NEWS: Brian Close in 'double' diamond anniversary

Interact

Discuss this story in the White Rose Forum

News categories

Diamond Double Anniversary: Five members of Yorkshire County Cricket Supporters' Association who saw Brian Close play in 1952 – when he became the first in the country to complete the First Class “double” of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets – present him with a framed document itemising all of his runs and wickets that year

It was on August 15, 1952, that Yorkshire all-rounder Brian, aged 21, became the first player in the country to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets. On Wednesday, August 13, Yorkshire started a three-day Championship match against Hampshire at North Marine Road, Scarborough, and on that day Brian reached his 1,000 runs for the season.

On the third and last day, the 15th, Yorkshire won the match by the small margin of 17 runs - due in no small measure to the six wickets Brian captured. The Association acknowledged that anniversary by presenting Brian with a framed document itemising all his runs and wickets in that year - the presentation being made by five members who saw Brian play in 1952: John Harrison, Alan Kaye, John Briggs, Mike Andrews and Joan Fort.

Brian reached the milestone 10 days earlier than his nearest rival – Jack Walsh, of Leicestershire – and this in an era when First Class cricket was played on six of the seven days of the week. From Brian first doing the double - on September 2, 1949, and his getting there again on August 15, 1952, only one other First Class cricketer managed it: Ray Smith, of Essex.