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Brian Statham interviewed by Ralph Dellor



Reference
MCC/AAL/3/127
Date:
2001
Level of description
item
Extent
1 CD: 60 minutes 52 seconds
Part of
David Rayvern Allen Audio Archive (MCC/AAL/3)
Scope and Content
1 CD, Brian Statham cricketer, interviewed by Ralph Dellor. The CD consists of 13 tracks.

Track 1: [0:00-1:28] Introduction and brief biography by Dellor, [1:29-1:45] Statham talks about the pace of Frank Tyson's bowling, [1:46-2:18] Statham talks about his bowling partnership with Fred Trueman, [2:19-2:44] Statham talks about Lancashire and Yorkshire partnerships for England, [2:45-3:19] Statham compares his and Fred Trueman's bowling styles, [3:20-4:05] Statham talks about his bowling support at Lancashire and bowling with Ken Higgs, [4:06-4:45] Statham talks about playing cricket since primary school and always being a quick bowler.

Track 2: [0:00-1:05] Statham talks about how he only ever played cricket, never followed it and was not until he played in the Royal Air Force he was noticed, [1:06-1:54] Statham talks about playing club cricket for Denton West after leaving school, [1:55-2:58] Statham talks about his bowling action and being grateful he was never really coached, [2:59-3:51] Statham talks about his bowling accuracy, [3:52-4:28] Statham talks about who was in the Lancashire team when he joined including Cyril Washbrook, Jack Ikin and Ken Grieves, [4:29-4:42] Statham talks about fielding in the outfield.

Track 3: [0:00-1:25] Statham talks about never wanting to be a professional cricketer and feeling daunted after watching John Edrich and Denis Compton bat for Middlesex at Old Trafford in 1949 in the first ever county game he saw, [1:26-1:43] Statham talks about his initial trial at Lancashire being washed out due to rain, [1:44-2:07] Statham talks about playing cricket in the Royal Air Force, [2:08-3:06] Statham talks about having a slight figure and feeling daunted by county cricket, [3:07-3:36] Statham talks about his nicknames, [3:37-5:11] Statham talks about his first-class debut for Lancashire against Kent and recites a story of not knowing who Arthur Fagg was or even his teammates, [5:12-5:52] Statham talks about not feeling overawed, opposition batsmen not knowing who he was and not even knowing different bowling terms.

Track 4: [0:00-1:09] Statham talks about only talking about cricket during the season and getting advice from Harry Makepeace to always listen, [1:10-1:53] Statham talks about being not being a swing bowler and coming up with the catchphrase "play and miss and I'll hit", [1:54-2:22] Statham talks about not teaching teammates, [2:23-3:21] Statham talks about doing no training, intense pre-season practice, very little practice during the season and being cricket fit, [3:22-4:13], Statham talks about learning to pace himself as a fast bowler.

Track 5: [0:00-3:39] Statham talks about his fast call-up to county cricket, being flown out for 1950-1951 MCC tour to Australia and New Zealand and describes the conditions, [3:40-4:11] Statham talks about not being treated differently on his return to Lancashire, [4:12-4:41] Statham talks about not being a facts and figures man, [4:42-5:16] Statham talks about owning some memento’s from his career, [5:17-5:46] Statham talks about how he saw cricket as a way of life and fun way to earn a living.

Track 6: [0:00-1:01] Statham talks about Lancashire being a fun side to be involved with and Alf Barlow being a character, [1:02-2:02] Statham talks about his bowling spells, [2:03-2:29] Statham talks about what he would have done if he wasn't a cricketer, [2:30-2:59] Statham talks about Australia being his favourite country to tour, [3:00-4:55] Statham talks about hitting his peak for the 1954-1955 MCC tour in Australia.

Track 7: [0:00-0:53] Statham talks about the first Test of the 1954-1955 MCC tour to Australia, [0:54-2:15] Statham talks about the change in bowling following the defeat in the first Test, [2:16-2:54] Statham talks about Frank Tyson bowling too much on the tour, [2:55-4:20] Statham talks about bowling 29 overs straight against South Africa in 1955 over 2 days, [4:21-5:20] Statham talks about missing the next county match and the anti-climactic feeling upon returning to county cricket but still tried his best.

Track 8: [0:00-0:46] Statham talks about taking 15 for 89 against Warwickshire and making a half century in the match, [0:47-1:44] Statham talks about enjoying bowling at Grace Road, [1:45-3:23] Statham talks about the comparisons between he and Fred Trueman and shunning publicity.

Track 9: [0:00-1:01] Statham talks about being friends with Fred Trueman, [1:02-1:42] Statham talks about playing in Guyana and doing a weight loss test, [1:43-2:15] Statham talks about his general body weight, [2:16-4:03] Statham talks about not being suited to being a captain due to being too tired from bowling and adjusting to one-day cricket, [4:04-4:41] Statham talks about over-bowling himself in the County Championship, [4:42-5:29] Statham talks about being recalled to England in 1965 and bowling successfully with Ken Higgs in his debut, [5:30-6:03] Statham recalls breaking the record for Test wickets by a bowler.

Track 10: [0:00-1:00] Statham talks about how a fast bowler slowly declines from the age of 30, [1:01-3:17] Statham talks about how bowlers were not encouraged to bat early in his career and recalls making his highest score of 62, [3:18-4:09] Statham talks about being a placid person and taking pride in doing basic things well.

Track 11: [0:00-0:44] Statham talks about returning to his mark after a dropped catch but being angry inside, [0:45-2:29] Statham talks about losing his temper in British Guyana with Denis Compton, [2:30-4:20] Statham talks about getting annoyed in the West Indies with a West Indian batsman, [4:21-4:41] Statham talks about being shy, [4:42-5:43] Statham talks about being on the Lancashire committee and enjoying his relationship with the club, [5:44-6:32] Statham regrets not giving more advice to young cricketers.

Track 12: [0:00-1:21] Statham talks about the importance of line and length, doing the basics well and Ray Lindwall's bowling action, [1:22-2:27] Statham talks about a benefit for him organised by Fred Trueman, [2:28-4:29] Statham talks about getting the CBE and Trueman the OBE.

Track 13: [0:00-0:44] Statham summarises his career.

A back-up copy of this CD is included.
Associations
John Brian Statham
Ralph Dellor
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Frank Holmes Tyson
Frederick Sewards Trueman
Kenneth Higgs
Denton West Cricket Club
Cyril Washbrook
John Thomas Ikin
Kenneth James Grieves
William John Edrich
Denis Charles Scott Compton
Royal Air Force
Arthur Edward Fagg
Joseph William Henry Makepeace
Alfred Barlow
Denis Charles Scott Compton
Raymond Russell Lindwall
Subject
Lancashire cricketers, fielding, practice drills, bowling, captains, MCC in Australia 1950-1951, MCC in Australia 1954-1955
Conditions governing access
Open
Language
English
Size
1 CD: 60 minutes 52 seconds
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