1933-1941

The 1933 season was, of course, immediately following the great “bodyline” controversy in Australia – even for those too young to remember this, it should perhaps be noted that even the activities of Mr Kerry Packer did not threaten the Empire with the loss of a Dominion!  At the 1933 Teddington Annual General Meeting Mr Slade Lucas maintained that “leg theory” was a “press stunt” and had been regularly practised in his day.  The answer was to get the left leg out and play well forward, with none of the iniquitous “two-eyed stance”!  There was a further reference to the Australian series, when the Captain, K R Gray, was described as the Teddington equivalent of D R Jardine, a brilliant captain, a sound bat, an excellent field and a shocking bowler!  Also at this meeting, a Mr P A Cory handed the Chairman a cheque for the full amount of the deficit (£9. 19s. 0d.) incurred by the purchase of a motor mower.  He was “accorded musical honours and heartily cheered for his generosity”.

In 1933, the Minute Book records that the Club played disappointing cricket in the first half of the season, including losing to the MCC for the first time in 4 years, but after this the side was unbeaten, defeating among others Richmond, Romany, Old Whitgiftians, Chiswick Park and Beckenham.  However, it is noted sternly that the cricket week was badly supported by members and 4 out of 5 matches were lost.  The best win of the season was against East Molesey.  Teddington made 280 in 2¾ hours to win, with A F Ward reaching his century in the final over.  In their win this year, the MCC were assisted by Alan Ratcliffe who, in 1931, had set a Varsity Match record of 201, which, thanks to the Nawab of Pataudi’s 238, lasted for less than 24 hours!

1934 appears to have been another reasonably successful year.  The undoubted star was Ernest Covington, who topped both batting and bowling averages, scoring 826 runs at 48.6 and taking 66 wickets at 14.95 with his left arm medium pace.  Covington very nearly got a Cambridge Blue and, subsequently, played for Middlesex.  Other prominent run-getters were Tyler (912), A W Marsden-Levy (895) and Amon (650).  Cooke again captured most victims with 75.  During the week, Covington brought a team which amassed 293 to Teddington’s 170.  It is also interesting to note the first evidence of a game with KCS Wimbledon, whose subsequent Cambridge Blue and prolific school run-getter Pat Dickinson made a duck.

The Minute Book records that the 1935 season was “an exceptional one” in which “matrimonial entanglements were rife”!  9 centuries were scored, of which Ernest Covington made 4, and in 10 completed innings, averaged 89.6 for the season.  His 4 centuries beat the record set up by Slade Lucas in 1896.  Tyler again made 1000 runs and Odhams, Cooke and Oscar Chilcott all exceeded 50 wickets.

1936 marked the renewal of the important post of Club Captain (as opposed to the skippers of the XI’s), which was to be filled for a number of years by Robin Gerard, one of the great servants of Teddington Cricket Club.  It also marked the death of B J T Bosanquet, at the age of 59.

On the field results were reasonable despite indifferent weather.  A new name in M G Murray took pride of place with the bat, scoring 712 runs at 64.9.  Once again Odhams, Chilcott and Cooke all took more than 50 wickets.  Odhams had 8 for 16 against Hampstead and Cooke 8 for 17 against Romany.  The Minute Book makes a particular mention of L J E Saunders, who “kept wicket in a most efficient and unobtrusive manner, and this was reflected in the very low average of extras”.  Furthermore, “R Grove always gave polished displays at cover point and A C Barton’s exhibitions at slip were truly astonishing”.

1937 was a successful playing year with 22 wins against 14 defeats.  The best victory came against MCC, who made 219 but were overhauled by Teddington’s 226 for 8.  The week was also highly successful with 4 victories.  Batting honours went to Maurice Amon who averaged 42.6 for 15 innings.  Peter Gibbs appeared for the first time at the top of the bowling averages, taking 11 wickets at 5.8 (including the hat trick against Richmond), but they otherwise had a familiar look.  It was recorded that E A Sargeant’s figures of 49 wickets at 19.4 did him little justice, since he frequently had to toil with little support.  The Secretary’s report for this year strikes a rather gloomy note, with several 2nd XI fixtures having to be cancelled through lack of support and with the Club in urgent need of new blood.  There was however a pleasant ceremony on 17th July, when the President was presented with a suitably engraved bowl, to mark the occasion of his 70th birthday.

These gloomy forebodings were justified in 1938, which was a disappointing season with 12 wins against 20 defeats.  Furthermore “many games had ended in a draw due to the late and unpunctual starts, too early drawing of wickets and unduly extended tea intervals”!  It was further decided not to run a cricket week in 1939.  Maurice Amon again topped the batting with 45.6, closely followed by Phillip Thomas on 44.8.  Oscar Chilcott’s son, John, who was destined to take over 1000 wickets for Teddington, headed the bowling averages with 26 wickets at 11.3, followed by the familiar names of Odhams and Covington.

1939 was noteworthy in that Teddington opted to play the 8-ball over, clubs having been offered a choice.  Results were better with 16 wins and 10 defeats.  Maurice Amon was again the leading batsman with an average of 49.6 and Ernest Covington (896), M G Murray (798), L Murray (628) and future captain John Pearsall (544) all exceeded 500 runs.  John Chilcott had a brilliant season with the ball, taking 37 wickets at 5.7, followed by Covington (44 at 16.4) and G M Hamilton (41 at 17.5).  Hamilton had 6 for 8 against Streatham, but the performance of the year was undoubtedly John Chilcott’s 9 for 16 against Buccaneers, a strong wandering club who could only manage 43.  Piquancy was added by the 10th wicket being taken by John’s father!

With the outbreak of war in the autumn of 1939, Teddington, in common with all other clubs, had to review their position for the 1940 season.  In the event, the Club ran a Saturday and Sunday side and in all managed to play about 40 games.  The only game specifically mentioned in the Minute Book was against Minters and resulted in a tie at 205 each.

At the beginning of 1941, it was clear that a further reduction of the Club’s activities was inevitable.  The number of available members had dropped considerably and the Office of Works was approached, with a view to securing a nominal rent for the duration of the war.  However, “their attitude remained uncompromising”, and eventually it was decided to cancel all home games and continue with a skeleton of about a dozen away fixtures.

At the end of 1941, the Club’s activities ceased until 1947.