CLEARLY today’s is to be a bowlers’ wicket: India’s capitulation in the Old Trafford test elicits from Keith Hopper a splendid story of the great FS Trueman.

This time, India went in the first innings from 8-0 to 8-4. Back in 1952, also at Old Trafford, the first two wickets fell at four and the third at five. Soon afterwards they were 17- 5, Trueman having bagged four and Alec Bedser the other. Fred finished with 8-31.

Batting first, England had declared on 347-9 – Hutton 104. India were skittled for 58 and, following on, for 82. Bedser claimed 5-27 in the second innings; then as now, it was over inside three days.

Keith, one of the all-round few to have played both cricket and football for Durham County and at 81 still umpiring in the NYSD, was in 1952 doing National Service in the RAF.

The following Wednesday his station played at RAF Binbrook, in Lincolnshire. “They used a cocoa matting wicket, the ball flying all over. I got a bang on the head,” he, unaffected, recalls.

At the end of the match they heard a familiar voice in the mess, that of Fiery Fred, himself based at Binbrook but not allowed to represent the station.

“Aye,” said Fred, “and if I’d been playing, tha’d have had a lot bigger lump than that.”

SAM Stoker’s funeral, and the wake which followed, were reported in Tuesday’s column. It’s still possible to recall, however, a tale told over a valedictory beer by former Durham County cricketer Henry McLaren.

Playing for Durham City, forever No 11, Henry had involuntarily been moved up one because they were a man short.

The ninth wicket fell at 88.

Henry prepared to walk off when it became clear that Stan Myers, the groundsman, had cadged some kit and was walking towards the middle.

“He was from Pudsey, reckoned he’d played with Len Hutton, but we’d never seen him with a bat in his hand,” recalls Henry, now in Brancepeth.

The odd couple prospered, the groundsman unbeaten on 94 when Henry finally fell for 54. Though they still lost, he believes 132 still to be a record for City’s last wicket.

THE nation glued to Met Office severe weather warnings, perhaps only Martin Birtle in Billingham noticed that a horse called Big Storm Coming won at 9-1 at Newcastle last Thursday evening.

Nothing about clouds and silver linings, though: Martin didn’t back it, either.

FOOTBALL? Oh aye. On Saturday to Celtic Nation v Bishop Auckland, so hot – and Bertha be blowed – that Carlisle fire brigade had to be summoned when the railway embankment behind the top goal set alight.

The Cumbrians have had a troubled summer: even before the Bishops match they faced another problem so big that it was outsize.

Heavyweight goalkeeper Ian Milburn needs a 3XL. A frantic search ensued before something fitting finally turned up.

After 23 minutes, the unfortunate Milburn was cautioned after an inadvertent collision which may have left opposing striker Jonny Butler feeling like he’d gone three rounds with Giant Haystacks.

Butler scored from the resultant penalty.

After 65 minutes, again inadvertently, he handled outside the area, was shown a second yellow and walked. “I was disoriented,” he said. His replacement looked like he was playing in a bell tent. Celtic Nation 0 Bishop Auckland 1.

TOP referee Howard Webb’s retirement announcement last week resurrected the usual suggestions of a Manchester United bias. It recalled a Northern League dinner two or three years ago at which the engaging Webb had addressed the issue in his speech.

“It really upsets me,” he said.

“It hurts my sons, Wayne and Rio, too.”

THOUGH no longer with us, Ferryhill Athletic warrant mention in the latest Back Pass magazine – their 18-0 FA Cup win over Skinningrove Works said to be the competition’s biggest since the war. It came in September 1953, Norman Allan and Ken Kitching both scoring four and Fred Maughan and Ron Duery bagging hat tricks. Ferryhill had beaten Skinningrove 7-0 in the previous season’s competition.

In 1953 they reached the first round proper, followed by 500 fans to Workington, then in the Third Division North. They lost 3-0.

…and finally, last week’s column sought the identity of England’s record wicket taker in test matches, a total which Jimmy Anderson is now just eight behind.

As David Carter was first to realise, it was Sir Ian Botham.

Today’s back to that Old Trafford test in 1952, when an England player deliberately omitted from the script above made the first of what were to be 49 well-remembered appearances.

Readers are invited to name the debutant. The old hand returns next week.