Brian Reynolds (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Brian Leonard Reynolds (born, 10 June 1932, Kettering
, Northamptonshire
) was a professional Cricket
er who spent his entire career at Northamptonshire
.
, it is impossible to evaluate Brian Reynold's contribution to Northamptonshire
solely in terms of his performances for the first team. They are impressive enough, but all the runs and catches, the twenty stumpings as stand-in wicket-keeper
and overlook these at you peril, the four wickets., must be supplemented with thirteen seasons' work as Chief Coach in charge of the Second XI, and a further eleven years in the specially-created role of Cricket development Officer.
In John Arlott
's words: 'In his own mind he is not only a cricketer, he is a Northamptonshire cricketer.' It is quite impossible to imagine the ever-loyal Reynolds following his agent's advice and moving to another county for a smarter car or a fatter wage packet; for that matter, it is equally impossible to imagine him employing an agent in the first place.
He joined the Northamptonshire staff in 1950 and made his championship debut that summer, no qualification period was necessary for a Kettering
boy, born and bred, against Sussex
at Northampton
. After national service and an opportunity to demonstrate his shoemaking skills at the Festival of Britain, he returned to the County Ground
and broke through in 1956 by passing 1,000 runs for the first time to earn his county cap. Reynolds missed the entire 1959 season thanks to a football injury (he appeared for both Kettering Town
and Peterborough United
, later qualifying as a referee) but was hardly ever absent from the Northamptonshire side between 1960 and 1968, when he ceased to be automatic choice.
Forming a reliable opening partnership with Michael Norman
, Reynolds topped 1,500 runs in five consecutive summers. His best return was 1,843 in 1962, closely followed by 1,809 the year after. He also remained one of the fittest members of the staff, and his running between the wickets was being compared favourably with that of some of his younger colleagues as he moved into his mid-thirties. There was, in short, no more dedicated professional on the circuit.
It would have been his crowing glory of his benefit year, 1965, had Northamptonshire managed to win the Championship title. That they failed narrowly to do so was due to in part to Worcestershire
's victory over Hampshire
at Bournemouth in a match of three declarations in late August. This caused, as Wisden admitted 'a great deal of controversy' and is still a talking point in the members' bar at Wantage Road to this day. Reynolds, the senior pro, had been playing Golf
with skipper Keith Andrew
when the news came through of Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie
's closure 146 runs behind; soon afterwards, Hampshire had been skittled for 31 to hand Don Kenyon
's men the points. The ultimate disappointment of '65 notwithstanding, the triumvirate of Andrew, vice-captain Roger Prideaux
and Reynolds still guided the club through some of the most successful seasons in its history.
The committee's decision to release him at the end of 1970 was less popular around the county than their appointment of him as coach three years later. Ken Turner knew his man: 'I want you to get these lads (in the second X1) so tired during the day that they won't have any energy left to go out at night!' Reynolds did indeed work young professional hard. Those who were serious about wanting first-team cricket, like David Capel
and Rob Bailey, got on with it and duly achieved their goal; others less diligent fell by the wayside.
Later, as one of the first CDO's in the country, he spread the cricketing gospel into Northamptonshire schools and developed the Centre of Excellence scheme which has thrown up a number of talented youngsters over the last decade. He also travelled many miles each summer on scouting missions, never without a deckchair, binoculars, flask of tea and copy of Daily Telegraph. When Brian Reynolds officially retired in 1997, chairman Lynn Wilson spoke nothing more than the truth in that year's Annual Report: 'Throughout the long history of the County Cricket Club there have been few, if any, individuals more committed and dedicated to Northamptonshire's cause.'
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
) was a professional Cricket
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 spent his entire career at Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire 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 Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
.
Biography
As with Dennis BrookesDennis Brookes
Dennis Brookes was an English cricketer who played for Northamptonshire between 1934 and 1959 . He also played in one Test match for England against West Indies in 1948. Brookes was President of Northamptonshire from 1982 to 1984...
, it is impossible to evaluate Brian Reynold's contribution to Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire 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 Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
solely in terms of his performances for the first team. They are impressive enough, but all the runs and catches, the twenty stumpings as stand-in wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
and overlook these at you peril, the four wickets., must be supplemented with thirteen seasons' work as Chief Coach in charge of the Second XI, and a further eleven years in the specially-created role of Cricket development Officer.
In John Arlott
John Arlott
Leslie Thomas John Arlott OBE was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer in Hampshire...
's words: 'In his own mind he is not only a cricketer, he is a Northamptonshire cricketer.' It is quite impossible to imagine the ever-loyal Reynolds following his agent's advice and moving to another county for a smarter car or a fatter wage packet; for that matter, it is equally impossible to imagine him employing an agent in the first place.
He joined the Northamptonshire staff in 1950 and made his championship debut that summer, no qualification period was necessary for a Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
boy, born and bred, 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...
at Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. After national service and an opportunity to demonstrate his shoemaking skills at the Festival of Britain, he returned to the County Ground
County Cricket Ground, Northampton
The County Ground, is a cricket venue on Wantage Road in the Abington area of Northampton, UK. It is home to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club....
and broke through in 1956 by passing 1,000 runs for the first time to earn his county cap. Reynolds missed the entire 1959 season thanks to a football injury (he appeared for both Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
and Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, later qualifying as a referee) but was hardly ever absent from the Northamptonshire side between 1960 and 1968, when he ceased to be automatic choice.
Forming a reliable opening partnership with Michael Norman
Michael Norman (Northamptonshire cricketer)
Michael Eric John Charles Norman was a professional Cricketer who spent his career between two clubs, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.-Career:...
, Reynolds topped 1,500 runs in five consecutive summers. His best return was 1,843 in 1962, closely followed by 1,809 the year after. He also remained one of the fittest members of the staff, and his running between the wickets was being compared favourably with that of some of his younger colleagues as he moved into his mid-thirties. There was, in short, no more dedicated professional on the circuit.
It would have been his crowing glory of his benefit year, 1965, had Northamptonshire managed to win the Championship title. That they failed narrowly to do so was due to in part to Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire 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 Worcestershire...
's victory over Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
at Bournemouth in a match of three declarations in late August. This caused, as Wisden admitted 'a great deal of controversy' and is still a talking point in the members' bar at Wantage Road to this day. Reynolds, the senior pro, had been playing Golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
with skipper Keith Andrew
Keith Andrew
Keith Vincent Andrew was an English cricketer who played in two Tests, in 1954-55 and in 1963.-Life and career:...
when the news came through of Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie
Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie
Alexander Colin David Ingleby-Mackenzie OBE was an English cricketer: a left-handed batsman who played for Hampshire between 1951 and 1966, captaining the county from 1958 to 1965 as Hampshire's last amateur captain and leading his side to their first County Championship in the 1961 season...
's closure 146 runs behind; soon afterwards, Hampshire had been skittled for 31 to hand Don Kenyon
Don Kenyon
Donald Kenyon was an English cricketer, who played in eight Tests for England from 1951 to 1955. He captained Worcestershire between 1959 and 1967....
's men the points. The ultimate disappointment of '65 notwithstanding, the triumvirate of Andrew, vice-captain Roger Prideaux
Roger Prideaux
Roger Malcolm Prideaux is an English former cricketer, who played in three Tests for England from 1968 to 1969.-Life and career:...
and Reynolds still guided the club through some of the most successful seasons in its history.
The committee's decision to release him at the end of 1970 was less popular around the county than their appointment of him as coach three years later. Ken Turner knew his man: 'I want you to get these lads (in the second X1) so tired during the day that they won't have any energy left to go out at night!' Reynolds did indeed work young professional hard. Those who were serious about wanting first-team cricket, like David Capel
David Capel
David Capel is a former English cricketer, who played for Northamptonshire and England...
and Rob Bailey, got on with it and duly achieved their goal; others less diligent fell by the wayside.
Later, as one of the first CDO's in the country, he spread the cricketing gospel into Northamptonshire schools and developed the Centre of Excellence scheme which has thrown up a number of talented youngsters over the last decade. He also travelled many miles each summer on scouting missions, never without a deckchair, binoculars, flask of tea and copy of Daily Telegraph. When Brian Reynolds officially retired in 1997, chairman Lynn Wilson spoke nothing more than the truth in that year's Annual Report: 'Throughout the long history of the County Cricket Club there have been few, if any, individuals more committed and dedicated to Northamptonshire's cause.'