tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46846306391908034.post4954580025558018280..comments2024-03-28T21:44:13.796+00:00Comments on Derbyshire Cricket - Peakfan's blog: March means...Peakfanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328174919897893268noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46846306391908034.post-54860914479363046662017-03-04T22:26:03.099+00:002017-03-04T22:26:03.099+00:00Laurie is much closer than Barbados, Old Supporter...Laurie is much closer than Barbados, Old Supporter. He leaves near Birmingham and I hoped to interview him for my last book. Sadly he didn't feel up to it, but you are right, he was an excellent batsman after a long apprenticeship. <br />Not strictly overseas of course, having qualified to play in England during years playing for Swarkestone and in the Derbyshire Seconds.<br />I would have loved to have seem him as, like you, my Dad rated him highlyPeakfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01328174919897893268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46846306391908034.post-11384313308309002362017-03-03T00:25:43.405+00:002017-03-03T00:25:43.405+00:00Very much enjoyed reading your selection of the be...Very much enjoyed reading your selection of the best overseas cricketers to represent Derbyshire, Peakfan. In the late '50s and early '60s one of the few Derbyshire batsmen worth watching was the West Indian Laurie Johnson. He was a fine off-side player, especially on the cover drive and managed a succession of thousand runs in a season at a decent average in those days of playing on uncovered pitches, occasionally on small club grounds.<br /><br />He was comfortably Derbyshire's best outfielder - always a run-out threat from his position in the covers - and even replaced an injured Bob Taylor behind the stumps a few times. <br /><br />Laurie will be 90 in November, possibly Derbyshire's oldest surviving cricketer. If he is in Barbados and still in good health, a phone interview would be interesting.Old Supporternoreply@blogger.com