Bunty Longrigg - Full-time Cricketer

Full-time Cricketer

The 1929 and 1930 seasons were the only two where Longrigg was able to play fairly continuous county cricket until he became Somerset captain towards the end of the 1930s. In 1929 he played 25 matches, all but one of them for Somerset, and made 1,123 runs at an average of 24.41. Mostly he batted in the middle order, but it was as an opener that he made the first century of his career, 124 against Warwickshire at Taunton. Wisden noted that his average was lower than in the previous season and that "his batting was marked by stubborn defence".

1930 was Longrigg's best season as a batsman. He scored 1,567 runs at an average of 30.72 and hit four centuries. These included a double century, the only one of his career: he made 205 against Leicestershire at Taunton, again as an opening batsman. The double century contributed to Somerset's first victory of the season after a depressing start that had brought 10 defeats in 14 games.