Jack was accurate
Jack was quick
Jack jumped over the candlestick

THE first two lines of this little nursery rhyme could well relate to Jack Ayre, the former Stanley, Crook Town, Bakelite, North Bitchburn and Witton-le-Wear opening bowler. Perhaps in years to come, it will once again become a children's favourite as there was nothing more he liked to do than to encourage youngsters to play cricket.

And when he saw them playing, to encourage them to play correctly, especially to keep their heads still when bowling.

In the summer of 1976, 40 years ago, Jackie Ayre was back at Crook Town Cricket Club and, despite approaching 40 years of age, was in the form of his life in June and early July. Consider the following bowling performances:

  • June 12: 3-14 v Mainsforth (Crook won by 10 wickets)
  • June 19: 5-28 v Ushaw Moor (Crook won by 6 wickets)
  • June 26: 5-16 v Peterlee (Crook won by 56 runs)
  • July 3: 3-5 v Medomsley (Crook won by 8 wickets)
  • July10: 3-4 v Newton Aycliffe (Crook won by 154 runs)
  • July17: 3-55 v Langley Park (Crook lost by 96 runs)

Some say that Jack was as quick off eight paces as Fred Trueman was off 20. That might be stretching things a bit, but one thing is certain, any batsman looking for some loose deliveries to get off the mark wouldn't get them off Jack who bowled with a meticulous accuracy. Standing well over 6ft, he had a high arm action which helped him to push the ball through at an awkward height down what Geoff Boycott would call "the corridor of uncertainty" on, or just outside, off stump.

As a schoolboy, I spent many happy hours sat by the wall in Crook's Dean Street ground watching Jack come in to bowl from the Social Club end, his hair flapping in the wind. "Ikey" Longhorn, the Crook wicketkeeper, would stand up to the stumps and more often than not the batsman would play and miss, the ball would thud into Ikey's chest and in a slightly constricted and winded tone, Ikey would shout back down the wicket: "Well bowled, Jack."

He was too quick for a lot of local players and one night at North Bitchburn against Lands he had one of the Lands batsmen in all kinds of trouble when he bowled him a ball which rose viciously from just short of a length. The poor lad froze like a rabbit in a car's headlights and the ball smacked into his ear. It was one of the most sickening sounds and sights that I ever saw on a cricket field.

I played against him once, for North Bitchburn, late 1970s or early 1980s, when he had a spell at Witton-le-Wear. Although he was well turned 40, facing him on Witton's mossy wicket was not something to look forward to. Gordon Gibson fell early, and then like the Lands batsman mentioned earlier, he gave me a torrid time at number three.

After a snick down to third man, I was pleased to get to the other end where I met the great man. "You're trying hard today, John," he said.

"Yes, digging in today Jack," I replied.

Two or three overs later, I was on my way back to the pavilion with nine runs next to my name – and it was a mystery how I got to nine.

Jack started his cricket career at Stanley and once had trials at Northants but he hadn't been happy with the financial package. On his return he was known to say: "I can make more money puttin in the pit."

In 1960, in his early twenties, he took 138 wickets for Crook at an average of 8.7. In 1962, he joined Eppleton as professional but a shoulder injury kept him out of the game for most of the season. He returned to Crook Town in 1963 and with Brian Walker formed a very effective opening attack and their performances did much to bring the Saunders Cup and the Durham County League championship to Crook.

Midway through the 1964 season, Jack left Crook and joined North Bitchburn, who had Mark White as captain and Ron Thompson as vice-captain. In his second game for the club, he took a hat-trick against Eppleton, and in the 1965 season took over 100 wickets for Bitchburn as they won the Mid Durham Senior League and The Northern Echo and Despatch Cup. In 1966, he was at Bakelite and then he returned to Crook before more seasons at North Bitchburn when he was well in to his forties.

In 1982, at North Bitchburn he broke the Mid Durham Senior League record with a bowling average of 3.5, beating the 4.35 set by "Tot" Rumney a few years previously. Finally, at Witton-le-Wear, when he was approaching 50, he once had a bowling analysis of 3-3 off nine overs.

Ten years ago or more, I with Jack and Peter Hemingway at Etherley Cricket Club watching a night match. It was an education because when a batsman was bowled Jack knew exactly where the batsman's feet had been positioned, how far up the stumps the ball had hit, and where the bails had landed.

It is just over four years since he passed away but he was a cricketer with an immense knowledge of the game and will always be remembered in South West Durham.

Special thanks to Jean Hemingway and Olwen Ayre for help with this article, not forgetting Simon Raine and Pam Lough for their help with last week's article.