Details
HUTTON, Len -- A 2-page manuscript letter, 8°, signed "Len Hutton," from Thorniehurst, Pudsey, Yorkshire, 12 June 1956, to [H.S.] Altham, saying that he is delighted to have received Altham's letter and, having returned from Trent Bridge, can report that "Our openers were very good, I had no fault to find with either of them and both should improve." The match had worried him in other respects, particularly in regard to the "uncertain weather and uncovered pitches," although, unusually, the wicket proved "too slow to be nasty and was never difficult to bat on." Hutton ends his review of the game by asserting that the Australians, who did not prove to be a united team, were fortunate not to be a match down. [The letter loosely-inserted in:]; and HUTTON, Len, -- Just my Story, London: Hutchinson, 1956. 8°, plates, original cloth, dust-jacket. FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed "To Mr. Altham, with best wishes and many thanks for the great help you have been to me during the past three years, Len Hutton, 12-6-56." Padwick 7735.
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Further details
Hutton's letter was written on the last day of the first Test against Australia at Trent Bridge. Although in retirement, he had captained England on twenty-three occasions up to the 1954-55 tour of Australia, and his experience and possible frustration at being unable to participate are evident in his comments to Altham. The two opening batsemen in question were P.E. Richardson who scored 81 and 73, and Colin Cowdrey with 25 and 81. Although the match was drawn, England went on to win the 1956 Ashes series 2-1.