Unique Days of Test Cricket at Lords in 1986
Michael McMahon | June 28, 2023
I was in England during the northern summer of 1986. My great mate Rick Allen and I were playing a season of Minor County cricket with Sawbridgeworth in the Hertfordshire League.
We resided in Sawbridgeworth village, a short distance from London. On a rare day off from playing, we decided to attend the 2nd day of the 1st Test between England and India at Lords on 5th June 1986. This was my first trip to the home of cricket but for Rick Allen, the current No.1 cricket scribe for The Sun newspaper in Sydney, it was his umpteenth visit to Lords. Rick had been a member of the initial Australian Under 19 Cricket team which toured England in 1977. He was one of the star batsmen in that team, which included the future Test opening pair of David Boon and Geoff Marsh. Rick followed a career path in sports journalism (which restricted his grade cricket availability) and a world class social life (which had a similar effect). He definitely had the batting ability to be a First Class cricketer if he had pursued that avenue.
On an extremely cold London morning, we arrived at the ground. A few messages from Rick to fellow journos and we were sitting in the lavish warm surrounds of the Lords Press Box. After a few hours, Rick introduced me to the incomparable Richie Benaud. Upon shaking his hand, I mentioned the earlier incident of a female streaker who had spectacularly interrupted proceedings. At this time, England’s star all-rounder Ian Botham, was serving a 2 month board imposed suspension for admitting to previously smoking marijuana. The topless young lady was carrying a “bring back Botham” banner. Richie’s deadpan comment …”yessss, saaa little bit chilly for that … iiiiii would have thought Mick”.
India were now batting, having dismissed England for 294 in the home team’s 1st innings. We settled into a few beverages surrounded by various luminaries from all walks of life. I recognised a grey haired dapper fellow sitting immediately in front of us. “That’s the bloke who caught Andrew Hilditch on the half volley in the Test at the SCG in 1979” I remarked. I was referring to Bob Taylor, the former England wicketkeeper of the 1970’s (57 Tests) and holder of the world record for highest number of First class dismissals (2,069). The now retired, 45 year old Taylor was dressed in a three piece suit, entertaining clients over numerous glasses of red. He appeared to be and I’m sure he is, a thorough gentleman.
For the record, the elegant Indian batsman Dilip Vengsarkar went on to score 129 not out in the 1st innings and the outstanding all-rounder Kapil Dev took 4-52 in the 2nd innings to lead India to a 5 wicket victory. This would be England’s sixth consecutive Test Match defeat after the 5 nil thrashing by the West Indies earlier that year in the Caribbean.
Barely 6 weeks later, on the 25th July 1986, England would be playing the second day of the 1st Test (also at Lords) in the season’s following series against New Zealand. Bob Taylor, this time entertaining clients in a sponsor’s tent, would be called upon as an emergency wicketkeeper for England. The England wicketkeeper, Bruce French, had suffered severe concussion after being struck on the head by a bouncer from Richard Hadlee. Bob Taylor would keep for 51 overs without conceding a bye. England actually used 4 wicketkeepers during that innings; Bruce French, Bill Athey, Bob Taylor and eventually the Hampshire county keeper, Bobby Parks.
The message here, might I say, is Bob Taylor took 1,473 catches in First Class cricket, yet the only one I specifically remembered was the one he claimed on the first bounce at the SCG in 1979. Some Test Cricketers have dropped catches and claimed them and were forever polarised. Others have done exactly the same and gone completely unscathed.
