by Arunabha Sengupta

13 June 1970.

Ken Shuttleworth was in his prime. He bowled scorchingly fast, and would soon be selected for the tour of Australia that winter. He would go on to capture 5 for 47 on debut at Brisbane.

Hence, on a rather fiery wicket at Valentine’s Park, Ilford, the Essex No. 10 Ray East did not quite fancy facing the Lancashire paceman. It would be a while before East’s incredible improvisations would get results enabling him to bat higher up, sometimes in the middle-order, of the Essex line-up. At that time, as he trudged in at 232 for 8 with Shuttleworth breathing fire, he was very much a left-arm spinning tail-ender.

And so, on his way to the wicket, he brokered a whispered deal with the paceman. If Shuttleworth could see his way to keeping the next delivery up full and straight, East would do his bit and remove his bat from the line. That way, dignity and body intact, he could gracefully retire to the safe confines of the pavilion.

Shuttleworth nodded, and East took strike. The fast bowler ran in and duly bowled a half-volley on middle and leg. East, with every intention of missing it, swung his bat in expansive style. And it connected.
The sound was sumptuous. Shuttleworth’s eyes betrayed fury, East’s showed alarm. The ball flew into the orbit, sailing magnificently, many a mile and over the distant wide long-on boundary. It was a six.

Turning to East, Shuttleworth opened his mouth. His remarks, in the absence of any stump microphone to facilitate a ban, came off quick, brim-full with profanity, and without too many pretentions of comradely feeling. Nostrils flaring, he stomped back to his bowling mark.
East waited with consternation. And as Shuttleworth stormed in, he threw away his bat and dived into the ground, face down, covering his head with his hands. Needless to say, the predicted bouncer flew harmlessly several feet over his prostrate body.

Of course, this act effectively diffused the tension of the situation as everyone in the ground doubled up in laughter.

The match turned out to be a classic, Lancashire managing to hold on for a draw with the last pair in.