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

63 100, his only School century, and he and Rand put on 109 for the third wicket before Rand was the victim of a run-out mix-up. Following a win in a low-scoring match against Wolverhampton GS, Barnfield and Nuttall produced their best performances of the season to register another win against Trent College. Barnfield made his third century for the School, 101, and KES declared at 207 for six. Nuttall then took 5 for 18 as Trent were bowled out for 114. After four consecutive draws, the School began to play some of its best cricket in the last two weeks of the season. The Common Room declared at 161 for five, but the bowling of Warwickshire seam bowler RB Edmonds, on the staff this year, gave Sykes and Rees little trouble. (Edmonds, a few weeks later, took five Australian wickets for 68.) Sykes and Rees put on 127 for the first wicket: they were two runs short of the record for this wicket set by FN Bryan and WK Wyatt in 1929 when Rees ran Sykes out. The runs were made for the loss of four wickets. GK Rand made 77 in 45 minutes against the Old Edwardians, hitting RCJ Page for 19 runs off one over; good bowling by JL Wilkins dismissed the School for 171, but Taylor took 4 for 37 and Paul 3 for 15 as the Old Edwardians were dismissed for 169 after a thrilling run-chase. Sykes (47) and Rees (59) put on 83 for the first wicket against the MCCC before Sykes was once again run out, but Barnfield made 77 not out and KES were able to declare on 222 for five, the third score of over two hundred during the season. MCCC just managed to stave off defeat, ending on 104 for eight, with Paul taking 6 for 25. Paul did the hat-trick against Warwickshire Club and Ground two days later, and he and J Walker- Roberts, another off-spinner, each took four wickets to dismiss them for 134. Sykes and Rees then put on 103 for the first wicket, Sykes dominating the partnership with 64, and victory was secured with the loss of only four wickets. Unfortunately, KES fell from grace in the last match against the MCC, spending a long time in the field as MCC made 220 for five declared and then being all out for 104 (Sykes run out for the sixth time during the season with the total on 3; Barnfield, injured and batting at number 7, 13 not out). This game apart, Cricket Week in 1964 provided a fitting end to JB Guy’s last season as master in charge of cricket. Rees made 526 runs during the season, Barnfield 447, Sykes 368 and Rand 267. However, the bowling figures show why the team did not win more matches. Nuttall had 21 wickets (as compared with 41 in 1963) and Taylor 18 (as compared with 20). Barnfield fulfilled a useful all-round role by acting as third seamer and taking 14 wickets (topping the bowling averages as well as the batting). Paul took 21 wickets, 12 of them in the last week of the season, but this did not come close to replacing the role played by Page in 1963. A number of other spinners were tried, without much success. MR Shenstone, not an outstanding individual player, proved a good captain, and Bowes batted usefully and was once again an outstanding wicket-keeper. In 1965 DH Benson took over from his old tutor, JB Guy, as cricket master, and JA Barnfield was made captain of a by now very experienced side. He managed to generate an enthusiasm and team spirit second to none, and this was a major factor in the winning of eight games, with 12 drawn and only one lost. The attack was well-balanced, the main bowling being done by the opening attack of Nuttall and Taylor, who both enjoyed a very successful last season – Nuttall 51 wickets, Taylor 61 wickets. They were supported by Barnfield as the third seamer. Two off-spinners played regularly, Paul with 12 wickets and JS