Thomas Clark

CLARK, THOMAS HENRY, died in hospital at Luton, his birthplace, on June 15, 1981, aged 56. After heading the Bedfordshire batting averages in 1946, he moved to The Oval, but though he made 74 not out against Oxford University in 1947 on his first appearance for Surrey and for three seasons scored heavily for the Second XI, the county's batting was so strong that it was not till 1950 that he was given a proper trial in the side. That year he made 175 not out against Cambridge University in five hours. In 1952 he scored 1,000 runs for the first time and was awarded his cap, and until 1959 he remained an essential member of the side, normally opening the innings. His highest score was 191 against Kent at Blackheath in 1956, when he put on 174 in two hours with Peter May for the third wicket. Quite early, however, he began to be troubled by arthritis, and after 1959 he was no longer able to stand the strain of three-day cricket, though he continued for two more seasons to make runs for the Second XI. He was primarily a front-of-the-wicket player and a fine driver; as increasing stiffness stopped him from getting his front foot right out he took to driving the ball successfully on the rise, a stroke which calls for not only much natural ability but also an impeccably correct technique. He was, too, a useful off-spinner who in 1952 took five for 23 against Middlesex at Lord's, but with Laker and Eric Bedser in the side his opportunities were limited. In all first-class cricket he scored 11,490 runs, with an average of 26.39, including twelve centuries, and took 75 wickets at 30.85 each. Before deciding to concentrate on cricket, he had played professional football for Aston Villa and Walsall.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack