Bert Nutter

Bert Nutter was of the generation whose cricket careers were cut in two by the Second World War. Like his almost inseparable friend 'Buddy' Old­field (obit WCM June), he was a Lancashire player pre-war and served Northants afterwards.

Born in Burnley on June 28, 1913, the son of a professional cricketer, Nutter joined the Old Trafford staff in 1933 on the same day as Cyril Washbrook and Dick Pollard, and was so highly regarded as an allrounder as war loomed that he must be rated unlucky not to have joined those two as an international. Instead, he served in the RAF.

He played in 70 matches for Lancashire, from 1935, making 2200 runs (29.72), usually in pleasing style, and taking 152 wickets (29.29), with best figures of 6 for 66 against Hampshire at Southampton in 1938. He nar­rowly missed the double that summer with 1156 runs and 91 wickets. In 1939 he made his sole century (109 not out against Notts at Old Trafford), his 235 with Old­field standing as a Lancashire fifth-wicket record until 1975.

As Nelson's league pro in 1945, Nutter took all 10 Lower­house wickets for 13, only for his side to score 59, nine runs short of victory. Drawn to Northamp­tonshire by British Timken, as were Oldfield and Gordon Garlick, he played in 145 matches between 1948 and 1953, his accuracy and stamina, off a good action, bringing him 426 wickets at 24.95. He took five or more wickets in an innings on 21 occasions, his best return (7 for 52) coming against Kent at Northampton in 1948. He took 105 wickets (22.88) that season, including five good ones against the Australians, and three in one over against Hampshire.

In 1952 his 62 helped skipper Freddie Brown (145) set a Northants eight-wicket record of 155 agianst Gamorgan (and an agitated Wilf Wooller). Ripley and Cook erased that record in 1987.

Albert Edward Nutter played further league cricket after his joint testimonial with Oldfield in 1953 (£2728). His final first-class figures were 600 wickets (26.23), 4828 runs (19.55) and 161 catches. He moved to Cape Town, for family reasons, in 1987, and died there on June 3, after a heart attack. He was 82.
David Frith, Wisden Cricket Monthly