Ken Barrington: an appreciation

[Days of Grace]

I don't think this guy gets the accolades he deserves. In fact, I think he is a fascinating study. His record and standing in the game's history is a great example of how context plays a major part in how you're remembered.

Conversely, he can be viewed as a great example of how stats without context have little or no meaning.

But his away average of 69 is phenomenal. He didn't average below 40 in any country he played in. His S/R of 42 or therabouts is low but so is Dravid's and Border's and they are praised and remembered.

Sure, Barrington didn't face the strongest attacks but he faced Davo, Benaud, Hall, McKenzie, et al and scored runs against them all.

Sure, he played in many drawn tests but isn't that more a reflection of the bowling attacks at hand rather than his S/R? Similar to Dravid, in a team of stroke makers he could more than hold his place.

He is a statistical giant at the very least.

And he could turn it on when he wanted to or when the situation demanded it.

Well played, Kenny.

 

[S.Kennedy]

One of the greatest England batsmen. He played when England were at their absolute peak, and was probably overlooked because he was an 'accumulator' in an England batting line-up consisting of such exciting batsmen as Peter May, Tom Graveney and (late) Denis Compton. Do not forget that he was a member of the great Surrey side of Stuart Surridge. Peter May was said to have carried the batting there also, in an otherwise bowler-dominated side (Bedsers, Laker, Lock, Loader).

 

[randycricfreak]

Doesn't Ken Barrington gets picked in most all time England XIs?

So don't think he's underrated

 

[AndrewB]

One of the greatest England batsmen. He played when England were at their absolute peak, and was probably overlooked because he was an 'accumulator' in an England batting line-up consisting of such exciting batsmen as Peter May, Tom Graveney and (late) Denis Compton. Do not forget that he was a member of the great Surrey side of Stuart Surridge. Peter May was said to have carried the batting there also, in an otherwise bowler-dominated side (Bedsers, Laker, Lock, Loader).

He played *for Surrey* when England were at their peak (the mid-50s), but only played 2 Tests (against SA, without making much impact) before 1959, and as a result only played those 2 Tests alongside Compton, and - more surprisingly - only 12 alongside May; his most frequent Test team-mates were Cowdrey and Dexter. His main strength over the other England batsmen of the era (afaict from a brief read of his book) was being much better at adapting to conditions overseas.

May's FC record was streets ahead of Barrington (or any other Surrey batsman) in Surrey's great era (1952-8), which probably led to him being rated lower in his day - as randycricfreak says, he's pretty highly rated nowadays.