the john player league visits the english riviera by mark sands

The JPL provided counties with the opportunity to take matches away from their headquarters and visit out grounds with the aim of attracting new members and supporters. On occasion, the out grounds were so ‘out’ that they lay beyond the county boundary.

Gloucestershire played 3 matches at Swindon (Wiltshire), whilst Somerset returned to the county where they were formed in 1875, Devon.

The Recreation Ground, Torquay first hosted a JPL fixture in August 1969, with Somerset defeating Sussex by 4 wickets. The pitch, to put it mildly, favoured the bowlers, as Sussex would testify at 54/8 after being put in to bat (3 wickets each for Burgess and Roberts), before the final 2 Sussex wickets more than doubled the score, mainly due to Bates who was run out from the final ball of the 40 over allocation for 38, Sussex all out 114. With Somerset 16/3 in reply, the game was in the balance. Virgin and Denning added 39 to settle the home supporters nerves, but when both fell in quick succession, there remained work to be done at 80/6. Rose and Robinson kept their composure to guide Somerset to victory with 8 balls to spare.

1971 saw a thrilling game (versus Surrey), fortunes ebbing and flowing with the result in doubt until the final ball of the 80th over. Virgin and Kitchen produced an opening stand of 90 (22 overs) before the latter fell to Storey for 40. Close was forced to retire hurt after edging the ball into his face, and a couple of quick wickets for Hooper brought Cartwright to the crease (132/3). Virgin continued to benefit from poor Surrey catching, surviving 4 chances in completing his century from the final ball of the innings and providing the backbone of the Somerset total, 219/5. The visitors stayed in touch thanks to contributions from Edrich (39), Younis Ahmed (70), Roope (35) and Stewart (37), and were favourites to win with 8 required from 7 balls and 5 wickets in hand. Stewart didn’t make it to the last over, holing out on the boundary to the final ball of the 39th over. Burgess, who had been expensive in his previous 7, had the responsibility of delivering the final over - and maintained composure to pick up 2 wickets and concede only 3 runs.

The crowd, who provided record gate receipts, were rewarded with 15 sixes during a pulsating afternoon of cricket.

The following season’s fixture brought Notts to the coast, and once again it was Virgin (43), in partnership with Burgess (55) who helped build a decent total after the hosts had slipped to 25/2. However, progress had been pedestrian, and the boost the innings required came from a quick-fire partnership of 44 in four overs between Cartwright and Moseley, ensuring Notts would have to chase in excess of 200, the innings closing on 213 with Stead returning 4-24

Notts also had a slow start (14/2 with Bolus and Randall the early victims). Hassan and Nanan added 101 for the 3rd wicket (Nanan’s 58 including 40 in boundaries). Frost (44) and Harris (25*) ensured victory for the visitors, the winning runs coming with four balls (and four wickets) to spare.

The match scheduled for 1973 against Leicestershire was abandoned without a ball bowled, as had been the case the previous Sunday at Glastonbury and would be a fortnight later at Weston super Mare, as a sustained poor spell of weather played havoc with the fixtures).

Rain was also around for the second innings in 1974 versus Lancashire, but not before Somerset had made 167/9, thanks to 39 from skipper Close and an unbeaten half century from Burgess (each hitting 3 sixes). Lancashire’s reply commenced in light drizzle and fading light and they struggled for runs, making only 16 from the first 8 overs. The penny dropped for Wood and Kennedy that completion of another 2 overs in the worsening conditions would constitute a game and they realised they were well behind the run rate. A frantic 20 runs came from the next 2 overs, which included the wicket of Wood to a fantastic catch by Denning, but the rain became too heavy to continue, leaving Somerset victorious on faster scoring rate, and Moseley the proud owner of figures 5-4-9-1

13 July 1975 saw the final JPL fixture at Torquay, where Northants became the second away side to claim victory. Virgin was yet again in the runs, although this time it was against Somerset, making 58 for his new county, with the only support coming from Mushtaq Mohammad (26) and ‘keeper Sharp (23). Hodgson added some useful late runs, as Clapp claimed his 3rd wicket with the final ball of the innings, as Northants set a target of 170. Hodgson then proved dangerous with the ball, after replacing opening pair Sarfraz and Dye, picking up Taylor and Rose (38/2). Richards and Denning added 47, but when Hodgson accounted for Richards in his final over, it triggered a middle order collapse of 6 wickets for just 14 runs, as Somerset’s reply fizzled out 46 runs short, Willey joining Hodgson with 3 wickets.

Photograph below of Roy Virgin, who averaged 76 in his JPL appearances at Torquay. The introduction of 40 over cricket freeing up his stroke play and giving him the confidence to attack from earlier on in his innings.

For more JPL memories, visit www.starsonsundaybook.com

Permission received from Mark Sands to use the article which was originally on FB.