Fred Bakewell facts for kids

Alfred Harry "Fred" Bakewell (born November 2, 1908 – died January 23, 1983) was an exciting English cricketer. He played as an opening batsman for Northamptonshire and the England national team. Fred was known for his unique and daring way of playing. He could hit amazing shots, even when his team, Northamptonshire, wasn't doing very well. He was often the best player on his team. Sadly, his career ended early because of a serious car accident in 1936.

Fred Bakewell: A Cricket Star

Fred Bakewell was a right-handed batsman. He was famous for his unusual batting style. Most players stand in a certain way, but Fred did things differently. His right shoulder would often face towards the "mid-off" area of the field. He also held his bat right at the very ends of the handle.

His Unique Batting Style

You might think this style would make him a slow or boring player. But Fred was the opposite! He had amazing footwork and could move his bat very skillfully. This allowed him to hit the ball in surprising ways. For example, he could cut a ball that was spinning sharply towards him. He could also hook difficult short balls. In his early days, his defense wasn't the strongest, but he worked hard to improve it.

Early Career Highlights

Fred started playing for Northamptonshire in 1928. He made a big impression right away. In his very first first-class match against Essex, he caught five balls! He was known as one of the best fielders close to the bat throughout his career. In 1929, he scored over 1,000 runs. The next year, he hit an amazing 204 runs against Somerset.

Playing for England

After a famous player named Jack Hobbs retired, Fred was seen as a top young talent. Many thought he would open the batting for England alongside Herbert Sutcliffe. He played well in his first Test match. He even got himself run out on purpose to save Sutcliffe, which showed great teamwork. However, he didn't keep his spot in the England team right away.

In 1933, Fred had his best year. He broke Northamptonshire's record for the highest score twice in a row! He did this with his incredible, almost impossible shots. In a Test match against the West Indies, he faced very fast bowling. His skill allowed him to score 107 runs. This was his only Test century, but it helped him achieve a good average of 45 runs in his six Test matches.

Fred went on a tour to India and Ceylon in 1933–1934. He didn't play his best there. His unusual style also made it hard for him to play against a type of bowling called "leg spin." Because of this, he didn't get to play against the strong Australian team in 1934.

Fred's Strong Comeback

In 1935, Fred showed great improvement. His team, Northamptonshire, was still struggling. In one game, he scored 141 runs out of his team's total of 199! This showed how much the team relied on him. He played very well in two Test matches against South Africa that year. He averaged 42 runs per innings, while no other player on his team averaged more than 23.

In 1936, Fred wasn't as consistent, but he played one more amazing innings. In his last match, he scored an unbeaten 241 runs against Derbyshire. Derbyshire was a very strong team that year and won the County Championship title. Fred's incredible innings almost led Northamptonshire to a rare victory.

The Accident That Changed Everything

After that match, Fred and his teammate Reggie Northway were traveling back from Chesterfield. They were in a car accident. Sadly, Reggie Northway passed away. Fred's right arm was badly injured. Doctors tried very hard to help him recover, even using special treatments. There was hope he might play again as late as 1939. However, despite all efforts, Fred was never able to play cricket professionally again. After this, he mostly stayed out of the public eye for the rest of his life.