Suffolk Cricket Handbook

April 6, 2021

THE Suffolk Cricket Handbook has taken on a different look this year.

With a reduction in the number of match reports due to the impact of Covid-19 on the 2020 season, editor Nick Garnham and designer David Armes have concentrated their efforts elsewhere.

There is an eight-page article featuring detailed biographies of each of the 53 players to have been employed by the county as a paid professional.

These date from FG Trudgett (1902-1913) to the present day and include an illustrious list of names, among them ex-England internationals Phil Mead, Allan Watkins, Roland Butcher, Derek Randall, Bill Athey, Devon Malcolm, Chris Schofield, Paul Grayson and Tymal Mills.

To that you can add overseas players of the calibre of West Indian Timur Mohamed, who was a key member of the 1979 championship-winning side, South African international trio Dave Callaghan, Martin van Jaarsveld and Pierre Joubert plus Lou Vincent, who scored a Test match double century for New Zealand.

There is also a seven-page feature which turns the spotlight on the eleven coaches who coach the county age group teams from under-12s through to the senior sides.

The 68-page handbook also contains articles on new county president Tony Warrington, new red-ball professional Joe Gatting and lists all the winners of the Cliff Piper Memorial Award since it was launched in 2001.

There are reports on the Suffolk Young Cricketers right through to the Seniors, plus how the various leagues adapted to their Covid-disrupted seasons.

The contributions to Suffolk cricket of former chairman Norman Atkins, opening batsman Russell Catley, who passed away aged just 47, and well-known figures Brian Cole, Mike Clarke, David Mann, John McNally and Conrad Wright are all recognised in the obituaries section.

The front cover photograph is of Matt Wareing, who pulled on a Suffolk shirt for the first time last summer after suffering a lower back injury in May 2017.

Copies of the handbook cost £10 or £12.50 including postage and are available from Suffolk CCA Secretary Toby Pound at 94, Henley Road, Ipswich IP1 4NJ. Cheques should be made payable to Suffolk County Cricket Association.

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