OLD TAUNTONIANS 1972
Standing (from left): John Green (Umpire), Trevor Jerram, Bernie Thomason, Derek Tulk, Denny Fry, John Shippey, Harry Lanham (Umpire). Front: David Holden, Ivor Wallace, Tony Baker, Tim Binks, Freddie Miller, Dave Scurr.
Standing (from left): John Green (Umpire), Trevor Jerram, Bernie Thomason, Derek Tulk, Denny Fry, John Shippey, Harry Lanham (Umpire). Front: David Holden, Ivor Wallace, Tony Baker, Tim Binks, Freddie Miller, Dave Scurr.
It’s the 50th anniversary of one of the most astonishing individual bowling performances in Hampshire club cricket history – an evening when the late Tony Baker carved himself a place in the record books by taking all ten Netley Central Sports wickets for Old Tauntonians in the final of the Hector Young Trophy.
Baker was a Chartered Accountant by trade, until he became Hampshire Cricket’s first ever Chief Executive from 1986 through to 2001. Under his tenure he worked tirelessly to organise Hampshire’s move from Northlands Road to what is now the Ageas Bowl, won 4 major trophies his first 7 years, and in 2000 signed the late, great Shane Warne.
A perfect gentleman and one of the most genuine guys you could ever wish to meet, he was renowned for a wonderful dry sense of humour and his absolute decency. Whether you were the tea lady or a superstar (Malcolm Marshall/Shane Warne) he treated you in exactly the same way.
Tony could also play a bit too having represented Hampshire IIs, the Southern League representative side, and captaining OT’s to three Southern League titles in 4 years in the early 70’s. His elder son, Paul, opened the bowling for OT’s when they won the league title again in 1989.
Baker was a Chartered Accountant by trade, until he became Hampshire Cricket’s first ever Chief Executive from 1986 through to 2001. Under his tenure he worked tirelessly to organise Hampshire’s move from Northlands Road to what is now the Ageas Bowl, won 4 major trophies his first 7 years, and in 2000 signed the late, great Shane Warne.
A perfect gentleman and one of the most genuine guys you could ever wish to meet, he was renowned for a wonderful dry sense of humour and his absolute decency. Whether you were the tea lady or a superstar (Malcolm Marshall/Shane Warne) he treated you in exactly the same way.
Tony could also play a bit too having represented Hampshire IIs, the Southern League representative side, and captaining OT’s to three Southern League titles in 4 years in the early 70’s. His elder son, Paul, opened the bowling for OT’s when they won the league title again in 1989.
nyway, back to early July 1972, a 22-over midweek affair in the Southampton Parks, now known as Hoglands Park, alongside (what was) Debenhams, and little used for cricket nowadays.
Captaining OTs, Baker bowled unchanged and took 10 for 26 as his side defended 126-8 to win by 27 runs.
It was an era when OTs - who played their Saturday home games either on the then very decent number one pitch at the Southampton Sports Centre or, when the university term ended, Montefiore at Swaythling – really were top dogs in Hampshire cricket.
David Kenny, the Southern Daily Echo’s cricket writer of the time, watched the cup final and recalled:
Baker began the evening by winning the toss, this giving his side the advantage of batting first when the light, which got worse and worse, was at its best.
“The foundation of OTs success – their second in three seasons – was laid by openers Ivor Wallace (35) and Tim Binks (32), who put on 54 at a brisk rate.
“With Wallace, who was caught on the long-off boundary, and John Shippey adding a further 20, OTs were assured a useful total. Thereafter, in a quest for quick runs, OTs lost wickets at regular intervals, three to run outs and were 126-8 when their 22 overs ran out.
Baker, with his loping run up and hair waving, pulled the carpet from under Netley’s feet at the start of their innings by whipping out Barry Rood with his third ball and Norman Flight with his sixth.
“Netley’s hopes of retrieving their disastrous start then rested on the shoulders of Mike Sheriton (a batsman with a reputation for six hitting). But when the score reached 19, Sheriton skied a catch to wicketkeeper Shippey (again off Baker), Netley must have known their goose was cooked.
“Even so, with their remaining batsmen running singles and Dave Allen (20) striking a few lusty blows (including a six off Binks, unquestionably one of the leading players of his day). Netley went down fighting, Vic Taylor (father of James, Martin and Billy) making 20.
“Every time a wicket went down, Baker’s name was on it and when Allen was caught behind by Shippey, Netley were nine down and the large crowd waited to see whether Baker, now with figures of 9-26, but with only three balls of his 11-over allocation left - could get the final wicket to complete a feat all bowlers dream of.
“This he duly did when, off his final delivery, he had Terry Trodd (father of Mike and Keith) caught by Derek Tulk in the gully to end a Hector Young Trophy final, which went down in history as “Tony Baker’s match.”
Organisational skills
Tony Baker dedicated his life to cricket. An all-rounder who opened the batting and bowling for Old Tauntonians’ and Southampton Touring Club at the peak of their powers in the late Sixties and Seventies, he was one of the finest club cricketers of his era.
He combined his cricketing talents with organisational skills, and at the Touring Club, he was opening batsman and bowler, secretary, fixture secretary and treasurer – all at the same time!
Prior to becoming Hampshire’s Chief Executive for a 16-year period he was Honorary Treasurer for 10 years and was later Cricket Secretary for a period of five years before taking retirement.
Tony Baker was massively involved with Hampshire cricket for over 31 years but, to the considerable disappointment of many people, he is yet to be acknowledged properly by Hampshire Cricket. However, the Southern Premier League will shortly be announcing plans for a Tony Baker Memorial Trophy which will be presented at the end of this season and in future years in memory of the great man.
Captaining OTs, Baker bowled unchanged and took 10 for 26 as his side defended 126-8 to win by 27 runs.
It was an era when OTs - who played their Saturday home games either on the then very decent number one pitch at the Southampton Sports Centre or, when the university term ended, Montefiore at Swaythling – really were top dogs in Hampshire cricket.
David Kenny, the Southern Daily Echo’s cricket writer of the time, watched the cup final and recalled:
Baker began the evening by winning the toss, this giving his side the advantage of batting first when the light, which got worse and worse, was at its best.
“The foundation of OTs success – their second in three seasons – was laid by openers Ivor Wallace (35) and Tim Binks (32), who put on 54 at a brisk rate.
“With Wallace, who was caught on the long-off boundary, and John Shippey adding a further 20, OTs were assured a useful total. Thereafter, in a quest for quick runs, OTs lost wickets at regular intervals, three to run outs and were 126-8 when their 22 overs ran out.
Baker, with his loping run up and hair waving, pulled the carpet from under Netley’s feet at the start of their innings by whipping out Barry Rood with his third ball and Norman Flight with his sixth.
“Netley’s hopes of retrieving their disastrous start then rested on the shoulders of Mike Sheriton (a batsman with a reputation for six hitting). But when the score reached 19, Sheriton skied a catch to wicketkeeper Shippey (again off Baker), Netley must have known their goose was cooked.
“Even so, with their remaining batsmen running singles and Dave Allen (20) striking a few lusty blows (including a six off Binks, unquestionably one of the leading players of his day). Netley went down fighting, Vic Taylor (father of James, Martin and Billy) making 20.
“Every time a wicket went down, Baker’s name was on it and when Allen was caught behind by Shippey, Netley were nine down and the large crowd waited to see whether Baker, now with figures of 9-26, but with only three balls of his 11-over allocation left - could get the final wicket to complete a feat all bowlers dream of.
“This he duly did when, off his final delivery, he had Terry Trodd (father of Mike and Keith) caught by Derek Tulk in the gully to end a Hector Young Trophy final, which went down in history as “Tony Baker’s match.”
Organisational skills
Tony Baker dedicated his life to cricket. An all-rounder who opened the batting and bowling for Old Tauntonians’ and Southampton Touring Club at the peak of their powers in the late Sixties and Seventies, he was one of the finest club cricketers of his era.
He combined his cricketing talents with organisational skills, and at the Touring Club, he was opening batsman and bowler, secretary, fixture secretary and treasurer – all at the same time!
Prior to becoming Hampshire’s Chief Executive for a 16-year period he was Honorary Treasurer for 10 years and was later Cricket Secretary for a period of five years before taking retirement.
Tony Baker was massively involved with Hampshire cricket for over 31 years but, to the considerable disappointment of many people, he is yet to be acknowledged properly by Hampshire Cricket. However, the Southern Premier League will shortly be announcing plans for a Tony Baker Memorial Trophy which will be presented at the end of this season and in future years in memory of the great man.