strong against short-pitched bowling and played the hook shot exceptionally well. Statham started well enough, conceding only a couple of singles in his first two overs but he then mistimed a delivery which pitched short and Fagg went to hook it. Fagg was, however, surprised by Statham's pace and he mishit his shot, the ball going off the splice of the bat and being caught by Wharton at forward short leg. Statham said Washbrook liked his speed but not his length. Play resumed on the Monday and Kent were soon all out for 101 (Statham one for 13), the follow on being enforced by Lancashire captain Nigel Howard. In their second innings, Kent were dismissed for 97 and Lancashire won the match by an innings and 73 runs. Statham bowled opener Dicky Mayes for a duck and took one for eight. It was a promising start for a raw youngster who, according to Wisden, arrived at the ground with his boots in a brown paper parcel. The Manchester Guardian said that the debutant maintained excellent pace off the pitch and generally bowls at the stumps. Statham's bowling action received some criticism at first from so-called purists who claimed that he lacked rhythm. His action then has been described as a 17-pace run, plus a hop, skip and jump. Statham was a natural athlete, however. He was both loose-limbed and double-jointed so his action was never going to be classic (in contrast to his future England partner Fred Trueman, also making his way at that time, whose cartwheel action was the epitome of classic). Statham soon won friends among his teammates because of his easygoing, humorous beer-and-fags persona. As it happened, Lancashire hadn't had a player called George (the king's name) for many years and so Statham was nicknamed George in the dressing room to compensate for the absence. 1950 season Statham played a total of fifteen matches for Lancashire in 1950. One was against the touring West Indians and the rest were in the County Championship which ended with the title being shared by Lancashire and Surrey. Lancashire had last won the title in 1934 and would not win it again until 2011. Statham's fourth match, starting on Saturday, 1 July, was against Somerset at Bath and he began with a sensational spell, taking the first five wickets for only five runs and reducing Somerset to 11 for five. They