1946 County Championship season

In 1946, English cricket managed a recovery from the impact of World War II by reviving the County Championship, last contested in 1939. It was the 47th edition of the competition since it became officially recognised in 1890. Seventeen first-class county teams took part, all playing 26 three-day matches. The opening match was Middlesex versus Leicestershire at Lord's, beginning on 8 May. Most of the other teams began their campaigns on 11 May. The final matches began on 31 August and finished on 2 September.

In earlier seasons, teams did not all play the same number of matches, so the title was decided on average points per match. In 1946, total points gained was the deciding factor. The points awarded were twelve for a win, six for a tie (there were no tied matches in 1946), four for first innings lead in a match that was either drawn or lost, and eight for gaining first innings lead in a drawn match restricted by bad weather to a single day's play.

In its review of the 1946 season, the 1947 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack commented on the large number of matches which were ruined by "execrable weather, both wet and cold", saying that "for cold, and discomfort on grounds needing much restoration, 1946 may be written down as the worst in living memory".

The 1939 County Championship had been won by Yorkshire, and they retained their title in 1946, winning 17 of their 26 matches. Middlesex and Lancashire, who finished second and third respectively, were Yorkshire's only real challengers. Yorkshire were well served by their two spin bowlers, Ellis Robinson and Arthur Booth. In all matches, Robinson took 167 wickets at an average of 14.95; and Booth, who topped the national bowling averages with 11.61, took 111 wickets. The leading wicket-takers nationwide were Eric Hollies of Warwickshire, who took 184, and Tom Goddard of Gloucestershire, 177. One impact of the bad weather was that no batter managed to score 2,000 runs in the Championship. The highest aggregate was 1,963 by Laurie Fishlock of Surrey.

References

Category:County Championship
Category:Cricket seasons
Category:1946 in sports