Somerset County Cricket Club in 1948

In the 1948 season, Somerset County Cricket Club competed in the County Championship, finishing twelfth out of seventeen teams. They were officially captained by three amateurs through the season; initially by Mandy Mitchell-Innes; then by Jake Seamer; and finally by George Woodhouse. The strains on consistent leadership were reflected in Somerset's variable form: after failing to win their first eight matches. Somerset did not win, lose or draw twice in consecutive matches in their following eight matches. In all, they won five times that season, and depended heavily upon the batting of Harold Gimblett, who scored 1,741 runs, and was Somerset's only player to score a century.

Somerset County Cricket Club
1948 season
CaptainMandy Mitchell-Innes,
Jake Seamer,
George Woodhouse
County Championship12th (of 17)
Most runsHarold Gimblett (1,741)[1]
Most wicketsHorace Hazell (92)[2]
Most catchesMaurice Tremlett (26)[1]
Most wicket-keeping dismissalsWally Luckes (55)[1]
← 1947 1949 →

Other than Gimblett, only two Somerset batsmen scored over 1,000 runs in the County Championship, Bertie Buse and Miles Coope, but both players did so at a significantly lower average. The team's bowling was led Horace Hazell, who claimed 92 wickets in the Championship. Maurice Tremlett, who had been highly praised for his performance on debut in 1947 continued to show promise, scoring over 1,000 first-class runs in all first-class matches and claiming 86 wickets, positioning himself as the county's leading all-rounder.

Background

County cricket had sojourned during the Second World War, and only returned in 1946. Most of the players had seen war service in some form or another, and very few of them had played much cricket of any form, which resulted in a temporary drop in quality. As most of the players were the same as those from before the war, it also meant that the average age of a county cricketer was higher than usual.[3] The social change that was occurring all around Great Britain also had an effect on county cricket, and at Somerset it resulted in their professional players gathering together to ask for better playing conditions and greater pay. Despite these changes, and the relative weakness of amateur players in comparison to the professionals, Somerset, as like many other counties, insisted on naming amateurs as captains.[3] In 1946, Bunty Longrigg, who had captained Somerset before the war had resumed his duties, but he retired at the end of the season as was replaced by Jack Meyer for 1947. Meyer had reluctantly agreed to captain the side in the absence of any other candidates, but stepped down at the end of his single season, citing his fading eyesight and lumbago.[4]

Somersetshire will be captained by three amateurs in rotation, N. S. Mitchell-Innes in May, J. W. Seamer in June and part of July and G. E. S. Woodhouse for the rest of the season.

—Manchester Guardian, 1948[5]

As a result of Meyer's resignation, the Somerset committee was once more required to recruit a captain for the following season. Still limiting themselves by requiring an amateur to take on the role—Somerset would not appoint a professional captain until 1956—[6] the committee found that there was no player "of a suitable pedigree who could make himself available for the whole summer."[7] So, with no single candidate suitable, the Somerset committee announced that the club would be captained by three players; first by Mandy Mitchell-Innes and then by Jake Seamer during their respective periods of leave from the Sudan Political Service. Once both of these had returned to their duties, George Woodhouse would take over.[5] In his history of Somerset County Cricket Club, Peter Roebuck describes the situation as a "remarkable state of affairs",[5] while David Foot suggests that the true number of captains was closer to seven.[7]

Squad

The following players made at least one appearance for Somerset in first-class matches. Age given is at the start of Somerset's first match of the season (5 May 1948).

Key
  • denotes that the player appeared as a wicket-keeper for Somerset in 1948
  • Apps denotes the number of appearances made by the player for Somerset in 1948
  • Ref denotes the reference for the player details
Name Nationality Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Apps Ref
Les Angell  England (1922-06-29)29 June 1922 (aged 25)Right-handed—2 [8]
John Barnwell  England (1914-06-23)23 June 1914 (aged 33)Right-handedRight-arm medium1 [9]
Paddy Bucklan  England (1916-09-24)24 September 1916 (aged 31)Left-handedLeft-arm fast-medium1 [10]
Bertie Buse  England (1910-08-05)5 August 1910 (aged 37)Right-handedRight-arm medium28 [11]
Fred Castle  England (1909-04-08)8 April 1909 (aged 39)Right-handedRight-arm leg break5 [12]
Miles Coope  England (1916-11-28)28 November 1916 (aged 31)Right-handedRight-arm leg break29 [13]
Harold Gimblett  England (1914-10-19)19 October 1914 (aged 33)Right-handedRight-arm medium23 [14]
Peter Graham  England (1920-12-27)27 December 1920 (aged 27)Right-handedRight-arm fast6 [15]
Horace Hazell  England (1909-09-30)30 September 1909 (aged 38)Left-handedLeft-arm orthodox spin29 [16]
Eric Hill  England (1923-07-09)9 July 1923 (aged 24)Right-handed—22 [17]
Trevor Jones  England (1920-04-09)9 April 1920 (aged 28)Right-handedRight-arm leg break2 [18]
George Langdale  England (1916-03-11)11 March 1916 (aged 32)Left-handedRight-arm off break4 [19]
Johnny Lawrence  England (1911-03-29)29 March 1911 (aged 37)Right-handedRight-arm leg break and googly24 [20]
Wally Luckes   England (1901-01-01)1 January 1901 (aged 47)Right-handed—27 [21]
Jack Meyer  England (1905-03-15)15 March 1905 (aged 43)Right-handedRight-arm slow-medium2 [22]
Mandy Mitchell-Innes (captain)  England (1914-09-07)7 September 1914 (aged 33)Right-handedRight-arm medium5 [23]
Jim Redman  England (1926-03-01)1 March 1926 (aged 22)Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium2 [24]
Stuart Rogers  England (1923-03-18)18 March 1923 (aged 25)Right-handed—7 [25]
Jake Seamer (captain)  England (1913-06-23)23 June 1913 (aged 34)Right-handedRight-arm leg break and googly11 [26]
Harold Stephenson   England (1920-07-18)18 July 1920 (aged 27)Right-handed—8 [27]
Michael Sutton  England (1921-03-29)29 March 1921 (aged 27)Right-handedRight-arm off break1 [28]
Maurice Tremlett  England (1923-07-05)5 July 1923 (aged 24)Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium28 [29]
Tony Vickery  England (1925-08-26)26 August 1925 (aged 22)Right-handed—3 [30]
Micky Walford  England (1915-11-27)27 November 1915 (aged 32)Right-handedLeft-arm orthodox spin4 [31]
Hugh Watts  England (1922-03-04)4 March 1922 (aged 26)Left-handedRight-arm leg break10 [32]
Arthur Wellard  England (1902-04-08)8 April 1902 (aged 46)Right-handedRight-arm off break, Right-arm fast-medium21 [33]
George Woodhouse (captain)  England (1924-02-15)15 February 1924 (aged 24)Right-handedRight-arm medium14 [34]
Compiled from County Championship batting statistics,[1] and three other matches, against Glamorgan,[35] Oxford University,[36] and the Australians.[37]

County Championship

Season standings

Note: Pld = Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, LWF = Lost but won on 1st innings, DW1 = Won on 1st innings in drawn match played under 1-day rules, DL1 = Lost on 1st innings in drawn match played under 1-day rules, DWF = Won on 1st innings in drawn match, DLF = Lost on 1st innings in drawn match, ND = No Decision on 1st innings, Pts = Points, (C) = Champions.

Team Pld W L LWF DW1 DL1 DWF DLF ND Pts
Glamorgan (C) 26134100332172
Surrey 26128110310168
Middlesex 26134000171160
Yorkshire 26111300371156
Lancashire 26820001411152
Derbyshire 26116000432148
Warwickshire 2696100532132
Gloucestershire 2695101451128
Hampshire 2696200171120
Worcestershire 2667100741104
Leicestershire 2661010053196
Somerset 2651040042192
Essex 265620047284
Nottinghamshire 265910045280
Kent 2641100073176
Sussex 2641010055172
Northamptonshire 2638100311052
Source: CricketArchive[38]

Match log
No. Date Opponents Venue Result Ref
18–11 MayDerbyshireCounty Ground, TauntonLost by 4 wickets[39]
215–18 MayGloucestershireCounty Ground, TauntonLost by an innings and 58 runs[40]
319–21 MayMiddlesexLord's, LondonLost by 10 wickets[41]
422–25 MayGlamorganSt. Helen's, SwanseaLost by 137 runs[42]
529 May–1 JuneWarwickshireRowdens Road, WellsDrawn[43]
62–3 JuneEssexCounty Ground, TauntonLost by 9 wickets[44]
75–7 JuneDerbyshireRutland Recreation Ground, IlkestonLost by 11 runs[45]
89–11 JuneYorkshireSt George's Road, HarrogateDrawn[46]
912–15 JuneWorcestershireNew Road, WorcesterWon by 3 wickets[47]
1019–22 JuneHampshireRecreation Ground, BathLost by 36 runs[48]
1126–29 JuneNottinghamshireRecreation Ground, BathWon by an innings and 25 runs[49]
1230 June–1 JulyLancashireAigburth, LiverpoolLost by an innings and 1 run[50]
133–6 JulyNorthamptonshireTown Ground, KetteringDrawn[51]
147–9 JuneLancashireCounty Ground, TauntonLost by 9 wickets[52]
1510–13 JulyWarwickshireCourtaulds Ground, CoventryDrawn[53]
1617–20 JulyLeicestershireAgricultural Showgrounds, FromeWon by 166 runs[54]
1721–23 JulyKentMote Park, MaidstoneLost by 10 wickets[55]
1824–27 JulyWorcestershireCounty Ground, TauntonLost by 174 runs[56]
1928–30 JulyHampshireDean Park, BournemouthWon by 212 runs[57]
2031 July–3 AugustGloucestershireAshley Down Ground, BristolDrawn[58]
214–6 AugustSussexClarence Park, Weston-super-MareLost by 6 wickets[59]
227–10 AugustGlamorganClarence Park, Weston-super-MareLost by 8 runs[60]
2311–13 AugustSurreyClarence Park, Weston-super-MareLost by 8 wickets[61]
2414–17 AugustEssexCounty Ground, ChelmsfordWon by 6 wickets[62]
2518–20 AugustSussexThe Saffrons, EastbourneDrawn[63]
2621–24 AugustYorkshireCounty Ground, TauntonDrawn[64]

Batting averages
PlayerMatchesInningsRunsAverageHighest Score100s50s
Harold Gimblett20371,74148.36310410
Bertie Buse25451,20828.0998*08
Miles Coope26481,10723.558908
George Woodhouse132448423.047503
Maurice Tremlett264692422.0096*03
Arthur Wellard183148018.466001
Eric Hill214067016.758503
Johnny Lawrence233960416.327304
Qualification: 400 runs. Source: CricketArchive[1]

Bowling averages
PlayerMatchesBallsWicketsAverageBBI5wi10wi
Horace Hazell265,1799219.457/3570
Johnny Lawrence233,3277621.576/2961
Maurice Tremlett264,2368024.828/3140
Arthur Wellard183,6435030.086/8010
Bertie Buse252,8513437.323/2100
Qualification: 30 wickets. Source: CricketArchive[2]

Other first-class

Match log
No. Date Opponents Venue Result Ref
15–7 MayGlamorganRodney Parade, NewportLost by 98 runs[65]
223–25 JuneOxford UniversityRecreation Ground, BathLost by 125 runs[66]
328–30 AugustAustraliansCounty Ground, TauntonLost by an innings and 374 runs[67]

References
  1. "Batting and Fielding for Somerset: County Championship 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  2. "Bowling for Somerset: County Championship 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  3. Foot (1986), pp. 147–148.
  4. Roebuck (1991), p. 232.
  5. Roebuck (1991), p. 242.
  6. Roebuck (1991), pp. 271–272.
  7. Foot (1986), p. 155.
  8. "Player Profile: Les Angell". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  9. "Player Profile: John Barnwell". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  10. "Player Profile: Joe Buckland". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  11. "Player Profile: Bertie Buse". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  12. "Player Profile: Fred Castle". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  13. "Player Profile: Miles Coope". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  14. "Player Profile: Harold Gimblett". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  15. "Player Profile: Peter Graham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  16. "Player Profile: Horace Hazell". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  17. "Player Profile: Eric Hill". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  18. "Player Profile: Trevor Jones". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  19. "Player Profile: George Langdale". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  20. "Player Profile: Johnny Lawrence". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  21. "Player Profile: Wally Luckes". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  22. "Player Profile: Jack Meyer". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  23. "Player Profile: Norman Mitchell-Innes". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  24. "Player Profile: Jim Redman". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  25. "Player Profile: Stuart Rogers". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  26. "Player Profile: Jake Seamer". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  27. "Player Profile: Harold Stephenson". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  28. "Player Profile: Michael Sutton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  29. "Player Profile: Maurice Tremlett". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  30. "Player Profile: Alan Vickery". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  31. "Player Profile: Micky Walford". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  32. "Player Profile: Hugh Watts". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  33. "Player Profile: Arthur Wellard". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  34. "Player Profile: George Woodhouse". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  35. "Glamorgan v Somerset: Other First-Class matches in England 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  36. "Somerset v Oxford University: University Match 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  37. "Somerset v Australians: Australia in British Isles 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  38. "County Championship 1948 Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  39. "Somerset v Derbyshire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  40. "Somerset v Gloucestershire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  41. "Middlesex v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  42. "Glamorgan v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  43. "Somerset v Warwickshire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  44. "Somerset v Essex". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  45. "Derbyshire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  46. "Yorkshire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  47. "Worcestershire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  48. "Somerset v Hampshire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  49. "Somerset v Nottinghamshire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  50. "Lancashire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  51. "Northamptonshire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  52. "Somerset v Lancashire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  53. "Warwickshire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  54. "Somerset v Leicestershire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  55. "Kent v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  56. "Somerset v Worcestershire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  57. "Hampshire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  58. "Gloucestershire v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  59. "Somerset v Sussex". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  60. "Somerset v Glamorgan". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  61. "Somerset v Surrey". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  62. "Essex v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  63. "Sussex v Somerset". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  64. "Somerset v Yorkshire". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  65. "Glamorgan v Somerset: Other First-Class matches in England 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  66. "Somerset v Oxford University: University Match 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  67. "Somerset v Australians: Australia in British Isles 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2011-06-08.

Bibliography
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