OBITUARIES at Denis Compton. uadel'. Off thefield,hewas whatEW His swing bowling, so useful in Swanton called"a bit ofa card". an English spring, was not suited C ompton, Warr would proclaim, to Australia. After being brought to was the only batsman who would the attention of GubbyAlleu,Warr tell you to run between the wickets was chosen ahead of Ttueman and and wish you luck at the same played in two of the Test matches. time. "His first call was the basis "He tried hard and cheerfully but for negotiation. His second was a he could not be regarded as Test statement of policy and his third was class," sniffed lzVlsden. His return 'Damrr!' when he or his partner was CARETB was one wicket for 281 runs. Some of run out,"recalled Hubert Doggart, 1g4g-1960 his friends wouldjovially chide him who played withWarr at Camhri6gs. with the Ancient and Modern hymn At the numerous weddings of TEST 281 'Lead - us Heavenly Father, lead Middlesex colleague, Bill Edrich, 2 Matches us'- in honour ofthe numher ofhis when asked if he should sit on the 4 runs statistics, with smphasis, JohnWan in view of bride or groom's side of the church. 4 High Score his one wicket, ou the lines'Love and Warr would reply: "Season ticket." '1.00 Average Middlesex swing bowler, two-Test wonder Dreary, Faint and Weary, Through Warr would have been well l Wickets the Desert thou did'st go.f Warr's remunerated for his speeches. yet 1-139 BB It did not concern JohnWarr if he was strike-rate, a wicket every 584 balls, never asked for payment. He worked 281.00 Average introduced at a dinner as having the was the worst in history at the time. in the City after retirement from 0 Catches worst bowling average inTest history. Warr, always krorrrm as Jdwas the game in 1960 and couldpick After all, he would say, he and Fred given the flrst ofhis four Blues at and choose his events. As befitting FIRST-CLASS Tluemaa had 308 wickets between Camhrldgs in 1949 and his county a president of MCC, he enjoyed all 344 Matches them. Self-deprecating, funny and a cap by Middlesex at the end of that male company, althoughhe did 3838 runs brilliant speakeq, he would talk about summer. He was to take his 956 support the attempts by his friend 54* High Score his ineptitude on MCC's 19bO/S1 first-class wickets, at 22.79, through Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie to admit 11.45 Average tour ofAustralia, compare muslia persever€rnce Ernd character as much women. lvoTenndnt 956 Wickets containing a slice of lemonwith as the away-swing and became, according 9-5s BB first course to ajockstrap in front of to the leg-spinner Charles Robins, John Warr was born on July 16 1927 , 22.79 Average the Dul<e of Edinburgh. and poke fun "easily the best captain I played and died on May I 2016 118 Catches Alan the Leyton ground after poor Hurd (Kent's Bob Wilson, at Clacton) had let a ball slip through to the with his first ball for his county. In boundary. A loyal Essex supporter that 1958 Championship match he Hurd eased the pain by shouting: "But he's returned his best figures of 6 for 1 S. Essex off-spinner terribly kind to his mother!" Lest there Hurd crossed theThames to take andschoolcoach , be any remaining doubt, Tlevor Bailey, up a post at Sevenoaks School to I who had played againstAustralia's teach English ald coach cricket. He lumbering Jack Iverson, once declared was a popular mentor. and had the Alan Ilurd played 90 first-class that Hurd was the "worst fielder ever pleasure of seeing Chris Tavar6 and matches for Cambridge University to have played first-class cricket". Paul Dovrmton go on to become Test and Essex between 1958 and 1960, Born in Ilford and educated at cricketers. Hurd also played for his off-spinners earning him 249 Chigwell School, Hurd went up to Sevenoaks Vine, whose chairman, wickets at 30.80 (at an impressive Cambridge and secured Blues from Gavin Burden, said thathis "silver- CABETB economy of 2.69) and a creditable I 958 to 1960, taking over 50 wickets haired windswept presence" was reputation which lg58-1980 failed to embrace in 1959 and again in 1960, and seven often seen at the club, a glass of his feeble batting and fielding. A in the winningVarsitymatch at whisky in hand. "It's only since his FIRST-CLASS left-handed batsman, he managed Lord's in 1958 and flve for the losing death that I've realised how loved 90 Matches a highest score of 21. and averaged side the following summer (when he was, notjust as a cricket coach 375 runs 5.37, having at one stage a record IIenry Blofeld opened the Cambridge but as an English teacher. He was 21 High Score num-ber of consecutive scoreless batting).In those two summers Hurd quite a shy, private man, but a loyal 5.37 Average innings. Decades before a similar. also represented the Gentlemen supporter of this club." D*i,rd f,ririr 249 Wickets cry was to garland a:rAshes series, agaiast the Players. For Essex he 6-1s BB "Can't bat, can't bowl, can't played field!' 35 times during those three Alan Hurd was born on September 7 30.80 Average (expletives removed) boomed around University years, and took a wicket 1937 and died on April I 1 2016 t l5 Catches thecricketer.com I tO5.