Brian Langford dies, aged 77

By Richard Latham

Somerset are mourning the loss of their former captain Brian Langford, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 77. Although he was born in Birmingham, Langford grew up in Bridgwater, where he attended Dr Morgan’s School, and he announced his arrival on the Somerset scene in style at the 1953 Bath Festival.

The first Championship game he appeared in was against Lancashire in Bertie Buse’s benefit game when the visitors triumphed inside a day. He took a modest 1 for 18, but in the second game of the festival against Kent he claimed 14 wickets for 156 runs to help Somerset to victory, while in the third game against Leicestershire he took 11 for 134, bringing his record for the three Bath Festival games to 26 wickets for 308 runs.

That was just the start of a long and successful Somerset career, which continued until 1974, during which Langford played 504 first-class matches, scored 7513 runs at 13.56 and took 1390 wickets at an average of 24.89. He claimed 100 or more Championship wickets in a season on five occasions, with his best being in 1958 when his off-spin claimed 116 victims, including his career-best 9 for 26 against Lancashire at Weston-super-Mare.

Langford captained Somerset between 1969 and 1971. During his first season in charge Brian Rose and Peter Denning made their debuts. He holds the record for the most first-class appearances for Somerset, while only Jack White and Arthur Wellard have taken more wickets for the county.

Langford also holds the record for the most economic bowling figures in the 40-over competition. He sent down eight consecutive overs against Essex at Yeovil in 1969, the first season of the John Player League, without conceding a single run, a record that cannot ever be beaten. After he retired from playing he remained involved with Somerset and was the chairman of the cricket committee in 1986.

Somerset chief executive Guy Lavender said: "Brian’s contribution to Somerset County Cricket Club was enormous. He was a remarkable player, an outstanding leader and a charming individual. He will be sorely missed by all of Somerset’s members and supporters and we would like to extend our sincere condolences to Brian’s wife Maureen and all of his family at this immensely sad time.”

Date: 13/02/2013 09:38:00 by Richard Latham
In: Today | Somerset |