form and played an outstanding innings of 198 before Statham finally dismissed him lbw. The match became a high-scoring draw. Statham's figures were three for 121, one of his rare centuries conceded and among his most expensive returns. When asked to comment on his figures and Cowdrey's innings, he wryly responded that Cowdrey was just making him pay for his bed and breakfast. Statham had his revenge in August when Kent came to Old Trafford. He dismissed Cowdrey for one and took five for 31 to dismiss Kent for only 83 before Lancashire went on to win inside two days. This was Cyril Washbrook's last home game and Lancashire went retro next season by appointing Bob Barber, one of the last of the amateurs, as their new captain instead of another professional. 1959–60 in the West Indies Statham was named as MCC's senior professional ahead of this tour, which meant he sat in on selection meetings. In the Test series, he played in three of the five matches and took ten wickets at 28.60. England won the series with victory in the second Test at Port-of-Spain, the other four matches all being drawn. It was the first time England had won a series in the Caribbean. England owed their victory in Trinidad to Statham and Trueman who dismissed West Indies for only 112 after England had opened with 382. 1960 season Statham and Trueman both played in all five Tests against South Africa and England won the controversial series by three Tests to nil with two matches drawn. Statham had an outstanding match at Lord's where he took six for 63 and five for 34 (eleven for 97 in the match), leading England to victory by an innings and 73 runs. In the series, he took 27 wickets at 18.18 and Trueman took 25 at 20.32 so it was this series which set the seal on their famous new-ball partnership. At county level, his partnership with Higgs gave Lancashire such a formidable opening attack that, until mid-August, they looked like winning the County Championship, but it was not to be and they eventually lost out to perennial rivals Yorkshire despite winning both the Roses matches (in the one at Old Trafford, the winning run was scored off the last ball of the match with two wickets standing). As for why Lancashire did not take the title, Playfair reckoned it was