Roy Kerslake - Somerset Captain

Somerset Captain

After the 1964 season, Kerslake went into legal practice and did not play first-class cricket at all in the following three seasons. In 1968, however, following the retirement as Somerset captain of Colin Atkinson, Kerslake reappeared as captain of the side. With the side in transition, it was not an easy appointment, and an injury before the start of the season did not help, as he was able to play in only one of the opening six matches. Thereafter, Wisden wrote, "it seemed his innate modesty prevented him from developing his skills to the full. His brilliant fielding never wavered, but his batting and bowling, both of value on occasions, were not given full rein." The Somerset cricket historian David Foot wrote: "It simply wasn't in his nature to parade his skills when there were more experienced county cricketers around."

The statistics support these opinions. Kerslake made 525 runs at an average of exactly 15 runs per innings, with just one innings over 50, and he bowled fewer than 40 overs, taking only six wickets. In 24 matches, however, he held 34 catches. Somerset's early dismissal from the Gillette Cup that season, while Kerslake was injured, meant that he never played one-day cricket. At the end of the season, he returned to the law and did not play first-class cricket for the county side again.