall had persuaded ‘Butch’ - thus far with just wicket in the match - to have one last go and with the first ball of an over he took out Parks’ off-stump.

Nightwatchman Thomson, on a ‘pair’ came next and edged the first one to ‘keeper Leo Harrison, so in came Don Smith again. John Arlott wrote that ‘Butch’ started the next ball “on the line of middle and leg and from just short of half-volley it hit Smith’s off-stump”. He added that while White celebrated the hat-trick, his parents, on holiday from their midlands home joined in!

In came Graham Cooper who edged his first ball to Jimmy Gray at fourth slip – but he dropped it. ‘Butch’ was apparently not happy and often suggested later he knew he would have been Hampshire’s first four-in-four. Cooper blocked the fifth ball but for some reason tried to hook the sixth, got a top-edge and was caught by Horton in the gully. Sussex were now 179-8 and added just one run in the morning, after which Hampshire scored 143-4, won, improved their position at the top of the table and moved on towards the title.

The ball came to me after ‘Butch’ died in 2008 and I suggested has a particular resonance for me. 1961 was my first year as a junior member, and I saw a few games at Southampton and at least part of every match at Portsmouth, except this one. On that morning, as Marshall and Dexter tossed, I was travelling with my family to a Peak District holiday, having to follow Hampshire’s fortunes on the wireless or next day’s ‘papers. So, I missed the ‘Butch’ hat-trick – but there is still the ball, and the memories of great games, great players and the greatest of county achievements.

Dave Allen