Ted Witherden

Witherden was playing for Leigh Cricket Club in Kent[3] and working on the ground staff at Tonbridge School when he played his first matches for Kent Second XI in 1950. In three matches he took 19 wickets with his off-spin at an average of 13.52.[4]

He played as a professional for Kent from 1951 to 1955, but never established a place in the side. On his first-class debut in 1951 against a Minor Counties XI he took 5 for 32 in the second innings, but after that he seldom bowled in first-class cricket.[5]

He had a purple patch in July 1953 when in three matches in 11 days he scored 310 runs for three dismissals. Against Surrey, who were beginning to dominate county cricket, he scored 26 not out (of a Kent first innings total of 63) and 125 not out in five hours, his first century, almost single-handedly preventing defeat.[6] He then made 8 and 51 against Warwickshire, and 100 (his only other century) in three hours in an innings victory over Worcestershire.[7]

After 1955 he left Kent and joined the minor county Norfolk, where he played as their professional for seven seasons. He was highly successful in his first five seasons, and was the leading run-scorer in the entire Minor Counties Championship in 1958 (808 runs at an average of 44.88),[8] in 1959 (1031 runs at 79.30)[9] and in 1960 (855 runs at 53.43).[10] He was also one of the leading bowlers in 1956, but his bowling became less effective thereafter.[11]

• Ted Witherden at ESPNcricinfo