Born On This Day: 30th September

Bill Buck

There is just one Hampshire Birthday celebration today, for a man who played just once for Hampshire but has an unusual, possibly unique first-class record.

Bill Buck, a pace bowler, was born in Southampton in 1946, and first played for Hampshire 2nd XI in 1968, but in early June 1969, while a student teacher in Exeter he appeared for Somerset at Taunton against the first tourists of that year, the West Indians, and in the second innings dismissed both openers, then at the end of term he returned home and back to Hampshire’s 2nd XI.

Two months later Bill played his one match for his native county against the season’s other tourists, the New Zealanders at Southampton. Sadly, after a century by Barry Richards the match was ruined by rain, with Bill’s figures in the one New Zealand innings 14-4-25-0.

That was the end of his first-class career, but he is probably the only man to have made two first-class debuts for two separate counties against two different touring sides in the same season!