An Interview with Alan Edwards at the Utilita Bowl following his retirement from editing every Hampshire Cricket Society Newsletter since 1982
How did your interest in Hampshire cricket begin, Alan?
Strange to relate but my early interest was in Surrey cricket. I was born in Carshalton, and my family on my father’s side were all Londoners. My grandfather used to regale me with stories of Jack Hobbs and Herbert Strudwick, who were his boyhood heroes. In my early years, Surrey were embarked on their seven consecutive Championship titles. In games on the local green in Gosport, where I lived, or on the beach on holidays on the Isle of Wight, I was always Peter May. It was on the train en route from London to Portsmouth that I first “saw” Hampshire play. The train always travelled slowly on the embankment overlooking the United Services Ground. A match was being played. I remember the green field littered with sawdust. I can’t remember who Hampshire were playing, though I do remember that I saw my first County match in the following year, in 1961. My first Championship game was shortly afterwards. Again, it was Portsmouth, against Middlesex. Both sides were in contention for the Championship; there was too much at stake for either side to gamble, even with Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie as captain of Hampshire.
Later in the month, my uncle drove me to the County Ground in Southampton where we defeated Warwickshire by eight wickets. It was an extraordinary match. On the second day, Warwickshire held the whip hand before Leo Harrison and Mike Barnard wrested the initiative in a fast, long partnership. “Butch” White, in one of his vivid spells towards the end of the day, virtually ensured a Hampshire victory on the following afternoon. In many ways the match exemplified Hampshire’s cricket towards the end of that unforgettable summer, when, of course, we won the Championship for the first time. I did not watch my first match at Bournemouth until 1972. It was the famous Gillette Cup tie against Lancashire, in which Barry Richards made a glorious, inventive 129.
I was very fortunate in that the time I watched Hampshire most was in the era of the successful Championship sides in the 1970’s and 1980’s. There was magic in the air when they played; the batting was attractive, and the bowling penetrative, and captains Richard Gilliat and Mark Nicholas always played the game in the right spirit. They were never afraid to leave the door ajar in pursuit of victory.
How did you first become involved with the Hampshire Cricket Society?
I joined the Society at the start of their second season in the Autumn of 1977, so that I could see, and listen to, John Arlott in October of that year. His audience at Basingstoke Sports Centre numbered over 100. We were all spellbound as we listened to the “Voice of Cricket”.
What are some of your fondest Hampshire Cricket Society memories?
There have been very few disappointments and so to pick out highlights is very difficult. However, any “top ten” list must include Arthur Holt. He was the most loved man in Hampshire cricket. His warmth, humanity, humour, the sheer respect in which he was held and bonhomie were without parallel in the cricketing world. When he entered a room, it was an event, though it is doubtful if he thought so. When Derek Underwood spoke to the Society in January 1994, their respect for each other throughout the evening was tangible. John Arlott’s visits were, of course, also a highlight. The Society were honoured when his last public appearance in this country was held at his former school, Fairfields in Basingstoke, in December 1985. Mark Nicholas was always a great supporter of the Society in his playing days, and beyond. His great assets included warmth, sheer enthusiasm and ability to tell a story. The Society was honoured when he agreed to address us at a special meeting held to celebrate our 50th anniversary in May of this year. He also brought along Malcolm Marshall to a meeting in September 1998. The fact that he was asked to address mourners at the great fast bowler’s funeral in Barbados, and later, his Memorial Service at St. Mary’s Church in Southampton (when the Service was conducted by the Rev. Wesley Hall) speaks volumes. It seemed only natural that he should address mourners in Winchester Cathedral for Robin Smith’s Memorial Service in July 2026. Robin also spoke to the Society in October 1996 and September 2003; brother Chris had spoken in November 1990.
Who has been the funniest man in Hampshire cricket to address the Society in the last 50 years?
Step forward Alan Castell. An evening in his company, with “Butch” White and Keith Wheatley, left sides’ aching when they spoke at our Christmas Dinner in December 2003.
What did it mean to you to edit every newsletter on Hampshire cricket for well over forty years?
When I started to edit the Newsletter, my wife, Jennie, and I had three children - aged between two and seven. I could never have undertaken the task for all those years without her unstinting support. Jennie also typed virtually every word (probably running to approximately two million), and acted as my editor, and proof reader for much of the time. Over the past few years, she has also kept me going at times when I seriously thought about resigning. I must also thank my Chairmen, all of whom could not have been more appreciative, and contributors over the years. The former newspaper journalist, EM - Lyn - Wellings was glad to write for many years, until he was gagged by the Hampshire hierarchy. I tried to find a compromise between them but Lyn was highly principled and would not relent. He was a man notorious for his trenchant views; I was always conscious, though, that he played for Surrey, with Sir Jack Hobbs. The playing standards he set for players during his journalistic career could not have been higher. It was a humbling experience that he should wish to write in the Newsletter, voluntarily. Other contributors included Mike Arnold, who wrote from Australia for years on end, and befriended Harold Larwood, and ex-secretaries Jack Moore and John Hooper.Hampshire’s bard – Imogen Grosberg was always an enthusiastic supporter. Her work covered all of cricket’s facets, and formed important descriptive pictures of Hampshire cricket history and its players, starting from the Hambledon era. That she was not included in recent Anthologies of Cricket Poetry is inexcusable.
What are your other reflections now on being so heavily involved with the Hampshire Cricket Society?
The Society’s first three Patrons were Desmond Eagar, John Arlott and John Woodcock, long time Cricket Correspondent of The Times. John was a very fine writer and an entertaining speaker. John was a great supporter of the Society, and when not touring, invariably attended our Christmas Buffet Supper/Dinner for many years. He spoke with loving authority on the MCC tour of Australia in 1954/55. It is difficult to believe that John ever made an enemy, such was his engaging personality. He was the cricketer’s friend. He was always complimentary about the Newsletter, which will remain one of my cherished memories. Three generations of the Tremlett have also addressed the Society. Tim’s father, Maurice, was the first professional captain of Somerset (1956-1959); much later, Tim was accompanied by Chris. One of the “perks” of being a Committee member is being asked to entertain speakers and I was fortunate to have dinner with both Maurice and Tim in October 1981. Maurice was so wise in the ways of cricket, as was Tim. Two major projects that I initiated were plaques to denote the sites of the Antelope Ground in Southampton (adjacent to Southampton General Hospital) and Daniel Day’s Ground at Woolston (near the foot of the Itchen Bridge). The Society found support and enthusiasm from Hampshire County Council Recreation Committee. The plaques are still extant. As for my own working career, I was a senior social care manager. When I announced on my retirement that I had been a part-time author/writer for some thirty years at the time, it was a complete shock to my colleagues. I wrote every Newsletter whilst at home or on holiday; not a word was written at work.
When did you first contribute to the Hampshire Handbook?
I was honoured to be asked by the then editors, Tony Mitchener (1991) and Andrew Renshaw (1997-2010), to write for the Hampshire Handbook. My feature in the first of those years was on Malcolm Marshall; John Arlott wrote on Alec Kennedy in that edition. What a thrill for me to write in the same Handbook! I also wrote on Hampshire Cricket Between The Wars (1995), Paul Terry (1997), Cricket at Northlands Road, the United Services Ground and May’s Bounty (2001), Hampshire’s victory against the Australians (2002), Robin Smith and Adi Aymes, and Final Memories of the Benson and Hedges Cup (2003); Imogen Grosberg and Phil Mead (2005); Hampshire’s CG Final Win; Shane Warne, Tony Middleton and Jack Newman (2006); Alec Kennedy, John Arnold and “Lofty” Herman, and Hampshire’s matches against the Indians (2007); Derek Shackleton, Shaun Udal and George Brown (2008); James Tomlinson (2009), Friends Provident Trophy and Michael Carberry (2010). It is just so important for the Handbooks to continue. They are vital historical documents, with their coverage on Hampshire cricket being wider than that of Wisden. The 2026 edition demonstrated that, with John Winter as editor, the Handbook is in very good hands.
How do you view all the changes in cricket you have seen, since watching your first Hampshire game in 1961?
It is impossible to compare 3-day and 4-day cricket. The approach to each is fundamentally different. The most successful sides these days are always the strongest. This wasn’t always the case in the 3-day game, though that is not to say that those who played in that cricket would not have been successful in the modern era. Many people decry the incidence of injuries to bowlers nowadays, but it is not surprising. In three day cricket, bowlers only had to operate until 5.30 - 6 o’clock on the first day. A declaration would then be made in pursuit of taking wickets before close of play. Bowlers were also able to rest on the second and third day as captains sought to engineer a result. Nowadays, it is not unknown for the bowler to be on the field for five consecutive sessions. Batting-friendly wickets also impact on the strain on bowlers. Those wickets can make the game boring to watch. Pitch inspectors also make the job of groundsmen to prepare “balanced” wickets almost impossible. The introduction of limited-overs cricket, particularly Twenty20, has also changed the game. Batsmen need a new toolkit of strokes. The invention of new shots sometimes takes the breath away. However, the best batsmen have proved that it is possible to score at speed and hit powerfully without adopting outrageous strategies. James Vince and Michael Carberry never needed to depart from orthodoxy, and indeed, looked awkward when they did so.
Who would you select for your all-time Hampshire eleven in first-class cricket in over sixty years of watching?
Using the yardstick of a minimum of 50 first-class matches, the side pretty much selects itself. It is an eleven that could play and defeat virtually any side in history, even in test cricket. Barry Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Shane Warne, and Malcolm Marshall were incomparable. Robin Smith made more appearances for England than any other Hampshire player. (Kevin Pietersen cannot be included for consideration as he played so few times for Hampshire). When David Gower was in the mood, he, like Richards, made batting look the easiest and most natural task in the world. And they scored their runs with such elegance, grace and timing against all types of bowling; they got closer to the line of the ball than any other batsmen. Nic Pothas was, incontestably, Hampshire’s finest wicket-keeper/batsman. I would have to include Kyle Abbott: skilful, lion-hearted, great team man and the holder of the record for taking most wickets in a match. He averaged 20 over a long period, bowling entirely on covered wickets. It is about time that he is included as one of Wisden’s Five cricketers of the Year. In 1974, Andy Roberts bowled faster than any other man in the County’s history. Hampshire were by far the best team in the country in that season, but were cruelly deprived of the Championship by rain.
That leaves two more nominations. One must be Roy Marshall. He changed the complete tenor of Hampshire’s batting when he joined the County in 1953. He had famously scored 138 on his debut at the County Ground for the West Indians in 1950. He became the template for the case for including overseas players in county cricket (in 1968). Using a bat which was wafer thin, he hit the ball very hard, and despatched the ball over the boundary ropes in the first over on more than one occasion. And when Hampshire won the Championship in 1961, he scored over 2500 runs. He said that a bowler genuinely dismissed him only once that season. On the other occasions he lost his wicket, he got himself out. John Woodcock commented that had he chose to bat more carefully, he would have scored over 4000 runs that summer. When Richards and Greenidge batted together, he dropped to four in the order. It took some adjustment on his part, but in his last season in 1972, at the age of 42, he scored a double century against Derbyshire. And he did it all wearing spectacles, and usually batting without a cap, let alone a helmet. The great Frank Tyson, still the fastest English bowler since 1945, said that he was one of the best of all players of all fast bowling. He would have known. For confirmation of Marshall’s ability, readers of this piece should look at John Winter’s “My Favourite Game”. Parts read like a Roy Marshall Appreciation Society.
So that just leaves one more spinning all-rounder?
How to choose between Peter Sainsbury and Liam Dawson? I would give the palm to Liam - as he won matches with bat and ball, and played international cricket. However, Peter Sainsbury will go down in Hampshire history as the only man to play in Hampshire’s two Championship winning sides and, with Paul Terry, the County’s finest fielder. They would have to be substitute fielders. And so my eleven would be in batting order: Barry Richards, Gordon Greenidge, David Gower, Roy Marshall, Robin Smith, Liam Dawson, Nic Pothas, Malcolm Marshall, Shane Warne (captain), Kyle Abbott and Andy Roberts. I’m not sure that my selection for Hampshire’s all-time XI would change significantly from the above. The only amendment I would make would possibly be to include CB Llewellyn rather than Liam Dawson. He was obviously an authentic match winning all-rounder. His 25 wickets against the fabled, strong Australian side in 1902, which included Victor Trumper and Clem Hill, speaks volumes for his ability. It is a record for South Africa in a three test series which stood for a century. It is so difficult to compare cricketers from different eras, that arguments become academic. I have included Llewellyn as he was obviously such a class player, but have excluded Phil Mead, George Brown, CB Fry, Jack Newman, and Alec Kennedy. I saw Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie sprinkle laughter over the field.
Who else came close to being selected?
My only regret at not seeing an individual play was Neville Rogers. I heard so much about him from my uncle, and Alan Rayment. He was Hampshire’s batting from 1946-1955. But would he get into my side? Almost certainly not. Barry Richards and Gordon Greenidge spoilt it for all Hampshire opening batsmen, probably for ever. Four batsmen that I genuinely regret not being able to include are Trevor Jesty, James Vince, Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie. All were very special indeed and gave me so such pleasure. Derek Shackleton will also attract many nominations. But he mostly bowled on uncovered wickets; Kyle Abbott did not have that luxury.
What are your other interests besides Hampshire cricket?
I have followed Portsmouth Football Club since 1957. In fact, I saw my first match at Fratton Park in August 1957, four years before I first watched Hampshire play. Their wildly fluctuating performances over the years have helped me to become very philosophical in following them. I also married into a Southampton family, so I have been able to take a more balanced view of the relationship between the two clubs that many enjoy. My other interests include the theatre (we have watched hundreds of plays over the years, particularly at Chichester and Salisbury and in London, all things “heritage”, eg castles, houses, old English churches, and gardens, history (generally), most forms of art, travelling, and watching the family in their various sporting interests. I also coached at a senior level at county age group and adults in club cricket for some years. I eventually found it too time consuming; it taught me much about life and myself and I would not have missed the experience for the world.
How would you sum up best your cricket watching experience?
Over the years, I have become a follower of county cricket rather than just Hampshire. When I first started watching the game, the Portsmouth News also featured Sussex and so they have been my “second county”. I was at Hove when they first won the Championship in 2002. I’ll never forget the anticipation and growing excitement of their supporters as the match swung irrevocably their way on the second afternoon, thanks to a headlong innings by Matt Prior. My boss was a Somerset supporter. I spent a lovely day with him and his family at Lord’s when Somerset carried off their first trophy in the Nat West Final against Northants in 1979. Their excitement was tangible. Their star-studded team all performed on the day, particularly Viv with a century, and Joel Garner with a five wicket haul. That team possessed a romance about them, the last to do so really. It was the last occasion that the crowd could sit on the grass at Lord’s. It was a privilege to have been there on the occasion. It is always a joy to go to Cheltenham. Though the Festival is not what it was, I still always try to attend at least one day. On the first occasion, it rained all day, but such was the atmosphere in the tents, I still regard it as one of my most memorable matches! Evan James scored a century on the second day, but we were visiting delightful Hay-on-the Wye at the time. Stephen Chalke’s “One More Run” is an evocation of the Festival, and remains my favourite book. I read it every year, without fail. I also visited the Scarborough Festival in 1983, whilst on holiday. The match coincided with Kippy Smith’s Test debut. As we drove up the M1, we rolled down the windows and cheered heartily when he got off the mark in England’s second innings. He was out for a duck in the first. It’s been a wonderful life in cricket. Someone once told me that if you make a friend in cricket it will be for life. How true that was.
Alan Edwards was in conversation with John Winter