Wickets, Catches and the Odd Run

A cricketer and personality of immense character, Trevor Bailey enjoyed a reputation as a tough competitor, an outstanding fast-medium bowler, a brilliant close-to-the-bat fielder, and a resolute batsman who thrived on crises.

He played first-class cricket for over 20 years, joining Essex in 1946 and later becoming their secretary and captain. He was first selected for England in 1949 and remained an integral part of the side for the next decade, representing his country on 61 occasions and going on five overseas tours. He is one of only four Englishmen to have scored over 2,000 runs and taken over 100 wickets in Test cricket. He is still the only player since the War to have scored 2,000 runs and taken 100 wickets in a season.

Despite his all-round abilities, he will nonetheless be remembered principally for his many rearguard actions against Australia. In his 23 Tests against the old enemy, he built up such a reputation for dour and determined batting that the Australians nicknamed him the ‘Barnacle’ – yet he, of all people, struck the first six in a lest match in which an Australian businessman had offered £100 to the first man to do so.

Cricket and football correspondent of the Financial Times and a regular member of BBC Radio’s ‘Test Match Special’ team, Trevor Bailey has now written an autobiography full of good humour and anecdote. As well as discussing cricket and cricketers, he recalls his childhood and schooldays with affection, and reveals that the closest he came to action during the War was as defending officer in a case of piracy.

His dry sense of humour, frequently in evidence during his radio commentaries, combined with an immense knowledge of the game has helped to produce a broad and revealing profile of one of England’s greatest all-rounders.