My blog yesterday about the batting skills of Norman Graham and Kevin Jarvis prompted Charlie Rowe to share a few memories of both batsmen. C.J.C. Rowe, you will remember, was capped by Kent on the same day in 1977 as Kevin Jarvis and Richard Hills, and has gone on to be President of Kent CCC in 2017 and a current member of the club’s committee. He is also one of the few – perhaps the only person – to have taken a first-class wicket bowling both right- and left-handed. But that is another story. He remembers batting with Norman Graham vividly.

Charles Rowe in his playing days

“I batted with Big Norm in my second first-class match, against Hampshire at Tunbridge Wells in 1974. Andy Roberts at that time was the fastest bowler in county cricket by a mile. It was his first season for them and he terrorised batsmen up and down the country. Early that season he had broken Colin Cowdrey’s jaw. Anyway, in the second innings, I went in to bat at No 9. Although I batted 3 or 4 for the 2nd XI, I think I was put into the side as a non-bowling replacement for Deadly, who must have been on Test duty. We weren’t doing too well at 216-7 and when Norm came in we were 235-9 and I was thinking we wouldn’t be out there much longer. The second new ball had been taken by Roberts and Herman and when Norm came out to bat, he had a big grin on his face. I soon found out why. ‘Captain’s orders, you take Andy and I’ll sort out ‘Lofty’ (Herman)!’ he said. Pre helmets, this wasn’t what I wanted to hear, particularly as Lofty was only just above medium pace. I kept pushing and guiding Andy to third man or fine leg and having to say ‘No’ unless it was a comfortable 2. As a result, there were quite a few bouncers to negotiate. Anyway, we eventually saw off Andy, Derek Taylor came on and I managed to square cut a long hop out of the middle of the bat, only for Gordon Greenidge to catch it inches from the ground at gulley easy as you like. As we trudged off having put on 30 for the last wicket, all Big Norm could say was how after all the hard work he’d put in, I’d let him down!” Rowe made 27 and Graham 7 not out in that epic last wicket partnership, but Hampshire went on to win by seven wickets.

The Kent Annual for 1975 has this to say about Big Norm: “At almost 6ft 8 ins, is one of the tallest first-class cricketers ever, and certainly among the game’s great characters. Is not the fastest runner, even among pace bowlers, but his infrequent visits to the crease usually represent genuine entertainment. A very popular player.” And so say all of us.

Kevin Jarvis, who remains a very close friend of Rowe, was definitely not a batsman. “One of the reasons why Kevin was probably the worst number eleven I played with or against,” says Rowe, “was that he had a tendency to back away as the ball was delivered and close his eyes.” This technique will not be found in the MCC Coaching Manual. “His successes as a batsman in my time were measured in DFI’s (Double Figure Innings). I think in the eight seasons we played together at Kent, he had 3 DFI’s. One was against Cambridge University so that hardly counts but I do remember an amazing DFI vs Sussex at Hove facing Imran. It might have been around 1978 or 1979 (it was actually the last game of 1978 after Kent had clinched the title) and must have been his best knock. I think a couple of nicks had either gone through or over the slips, when Kev, retreating further away from the stumps, actually connected with a flail through the off side in front of square. He was petrified after this that Imran would try and knock his head off. In fact, Immy completely fooled him. As Imran raced in to bowl, Kevin was edging further and further towards square leg. Seeing this, Immy bowled a slow leg break. Thankfully for Kevin, it went straight up in the air and he retired to the pavilion acknowledging the applause from the crowd, smiling with relief and happiness!”

In that game, Jarvis and Paul Downton put on 23 for the last wicket of the first innings, Jarvis c Spencer b Imran 12. In the second innings, Kevin made 0 not out, but when Downton was bowled for 31 at the other end, the game was over and Kent had lost by 45 runs. The Kent team that day, incidentally, included four men who would go on to be president of the club – Rowe, Shepherd, Johnson and Underwood.

I see that it is Kevin’s 67^th birthday today (23 April) and Big Norm’s 77^th in a few days’ time (May 5^th). Despite the lockdown, let’s hope they both enjoy their days and can drink to happy memories of batting for Kent.