A History of Cricket at King Edward's School, BIrmingham

42 this season, and this played a large part in the improvement which was to follow in the next two seasons. PR Langham was appointed captain in 1942, and his side returned a better record than in any season since 1929, winning five matches and nearly winning a sixth: the match against Wyggeston was tied, the last few KES wickets falling cheaply and the last man being dismissed when the scores were level. Success was chiefly due to the achievements of two players with both bat and ball – CF Figures and RWF Penny. Figures took nine wickets for 22 runs in the match against an RAF XI at Eastern Road; KES were all out for 81, but Figures ensured victory by nine runs. He also took 6-29 in a comfortable win against another RAF XI, RAF Stafford. An analysis of 5 for 27 by Figures ensured a three-wicket win against Birmingham University, and he had another five wickets in the tied match against Wyggeston. Penny made 72 not out against RAF Stafford; his 50 against a Civil Service XI enabled KES to declare at 129 for seven, and he then took 4 for 25 as the Civil Service were dismissed six short of this total. He had another good all-round return in the drawn match against the Old Edwardians – 50 and 4 for 25. Penny topped the batting averages with 225 runs, and took 21 wickets; Figures took 36 wickets and scored 110 runs, more than anyone else except Penny. These totals have to be seen against the background that the team only played ten matches, as far as is known. Langham, with 94 runs, had a somewhat disappointing season. In 1943, an experienced eleven under CF Figures again won five matches. All- rounders Figures and Penny were again chiefly responsible, but this season they were matched by the much-improved all-round form of GA Pell. Penny topped both the batting and the bowling with 254 runs and 24 wickets; Figures made 166 runs and took 20 wickets, and Pell scored 203 runs and took 19 wickets. The matches that were won were marked by improved batting. For example, KES made 175 against the Old Edwardians (Penny 69), the OEs only managing 154 in reply, and 193 for 3 declared against Bromsgrove (Penny 57 not out), Bromsgrove being dismissed for 116. CF Figures (63 not out) and PA Kavanagh (35 not out) put on 100 for the first wicket against Wyggeston – KES batted on after exceeding Wyggeston’s 58 all out. However, there were occasions on which the eleven was dismissed for low scores, notably the 21 all out against Denstone. Penny, Figures and Pell generally shared the wickets between them, sometimes assisted by a new fast bowler, PT Richardson, so there was only one instance of a bowler taking five wickets in an innings – Penny’s 5 for 18 against Sutton Coldfield GS, after scoring 37 not out. Penny nearly brought about a sixth victory, Sutton finishing on 56 for eight after Pell had made the same score – 56 – on his own. JH Poole succeeded to the captaincy in 1944, though he had not had an outstanding season the previous year. With the departure of most of the previous season’s team, much rebuilding was necessary and the results were understandably nowhere near as good – two matches won as against eight lost. More matches (14) were played this year than in any year since 1931. Pell was the outstanding all-rounder: his innings of 75 not out (after taking 4 for 52) ensured victory over the Old Edwardians by ten wickets. However, Poole also showed some improvement. He also took four wickets against the Old Edwardians, and his innings of