by Mayukh Ghosh

Peter Sainsbury was a Hampshire stalwart. He was the only man in the club’s history who was part of two championship winning sides. John Arlott reckoned that he was among the finest players to have not played for England. But things could have been very different if a last-minute decision was not taken in 1958-59.

It was not revealed until 2000 when Stephen Chalke met Geoffrey Howard.
Howard handed over a bunch of letters to Chalke. All written by George Duckworth.

One of them, dated November 17, 1958, concerned Peter Sainsbury.
“CONFIDENTIAL. I was called to a meeting yesterday a.m.- PBH, FRB, Kipper, Godders and myself. TEB had gone water-skiing.”

May. Brown. Cowdrey. Evans. Duckworth. And Bailey.
Duckworth was the baggage man and scorer. They were trying to find a spinner back home who could join the team in Australia. Laker and Lock needed help in the spin department.

Illingworth. Tattersall. Mortimore. Sainsbury.

All worthy contenders. They were to choose one.

Peter Sainsbury was coaching in Kimberley in South Africa.
“We decided on Peter and talked of getting him from Kimberley.”

Richly deserved, one would have thought.

Not to be, though.
The letter completes the story.
“This a.m. on our way to the ground the skipper told me that they had another recap on the position and decided on Mortimore. What happened last night or who caused the swing round, I don’t know.”

When Chalke told this to Sainsbury, he chuckled and said, “To think I got that close. Within twelve hours. Between going to bed and getting up….”

It was never to be for Sainsbury.
Who did it?
Another letter indicated it was Laker’s doing. He, perhaps, wanted another off-spinner.

Sainsbury never had any regret. Before leaving that day, he smiled and requested Chalke for a copy of that letter before adding, “You’ve made my life!”