Harold Butler (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Harold Butler was an English
fast-medium bowler, who was the best bowler for Nottinghamshire
during the period on either side of World War II
. This period was one of major decline for the county, which fell from over fifty years near the top of the table to one of the lower-ranked counties, largely because the pitches at Trent Bridge
were placid in dry weather and recovered quickly after rain, so that the spin bowler
s, upon whom most English counties relied in the 1940s, were practically helpless there. Cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, stated Butler was a "burly swing bowler... [and] had every reason to feel let down by England".
.
Butler was expected to compensate for the loss of Harold Larwood
to retirement after persistent injuries, and the decline of Bill Voce
's powers, but although a fine bowler, he was not as fast as Larwood although similar in pace to Voce. Butler's chief merit lay in his accuracy and ability to move the ball off the seam, and vary his length according to the conditions, as shown when he went on his only overseas tour to the West Indies. His physical strength, however, was always doubtful and he suffered from injury.
Butler first played for Nottinghamshire in 1933, and took five for 36 against Yorkshire
. After that, he was in and out of the eleven until 1937, when his eight for 15 against Surrey
made his place secure. In 1938, he was heading the first-class
averages when illness ended his season, but the following year took 105 wickets. However, his career was interrupted by World War II
, during which he served in India
and played two first-class matches.
In 1946, with England's formidable pre-war pace bowling gone, Butler bowled well enough, but he was judged unable to withstand the rock-hard Australia
n pitches and was left at home. In 1947, he was selected for the fourth Test
at Old Trafford
against the South Africans and bowled well, taking 7 for 66. Although injury kept him out of the fifth Test at The Oval
, Butler took 106 wickets that season. He was chosen to tour the West Indies, but after bowling well in one Test, a calf injury and malaria
kept him out of the others.
Apart from 1950, when his bowling brought 95 wickets, the rest of Butler's career was a succession of injuries, and at the beginning of 1954 he was advised by his doctor to retire. His career wicket taking average of 24.44 was not exceptional, but Trent Bridge pitches were placid compared to other county grounds.
Butler died in July 1991, in Lenton
, Nottinghamshire, at the age of 78.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
fast-medium bowler, who was the best bowler for Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire 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 Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
during the period on either side of 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...
. This period was one of major decline for the county, which fell from over fifty years near the top of the table to one of the lower-ranked counties, largely because the pitches at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
were placid in dry weather and recovered quickly after rain, so that the spin bowler
Spin bowling
Spin bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. Practitioners are known as spinners or spin bowlers.-Purpose:The main aim of spin bowling is to bowl the cricket ball with rapid rotation so that when it bounces on the pitch it will deviate, thus making it difficult for the...
s, upon whom most English counties relied in the 1940s, were practically helpless there. Cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, stated Butler was a "burly swing bowler... [and] had every reason to feel let down by England".
Life and career
Harold James Butler was born in March 1913 in Clifton, NottinghamshireClifton, Nottinghamshire
Clifton is a council estate and village in the city of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England founded by Sir Robert Clifton. The estate has a number of shop-clusters and relatively good transport links with the city and surrounding areas. The village is on the A453 which is the main connection...
.
Butler was expected to compensate for the loss of Harold Larwood
Harold Larwood
Harold Larwood was an English cricket player, an extremely accurate fast bowler best known for his key role as the implementer of fast leg theory in the infamous "bodyline" Ashes Test series of 1932–33....
to retirement after persistent injuries, and the decline of Bill Voce
Bill Voce
Bill Voce was an English cricketer. He played for the Nottinghamshire and England, and was an instrumental part of England's infamous Bodyline tour of Australia in 1932–1933.-Life and career:...
's powers, but although a fine bowler, he was not as fast as Larwood although similar in pace to Voce. Butler's chief merit lay in his accuracy and ability to move the ball off the seam, and vary his length according to the conditions, as shown when he went on his only overseas tour to the West Indies. His physical strength, however, was always doubtful and he suffered from injury.
Butler first played for Nottinghamshire in 1933, and took five for 36 against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
. After that, he was in and out of the eleven until 1937, when his eight for 15 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...
made his place secure. In 1938, he was heading the first-class
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...
averages when illness ended his season, but the following year took 105 wickets. However, his career was interrupted by 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...
, during which he served in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and played two first-class matches.
In 1946, with England's formidable pre-war pace bowling gone, Butler bowled well enough, but he was judged unable to withstand the rock-hard Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n pitches and was left at home. In 1947, he was selected for the fourth Test
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...
at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (cricket)
Old Trafford is a cricket ground situated on Talbot Road in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester. It has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since its foundation in 1864, having been the ground of Manchester Cricket Club from 1857...
against the South Africans and bowled well, taking 7 for 66. Although injury kept him out of the fifth Test at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
, Butler took 106 wickets that season. He was chosen to tour the West Indies, but after bowling well in one Test, a calf injury and malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
kept him out of the others.
Apart from 1950, when his bowling brought 95 wickets, the rest of Butler's career was a succession of injuries, and at the beginning of 1954 he was advised by his doctor to retire. His career wicket taking average of 24.44 was not exceptional, but Trent Bridge pitches were placid compared to other county grounds.
Butler died in July 1991, in Lenton
Lenton, Nottingham
Lenton is an area of the City of Nottingham in the county of Nottinghamshire, England. Politically, it falls within the Nottingham South constituency. Most of the area lies within the electoral ward of "Dunkirk and Lenton", however the "Lenton Triangle" area, considered by most residents to be part...
, Nottinghamshire, at the age of 78.