Michael Bear
Encyclopedia
Michael John Bear, born at Brentwood
, Essex
on 23 February 1934 and died at Torquay
, Devon
on 7 April 2000, played first-class cricket
as a left-handed batsman for Essex
between 1954 and 1968. As a player, he was generally referred to as "Micky" or "Mickey" Bear.
noted, "a pioneer of modern fielding techniques". It went on: "In an era when great athletes were still rare in English cricket, he was a stunningly good outfielder, able to move fast and throw flat, hard returns on the full from the furthest boundaries."
while on National Service
, Bear made his first-class debut in 1954 against Derbyshire
, scoring just one run in an Essex victory in a rain-affected match. He played a few more matches that season and the next for Essex's first team, and then appeared in more than half the side's matches in the 1956 season, making 98 in the match against Kent
, but averaging only 17 runs per innings for the season as a whole. Wisden noted in its 1957 edition that Bear's "splendid fielding did much to help Essex reach a high standard in this department".
Bear was a regular member of the Essex team in 1957, missing just four games through the season, but he scored less than 700 runs and his batting average was still just 17. He did, however, make his maiden first-class century, an innings of 123 in the match against Gloucestershire
at Romford
, in a game where, according to Wisden, "seam bowlers held the upper hand most of the time on a rather green pitch"; no other batsman on either side reached 40 in either innings, and Bear, batting in what was at this stage in his career his accustomed position of No 6 in the order, was the leading contributor enabling Essex to recover from 58 for five to reach a match-winning total of 306 in the first innings.
There was progress in terms of both aggregate (913 first-class runs) and average (26 runs per innings) for Bear in 1958, though no further centuries. And the figures were similar in 1959, when he dropped to the second team for some matches. In 1960 and the first half of 1961, he was out of the first eleven as often as he was in it. However, recalled to the side in July 1961 and used as an opener in the match against Kent at Maidstone
in the absence of the regular opener Geoff Smith, he hit 95.
That set a precedent, and when Smith was injured for the first month of the 1962 season, Bear took his place as Gordon Barker
's regular opening partner, and remained as an opening batsman for most of the rest of his first-class career, Smith moving down to No 3 on his return to the side. 1962 was by some distance Bear's most successful so far as a batsman. He made 1613 runs in all matches, and was Essex's leading scorer in County Championship
games; his batting average rose to nearly 30 runs per innings. He made two centuries to add to his single previous effort five years earlier. Against Middlesex
at Lord's in May he scored 117; and with Smith back in the team, Bear made 107 as an opener against Kent at Romford in early June.
The 1962 season set the pattern for Bear for the next few years. In 1963, his season was truncated when he chipped a bone in his ankle while fielding in the match against Worcestershire
at Leyton
. But he had by then completed his 1000 runs for the season at an average of exactly 30. And in the match against Worcestershire at Worcester earlier in the season, he had improved his highest score, making 132 before he became Jack Flavell
's 1000th first-class wicket. In 1964, he improved his highest score again, making 135 against Warwickshire
at Ilford
with three sixes and 17 fours. He played in every Essex match and hit 1567 runs at an average of 29.56. The following season, though, there was a reversion to Bear's pre-1962 form: he failed to score a century, fell short of 1000 runs and lost his place in the side for a month late in the season.
The downturn was temporary. The 1966 season proved to be Bear's best in first-class cricket with 1833 runs and an average of more than 32. He topped the Essex batting averages in what was, admittedly, a lean year for the side, and scored the higher of only two centuries made by Essex batsmen in Championship matches all summer, 105 out of 190 in an unsuccessful run chase in a rain-affected match against Warwickshire at Birmingham
.
The 1967 season was another poor year for Essex, and though Bear hit his career-highest score, 137 against Glamorgan
at Cardiff
and another fast century, 124 out of an Essex total of 189 against Warwickshire at Westcliff
, he was injured from late July and failed to complete 1000 runs. He returned to the team in 1968, when Essex awarded him a benefit, but lost form across the season and at the end of the year retired from first-class cricket to "take up a business appointment".
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
on 23 February 1934 and died at Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
on 7 April 2000, played first-class cricket
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...
as a left-handed batsman for Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
between 1954 and 1968. As a player, he was generally referred to as "Micky" or "Mickey" Bear.
Cricket style
Bear was a pugnacious left-handed batsman who enjoyed his best cricket years as an opening batsman for Essex, though for the first half of his cricket career he batted further down the order. He was also known as an exceptional fielder: he was, his obituary in WisdenWisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
noted, "a pioneer of modern fielding techniques". It went on: "In an era when great athletes were still rare in English cricket, he was a stunningly good outfielder, able to move fast and throw flat, hard returns on the full from the furthest boundaries."
Cricket career
Having played for Essex's second eleven from 1951 and appeared in minor matches for the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force cricket team
The Royal Air Force cricket team is a cricket side representing the British Royal Air Force. The team played 11 first-class matches: nine between 1922 and 1932, mostly against other branches of the Services, and another two in 1945 and 1946. Their home ground is the Royal Air Force Sports Ground,...
while on National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, Bear made his first-class debut in 1954 against Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
, scoring just one run in an Essex victory in a rain-affected match. He played a few more matches that season and the next for Essex's first team, and then appeared in more than half the side's matches in the 1956 season, making 98 in the match against Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
, but averaging only 17 runs per innings for the season as a whole. Wisden noted in its 1957 edition that Bear's "splendid fielding did much to help Essex reach a high standard in this department".
Bear was a regular member of the Essex team in 1957, missing just four games through the season, but he scored less than 700 runs and his batting average was still just 17. He did, however, make his maiden first-class century, an innings of 123 in the match against Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
at Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
, in a game where, according to Wisden, "seam bowlers held the upper hand most of the time on a rather green pitch"; no other batsman on either side reached 40 in either innings, and Bear, batting in what was at this stage in his career his accustomed position of No 6 in the order, was the leading contributor enabling Essex to recover from 58 for five to reach a match-winning total of 306 in the first innings.
There was progress in terms of both aggregate (913 first-class runs) and average (26 runs per innings) for Bear in 1958, though no further centuries. And the figures were similar in 1959, when he dropped to the second team for some matches. In 1960 and the first half of 1961, he was out of the first eleven as often as he was in it. However, recalled to the side in July 1961 and used as an opener in the match against Kent at Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
in the absence of the regular opener Geoff Smith, he hit 95.
That set a precedent, and when Smith was injured for the first month of the 1962 season, Bear took his place as Gordon Barker
Gordon Barker
Gordon Barker was an English first-class cricketer who played for Essex. Born in Yorkshire, Barker was a right-handed opening batsman and made his Essex debut in 1954 against the touring Canadians, scoring a century....
's regular opening partner, and remained as an opening batsman for most of the rest of his first-class career, Smith moving down to No 3 on his return to the side. 1962 was by some distance Bear's most successful so far as a batsman. He made 1613 runs in all matches, and was Essex's leading scorer in County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
games; his batting average rose to nearly 30 runs per innings. He made two centuries to add to his single previous effort five years earlier. Against Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex 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 Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
at Lord's in May he scored 117; and with Smith back in the team, Bear made 107 as an opener against Kent at Romford in early June.
The 1962 season set the pattern for Bear for the next few years. In 1963, his season was truncated when he chipped a bone in his ankle while fielding in the match against 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...
at Leyton
Leyton Cricket Ground
Leyton Cricket Ground is a cricket ground in Leyton, London.-Cricket ground:...
. But he had by then completed his 1000 runs for the season at an average of exactly 30. And in the match against Worcestershire at Worcester earlier in the season, he had improved his highest score, making 132 before he became Jack Flavell
Jack Flavell
Jack Flavell was an English cricketer who played in four Tests for England from 1961 to 1964. His county cricket career was spent with Worcestershire, with whom Flavell won two County Championship titles...
's 1000th first-class wicket. In 1964, he improved his highest score again, making 135 against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire 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 Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
at Ilford
Ilford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
with three sixes and 17 fours. He played in every Essex match and hit 1567 runs at an average of 29.56. The following season, though, there was a reversion to Bear's pre-1962 form: he failed to score a century, fell short of 1000 runs and lost his place in the side for a month late in the season.
The downturn was temporary. The 1966 season proved to be Bear's best in first-class cricket with 1833 runs and an average of more than 32. He topped the Essex batting averages in what was, admittedly, a lean year for the side, and scored the higher of only two centuries made by Essex batsmen in Championship matches all summer, 105 out of 190 in an unsuccessful run chase in a rain-affected match against Warwickshire at Birmingham
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
.
The 1967 season was another poor year for Essex, and though Bear hit his career-highest score, 137 against Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
at Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and another fast century, 124 out of an Essex total of 189 against Warwickshire at Westcliff
Chalkwell Park
Chalkwell Park is a cricket ground in Westcliff, England. The ground was first used by the Essex 1st XI in 1934 for County Championship matches and in 1970 for List A matches...
, he was injured from late July and failed to complete 1000 runs. He returned to the team in 1968, when Essex awarded him a benefit, but lost form across the season and at the end of the year retired from first-class cricket to "take up a business appointment".