The season started at Lords on May 7 and provided an interesting game with a most exciting finish. Middlesex managed to play out the last few overs to save defeat, the last man, Leslie Compton having been brought back from hospital and requiring a runner. In spite of the fact that Butler on bowled four overs in the second innings before he had to leave the field, Middlesex failed to get the 222 runs needed, having 9 wickets down for 197. The Notts fielding in the second innings in particular, was extraordinarily good and keen.

The game against Gloucestershire was spoilt by the weather and was notable for Keeton’s century and 139 by Tom Graveney. At Southampton against Hampshire we were without Jepson and Butler but just lost a very exciting match on time, Keeton being top scorer in both innings.

Notts were beaten at Trent Bridge by Kent by 7 wickets, and although the wicket may have suited Wriht he was well supported by the Notts batsmen.

Notts faced their first win of the season against Northamptonshire by scoring 245 in very fast time, due chiefly to great innings by Joe Hardstaff, who scored 114 not out. This match was remarkable in that Hardstaff scored 100not out in the first innings, thus scoring two centuries (both not out) in one match for the first time in his long and brilliant career.

Notts won the Whitsuntide game, having been set 206 to get in two hours, as a result of a sporting declaration by the Surrey Captain. Notts gave an indication of what was to come later in the season by scoring the runs in just over 90 minutes.

At Brentwood the wicket proved a ‘thoroughly sporting’ one and the match finished before tea on the second day with Essex the winter by 10 wickets, Ray Smith being particularly successful with 8 wickets and 78 runs made in an incredibly short time (32 minutes).

At Loughbrough, Leicestershire scored 455 in their first innings, this chiefly to 191 by Prentic and Jack Walsh again proved too much for Notts on a wicket which ‘appeared’ to take spin. The retun match, however, at Trent Bridge proved a sensation, Notts being set 279 to get in 145 minutes, Poole and Simpson collecting the runs with 25 minutes to spare after Keeton had been run out.

The Lancashire game at Trent Bridge was very tedious indeed, brightened only by the innings of Hardstaff who got 100. Notts who did not take the second innings very seriously provided the only spark of interest late on Tuesday when for a short time it looked as if they would have to struggle to avoid defeat, Greenwood taking 4 wivkets for 24 runs.

The game with Yorkshire at Sheffield was drawn, Notts declaring for 5 wickets with a lead of 240, thanks to a  brilliant 210 by Keeton and 162 not out by Hardstaff, ably supported by Simpson.

Notts had their revenge against Hampshire at Trent Bridge, winning a sporting game containing two declarations, Winrow laying the foundations with 105 not out and Keeton in the second innings getting 109 not out were the high spots of the Notts batting.

The Glamorgan match was a dreary affair, Glamorgan taking first innings points after their century-makers had been accorded generous terms in the field. At Old Trafford Notts took first innings points against Lancashire, Keeton (134) and Simpson (238) putting on 318 runs for the first wicket.

The wicket at Sourbridge became positively dangerous, and on the last day rain interfered with the play, Worcester having first innings lead, Keeton, who was captain of Notts in this match was top scorer with 78.

Harris’ benefit match against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge spoilt by rain. Yorkshire, who only lost two wickets in passing the Notts total, were indebted to atypical 87 not out by Hutton.

In the game against Essex, Harvey staged a come-back taking 6 wickets in the first innings, but in spite of great efforts by Simpson and Poole Notts finished up 30 runs behind on the first innings.

Notts were enabled to finish the game against Derby at Ilkeston, the Peak County abstaining from taking the risky course of fiving their Notts batsmen a chance to play what was rapidly becoming their natural game.

The weather saved Notts from a defeat on the first innings at least in the return of the Bank Holiday match at the Oval, and it was only a good innings by Simpson andthroughly stubborn display by Harris which prevented Surrey from gaining any points.

At Hastings Notts beat Sussex by 9 wickets, Butler and Jepson being in particularly good form.

The pleasant game against the New Zealanders in good weather entertained the crowed, but after New Zealand lost 3 wickets very quickly in attempted to force the pace, the match faded out in a draw.

We completed the double against Sussex at Trent Bridge by taking an innings na d85 runs, Hardsaff scoring 156 not out and Harvey taking 9 wickets.

The wicket at Northampton was very good for neatly all the first day, but after Northants lost their last 5 wickets for 30 odd runs, the ball was always beating the bat and they won with comparative ease by an innings.

In a very slow-scoring game at Cardiff, Notts got first innings points against Glamorgan, thanks to some grand bowling by Woodhead and Jepson and stubborn beating by Winrow, Martin and Jepson, after Keeton and Giles had made a great recovery, Keeton being particularly unlucky not to get his century.

Notts declared after obtaining the lead in the first innings over Derbyshire at Trent Bridge but both time and inspiration appear to have been lacking and the game drew to its weary close with only 6 Derbyshire batsmen out.
The last home game was another draw in spite of centuries by Poole and Harris and a grand piece of bowling by Harvey who took 8 wickets for 122.

The Warwickshire game looked like a close finish, but after Thompson and Dollery left Warwickshire decided to be content with a draw.

Congratulations to Joe Hardstaff, top of the England averages and to Reg Simpson who won a place in the Test Team against New Zealand.

Once again it was the old brigade, noticeably Walter Keeton who bore the heat and burden of the day, ably supported by Poole who played some very good knocks, improving his defence without loosing his punishing powers. With the absence of Simpson through Test claims, and sickness and injuries affecting a good many others, quite a number of players appeared in the side at one time and another.

Given experience and time to mature they all appear to have a chance of becoming regular members of the side in the future. Experience on bad wickets or even wickets which help a bowler is badly needed by most Notts batsmen, and it seems a great pity that the Second Team play so few matches. It is essential that players coming into first class cricket should at least have had experience ‘out in the middle’ as everybody knows there is a vast difference between scoring runs or taking wickets in a net and the actual contest.

The fielding of the side, especially the ground fielding, was good with an occasionally glaring lapse. A list of errors kept through the season reveals some interesting facts, e.g. 11 catches were missed off Butler and 10 of Woodhead, whilst no other bowler suffered more than 4. During the season there were some very close games which turned on fielding errors by both sides. Throughout the season in County Matches Notts missed 49 simple catches. There were compiled by an impartial observer and do not include possible or doubtful chances.

Against this figure must be put the 151 chances taken some of which were truly brilliant. There is no doubt that in the main between well matched sides fielding will turn the scale. The most encouraging sign as regards Notts is that in 1947 season 126 chances were taken and in 1949 151. We have the batting and the bowling to win the Championship if we only have the fielding and the wickets to backup the bowlers.

***

In a report like this the Skipper cannot say anything about himself, so I must do it for him.

Throughout the 1949 season W.A. Sime’s main objective was to encourage brighter cricket.

He was ever ready to issue a challenge and to accept one. If not quite so successful himself as in the previous season he had his ‘moments’ and his fielding, particularly near the wicket, was an inspiration to the side.

One catch stands out in my memory, a hard hit to leg by Tim Longfrridge (and left-handers can hit to leg), which was taken by W.A.S only a few yards from the bat.

To me the season was thoroughly enjoyable.

The Editor.