COVERED SPRING 2021

“THERE WERE 18 PLAYERS WHO APPEARED ON THE FIELD THAT MEMORABLE FIRST-CLASS SUMMER WITH NO LESS THAN TEN BORN IN THE COUNTY.” PeterWynne-Thomas 35 @TRENTBRIDGE HISTORY after draws againstYorkshire and Lanca- shire away from home, they had dropped to fifth by the end of the month. The first week of July hardly improved matters, with a draw against Essex and a defeat at Bournemouth against Hampshire. Three consecutive victories, one by ten and two by eight wickets, reversed the run. By the end of the month the top spot had been recaptured. The first two matches of August saw an innings victory over Surrey with a day in hand and, atWorcester, Hemmings took ten wickets to bring about another triumph. Following those fixtures, at Trent Bridge began, in retrospect, the most crucial Championship match of the season. Sussex, in second place, were the visitors. Rice invited the southerners to bat, with the pitch immediately taking spin. Hem- mings took five wickets to help dismiss the opposition for 208, a modest total but the joint-highest first innings score at Trent Bridge by an away side that season. Notts, in response, were skittled for 102 by ChrisWaller and John Barclay despite an unbeaten half-century from Hassan (58*). Bore and Hemmings then combined as Sussex fell for 144, leaving Notts with 251 to score on the final day. Hassan came in with Notts 6-2. He was soon joined by Rice as thick, dark clouds made the light dodgy. Despite this, captain Rice refused to appeal and ordered Hassan to stand firm whilst he made inroads into the total. 101 runs were added before Imran Khan bowled Hassan for 79. With 63 required, Rice fell and the light took over, seven of the final 20 overs being lost. The last-wicket pair of Hemmings and Bore somehow survived the final few overs as Notts secured four points in the match to Sussex’s six. If Sussex had managed victory, the 16 points would have been more than enough for the title, since Notts went on to win their remaining five matches and Sussex their final four. There were 18 players who appeared on the field that memorable First-Class summer, with no less than ten born in the county. Hadlee was the only player to take 100 wickets, but so much credit goes to the positive attitude of Rice. And just as much praise should go to KenTaylor, who managed to keep such a diverse group of characters in harmony. Hassan, Hemmings, Randall and Bore melded with Hadlee and Rice in a magical way that eluded several managers who took the role of headmaster whenTaylor departed after 13 years. I used to visit the cricket office frequently in the 1980s, andTaylor would often have a problem for me to solve. He always began with ‘I say,Whizz, could you…?’ and then end with ‘do you mind?’. Some years later he began ‘I say,Whizz, would you stand for the Committee?’. We’ll leave it there.