The Googly: Foolish to play cricket in February?

HUW TURBERVILL: But that is exactly what a group of players and cricket-loving celebs used to do in the 1970s, with help from The Cricketer magazine.

^{Now February is here all you club cricketers, what are you waiting for?}

While the arrival of February means cricketers can at least start thinking about oiling the mower and hitting the indoor nets, it is probably a bit early to play the game in the great outdoors just yet.

But that is exactly what a group of players and cricket-loving celebs used to do in the 1970s, with help from The Cricketer magazine.

Calling themselves the February Fools, they played a series of games for charity. Among the line-ups were England pace ace John Snow and Australia’s John Inverarity.

The match I read about was the fourth annual game in the series, and actually played on February 29, it being a leap year. It was featured in the April 1977 edition of The Cricketer, attracting a crowd of 2,000 intrepid souls at Albury in Guildford, Surrey, and raising £300 for the charity, SPARKS.

Reader Paul Spencer kindly brought them to my attention, and David Frith, then editor of the magazine, told me about them.

“Those games provided some of my happiest on-field memories ever. When we persuaded the long-retired Jim Laker to bowl that opening over, John Snow was the batsman, and he played all six balls courteously back to the bowler.

“The multi-talented Tony Pawson was so pleased to become the first-ever batsman to score 50 on February 29 while wearing an England Amateur No.7 football shirt.

“Patrick Moore, his enormous tent-like sweater soaked and hanging over him as we played through a rain squall, seemed at risk to pneumonia, but when I suggested he should go off and get warm and dry he refused, saying indignantly, ‘These people have come to see us play, and play I shall!’ There was a large banner by the pavilion saying ‘Patrick Moore for England’.

“Some players, like actor Tom Courtenay, remained very quiet and restrained with bat and ball, while others took their responsibility to entertain very seriously.”

Frith’s Fools batted first and made 156 all out, Alan Revill of Derbyshire and Leicestershire winning the man-of-the-match award for his unbeaten 72.

The actors Colin Welland (Kes and The Sweeney), and Gareth Hunt (New Avengers, the Nescafé adverts) both reached double figures, but award-winning lyricist Tim Rice and Radio 1 disc jockey Ed ‘Stewpot’ Stewart did not bother the scorers unduly. That’s showbiz, I guess…

Legendary astronomer Moore made 3 before leg-spinner Michael Jayston (of Doctor Who and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy fame) wrapped up the innings with his third wicket.

Inverarity, with 53, and former Kent batsman Pawson, with 30, gave Allen’s amusements a tidy opening start.

Then… “Robert Powell, soon to be seen as Jesus of Nazareth, played. 

Eventually Allen’s Amusements fell 18 runs short; football radio legend Bryon Butler and Scottish rugby star Alistair Biggar both making ducks. The latter did take three catches earlier, though, confirming his handling skills.

Now February is here all you club cricketers, what are you waiting for?