FOLLOWING the recent article about Dr Booth XI, an old friend of mine, Colin Godfrey sent through a unique photograph taken at a cricket match played at Long Ley on the Sunday 15 September 1955 between the famous cricket author and commentator, John Arlott’s XI and a Harlow & District XI.

The Harlow XI was made up with locals such as G Heath (Revertex CC) C Munro (Sunvic) B Sutton (Standards) A Phipps (STC) J Perry (Revertex) D Eagle (STC) and others.

The Arlott XI were mainly from Essex CCC including Tom Pearce, Dr CB Clark (West Indies) F B Shepherd and Brian Taylor also Essex and other county players from Hampshire and couple of South Africans. But the big name was a certain Frank (Typhoon) Tyson of Northamptonshire CC and the current England opening bowler at the time!

I quick check via Wikipedia suggested that Tyson (b: 6 June 1930 d: 27 September 2015) earlier that year (1954/55) had toured Australia with England replacing the famous Freddie Trueman.

So, here is a thought.

In 1955, in January to March time, Frank Tyson was playing international cricket for England in Australia* and New Zealand. Then summertime playing county cricket for  Northamptonshire then in September to finish off an exciting cricketing year, a cricket match at glorious Long Ley in Harlow.

As a fast bowler, he was genuinely quick, possibly at that time the fasted in the world, that quick! 

For certain, I wouldn’t fancy facing him on a sporting green top strip at Long Ley for sure.

By Alan Howick