Fred Bakewell, English cricketer and coach (b. 1908)

Alfred Harry "Fred" Bakewell (2 November 1908 – 23 January 1983) stands as a captivating figure in English cricket history. An exceptionally exciting opening batsman who represented both Northamptonshire and England, Bakewell carved out a unique reputation largely due to his profoundly unorthodox methods. These unconventional techniques enabled him to craft some of the most brilliant innings witnessed in county cricket, a feat made even more remarkable by the fact that his team, Northamptonshire, remained exceptionally weak throughout his entire professional career. For many years leading up to his career's premature end in a severe car accident in 1936, he was consistently recognised as the sole class batsman within the squad, shouldering immense responsibility for their batting performance.

Bakewell's batting stance was arguably one of the most distinctive, and perhaps the most "two-eyed," ever seen in the game. He positioned his right shoulder so far around that it typically faced mid-off, and his grip on the bat was unconventional, with both hands placed at the extreme ends of the handle. Such a seemingly restrictive stance would logically lead to a purely defensive player, limited almost exclusively to leg-side strokes, resulting in a dull and aesthetically unappealing style of play. However, Fred Bakewell defied these expectations. Thanks to his extraordinary footwork and astonishing dexterity in manipulating the bat, he possessed the unique ability to easily shift himself far wide of the leg stump even for deliveries pitched on the off stump. This mastery allowed Bakewell to execute some of cricket's most remarkable and audacious strokes, including powerfully cutting sharp off-breaks pitched on middle stump and confidently hooking difficult short-pitched balls. While his defensive technique was considered suspect in his formative years, he applied himself diligently to address this weakness, achieving considerable success in its improvement over time.

Early Career and International Aspirations

Fred Bakewell commenced his first-class career with Northamptonshire in 1928, making an immediate and significant impact. On his first-class debut against Essex, he demonstrated his exceptional fielding prowess by taking five catches. He reinforced this reputation as one of the best close fielders throughout his career, notably taking eight catches in the return fixture against Essex. In 1929, he achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 1000 runs in the season, a testament to his burgeoning batting talent. The following year, 1930, he produced a magnificent innings of 204 against Somerset, further solidifying his standing as a formidable batsman.

With the legendary Jack Hobbs having retired in 1931, Bakewell was widely regarded as the most promising young talent to potentially open the England innings alongside the incomparable Herbert Sutcliffe, one of the era's greatest batsmen. Bakewell batted competently in his initial Test appearances, but infamously allowed himself to be run out rather than his esteemed partner Sutcliffe during one such outing. While this act might have demonstrated a selfless team spirit, it ultimately cost him his place in the England side for a period.

Peak Performance and Challenging the Best

The year 1933 marked the zenith of Bakewell's career. During this sensational season, he twice broke Northamptonshire's record for the highest individual innings in successive matches, achieving these milestones in a spectacular fashion that featured seemingly impossible strokes. His exceptional dexterity was notably on display. Faced with the short, fast "bodyline" bowling of West Indies' Manny Martindale in the third Test, Bakewell’s unique skills enabled him to play a masterful, remarkably solid innings of 107. This century, his only one in Test cricket, contributed significantly to an impressive average of 45 across his six Test matches for England. Despite this outstanding achievement, his subsequent performance on a 1933–1934 tour of India and Ceylon was not his best. Furthermore, the inherent weaknesses of his unorthodox style, particularly its vulnerability against leg-spin bowling, meant he was overlooked for the highly anticipated 1934 Ashes series against the formidable Australians.

Later Success and Unwavering Commitment

In 1935, Bakewell's form improved considerably upon his 1934 performances, despite playing for a Northamptonshire side that offered him extremely poor support. The team only managed to reach 300 runs in an innings on just two occasions throughout the entire season, highlighting the immense burden on his shoulders. A stark example of this reliance was his innings of 141 out of a team total of 199 against Worcestershire, where he was the ninth batsman dismissed. Despite these team struggles, Bakewell played with considerable success in two Tests against South Africa that year. Northamptonshire’s profound dependence on him was starkly evident in the statistics: he averaged an exceptional 42 runs per innings, while no other player in the team managed to average more than 23. The following year, 1936, saw him less consistent overall, but he concluded his career with a truly magnificent, unbeaten innings of 241. This monumental score was achieved against the strong bowling attack of Derbyshire, who famously secured their only ever County Championship title that season. Bakewell’s heroic effort almost single-handedly steered Northamptonshire to an elusive victory, underscoring his extraordinary individual brilliance amidst team adversity.

A Tragic End to a Brilliant Career

However, the journey back from Chesterfield following that final, brilliant match against Derbyshire ended in unimaginable tragedy. A horrific car accident occurred when the vehicle carrying Bakewell and his teammate Reggie Northway overturned. Tragically, Reggie Northway lost his life in the incident. Fred Bakewell sustained severe damage to his right arm, an injury so devastating that it ultimately ended his illustrious cricket career. Despite significant and determined efforts at rehabilitation throughout 1937 and 1938, involving extremely specialised treatments, including experimental electric shocks designed to restore nerve function and consciousness to the limb, his recovery was never complete. Although hopes for his return to the sport persisted as late as 1939, he was never able to play cricket again. Following this devastating event, Fred Bakewell, once a vibrant and publicly celebrated sportsman, completely vanished from the public eye for the remainder of his life, a poignant end to a career cut short by fate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fred Bakewell

What made Fred Bakewell unique as a cricketer?
Fred Bakewell was renowned for his profoundly unorthodox batting style and exceptional dexterity. Despite a "two-eyed" stance that typically restricted batsmen, his superb footwork allowed him to play audacious strokes all around the wicket, making him one of the most exciting and unpredictable players of his era.
What was Bakewell's most significant achievement in Test cricket?
His most significant achievement in Test cricket was a skillful and solid innings of 107 against the West Indies' "Bodyline"-style bowling from Manny Martindale in 1933. This was his only Test century but contributed to an impressive Test average of 45.
How did Fred Bakewell's cricket career end?
His career was tragically cut short in 1936 by a severe car accident on the return journey from a match. The accident resulted in the death of his teammate Reggie Northway and left Bakewell with such severe damage to his right arm that, despite extensive rehabilitation efforts, he was never able to play cricket again.