96564 by Edward Liddle

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Player:

CD Anderson

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DateLine: 20th September 2008

 

Chris Anderson, tall and strongly built, was a sound upper order batsman and a good wicket keeper. Educated at Repton, he was two years in the XI, keeping wicket to, and playing under the captaincy, of Richard Hutton. He entered Dublin University in the autumn of 1961, establishing himself as goalkeeper on the 1st XI Football Team. He was a member of the 1st XI Cricket from 1962 to 1966, keeping wicket regularly from 1963, and being captain in his final season. One of his best innings for the XI was in the Leinster Cup Final of 1963. The XI was under strength, the match being played well in to the summer vacation. It was a play to a finish match, and took place in indifferent light over several evenings, as the weekend start had been rained off. Needing 155 to win against the Merrion Club, the University top batting was swept away by the Irish fast bowler Rodney Bernstein, then in his prime and capable of genuine pace. Anderson made a stalwart 40*, the future Army all rounder Adrian Naughton an aggressive 44, and with the help of the No 11, TA Parker, Anderson saw his side home by one wicket. Bernstein took 6/56. Anderson led his side to the Leinster Senior League Title in 1966. This was a remarkable achievement, as the points scoring system, based percentages, was loaded against them as they only played half the number of matches that the other sides did. It was their first title since the system had been introduced in 1949. His batting and captaincy were keys to success. He also played Interprovincial Cricket, pre Guinness Cup, for Munster, on a rather tenuous qualification. Legend, and the Club's History, have it that he invented a Cork born grandmother. In fact he played on the basis that his father had been, briefly, at school in Tipperary. On leaving University, Anderson, who had played for Swanage CC in holidays, taught for three yhears, before becoming a stockbroker. An MCC member since 1972, most of his subsequent cricket was for wandering sides such as Hampshire Hogs. His last match was at Hambledon in the early 1990s