A beastly batsman
Sir: Alan Watkins is correct, of course, in arguing (25 June) that Frank Gresson, Tom Driberg's prep school headmaster, can scarcely be called 'a notable former county cricketer'. But he does get listed ('Mr F. H. Gresson, b. Feb. 18, 1868') in earlier editions of Wisden. And he did, between 1888 and 1890, open the innings for Sussex on more than a handful of occasions (under the captaincy of C. Aubrey Smith, to begin with). At the same time, and with rather more success, he also opened for Oxford University. His fluctuation of form can be illustrated by the fact that the 114 he scored for the University against Lancashire in 1888 was followed a year later in the cor- responding fixture by 0 and 0, a debacle which for all we know may have played its part in shaping the sadist of Driberg's recollection.
Charles Fox 40 The Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset
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