Bill Copson
Encyclopedia
Bill Copson was an English cricket
er who played for Derbyshire
between 1932 and 1950, and for England between 1939 and 1947. He took over 1,000 wickets for Derbyshire, and was prominent in their 1936 Championship season
. Cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, noted Copson was, "a flame-haired pace bowler with a temper to match, became a cricketer by accident".
, Derbyshire
, and became a miner. Like his fellow bowler, Thomas Mitchell
, he was a cricketing product of the 1926 General Strike
. He took no interest in cricket until the Strike, when some fellow miners persuaded him to join in cricket on the local recreation ground while they were absent from work. His ability as a bowler of considerable pace and exceptional straightness, who made the batsmen play every ball was clearly revealed. In the next season he was given a place in the Morton Colliery team and, from there, he progressed to Clay Cross club in the Derbyshire League, and his success was such that Derbyshire engaged him in 1932.
He made his debut in first-class cricket
for Derbyshire against Surrey
when he sensationally dismissed Andy Sandham
with his first ball. However, his record for the rest of the season was moderate. In 1933, Copson became a regular member of the Derbyshire side, and, if he did not, in spite of his short run-up, possess the build to undertake as much work as fast bowlers were expected to then, he was consistently good in a summer unfavourable to bowlers. In the following two summers, Copson was so plagued by injury that there were serious worries about his long-term health. When he did play he developed so well that he headed Derbyshire's averages in 1935, for a team that recorded more victories than any other Derbyshire side before or since.
Having been sent to Skegness
to restore his health, he responded with a marvellous season in 1936. His 12 for 52 against the strong Surrey batting side on an admittedly damaged pitch was his finest feat. In all, he took 140 wickets for less than 13 runs each in the County Championship
, and was chosen for the Ashes tour at the end of the season. Though he headed the averages for all matches, Copson's body was not resilient enough for the timeless matches on rock-hard Australian pitches, and he did not play in any of the Tests
.
In 1937, Copson suffered more injury problems, but featured one of the most magnificent bowling feats in county cricket history when he took 8 for 11 - including the first performance in first-class cricket of five wickets with six consecutive balls - against Warwickshire
on a pitch giving bowlers almost no help. Copson also took 8 for 64 against Sussex
on a good pitch, and the following year took 103 wickets, but could not dislodge Farnes and Bowes
from the Test team. At last, Copson played his first Test against the West Indies in 1939 at Lord's
and did not disappoint, taking nine wickets on a blameless pitch. He took 146 wickets that year, but World War II
put paid to him being a regular Test bowler. By 1946, he had lost a yard of pace, and, if he could bowl straighter than anyone, he had not the venom of pre-war years. Copson did play one Test in 1947 with almost no success, but retired at the age of 41 in 1949.
Copson was a right-arm fast medium bowler, and took 1,094 first class wickets at an average of 18.96, with a best performance of 8 for 11. He also took 15 Test wickets. He was a right-hand batsman, and played 359 innings in 279 first class matches, with an average of 6.81, and a top score of 43.
From 1958 to 1967, Copson was a first-class umpire
, but persistent health problems took so much toll, that he died in Clay Cross
, Derbyshire, at the age of 63 in 1971.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
between 1932 and 1950, and for England between 1939 and 1947. He took over 1,000 wickets for Derbyshire, and was prominent in their 1936 Championship season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1936
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1936 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire won the County Championship for the first and only time. They had been playing for sixty five years and it was their thirty-eighth season in the County Championship....
. Cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, noted Copson was, "a flame-haired pace bowler with a temper to match, became a cricketer by accident".
Life and career
William Henry Copson was born in StonebroomStonebroom
Stonebroom is a village in the district of North East Derbyshire in England.Stonebroom lies to the east of the A61 between Alfreton and Clay Cross. It has a Primary and Nursery school and two churches, one Church of England and one Methodist...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, and became a miner. Like his fellow bowler, Thomas Mitchell
Thomas Mitchell (cricketer)
Thomas Bignall Mitchell was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1928 and 1939....
, he was a cricketing product of the 1926 General Strike
UK General Strike of 1926
The 1926 general strike in the United Kingdom was a general strike that lasted nine days, from 4 May 1926 to 13 May 1926. It was called by the general council of the Trades Union Congress in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening...
. He took no interest in cricket until the Strike, when some fellow miners persuaded him to join in cricket on the local recreation ground while they were absent from work. His ability as a bowler of considerable pace and exceptional straightness, who made the batsmen play every ball was clearly revealed. In the next season he was given a place in the Morton Colliery team and, from there, he progressed to Clay Cross club in the Derbyshire League, and his success was such that Derbyshire engaged him in 1932.
He made his debut in first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
for Derbyshire against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
when he sensationally dismissed Andy Sandham
Andy Sandham
Andrew Sandham was an English cricketer, a right-handed batsman who played 14 Test matches between 1921 and 1930. He scored over 40,000 first-class runs, but bowled only very rarely; he took just 18 wickets in his career.Sandham made his Surrey debut in 1911, and was capped in 1913...
with his first ball. However, his record for the rest of the season was moderate. In 1933, Copson became a regular member of the Derbyshire side, and, if he did not, in spite of his short run-up, possess the build to undertake as much work as fast bowlers were expected to then, he was consistently good in a summer unfavourable to bowlers. In the following two summers, Copson was so plagued by injury that there were serious worries about his long-term health. When he did play he developed so well that he headed Derbyshire's averages in 1935, for a team that recorded more victories than any other Derbyshire side before or since.
Having been sent to Skegness
Skegness
Skegness is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Located on the Lincolnshire coast of the North Sea, east of the city of Lincoln it has a total resident population of 18,910....
to restore his health, he responded with a marvellous season in 1936. His 12 for 52 against the strong Surrey batting side on an admittedly damaged pitch was his finest feat. In all, he took 140 wickets for less than 13 runs each in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
, and was chosen for the Ashes tour at the end of the season. Though he headed the averages for all matches, Copson's body was not resilient enough for the timeless matches on rock-hard Australian pitches, and he did not play in any of the Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
.
In 1937, Copson suffered more injury problems, but featured one of the most magnificent bowling feats in county cricket history when he took 8 for 11 - including the first performance in first-class cricket of five wickets with six consecutive balls - against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
on a pitch giving bowlers almost no help. Copson also took 8 for 64 against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
on a good pitch, and the following year took 103 wickets, but could not dislodge Farnes and Bowes
Bill Bowes
Bill Bowes was one of the best bowlers of the interwar period and, for a time, the most important force behind Yorkshire's dominance of the County Championship...
from the Test team. At last, Copson played his first Test against the West Indies in 1939 at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
and did not disappoint, taking nine wickets on a blameless pitch. He took 146 wickets that year, but World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
put paid to him being a regular Test bowler. By 1946, he had lost a yard of pace, and, if he could bowl straighter than anyone, he had not the venom of pre-war years. Copson did play one Test in 1947 with almost no success, but retired at the age of 41 in 1949.
Copson was a right-arm fast medium bowler, and took 1,094 first class wickets at an average of 18.96, with a best performance of 8 for 11. He also took 15 Test wickets. He was a right-hand batsman, and played 359 innings in 279 first class matches, with an average of 6.81, and a top score of 43.
From 1958 to 1967, Copson was a first-class umpire
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
, but persistent health problems took so much toll, that he died in Clay Cross
Clay Cross
Clay Cross is a former mining town and civil parish in the North East Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England, about six miles south of Chesterfield. It is directly on the A61, the former Roman road Ryknield Street...
, Derbyshire, at the age of 63 in 1971.