Page "Ken Barrington" Paragraph 9

In 1955 Surrey won their first 9 matches and Surridge's vice-captain Peter May succeeded Len Hutton as captain of England.

Barrington made 135 not out against Lancashire and 126 against Nottinghamshire, which won him his county cap.

Now established in the Surrey team he was called up for the First Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge, hearing the news when a crowd cheered him while batting in a charity match.

He batted at number 4, replacing Colin Cowdrey who was unable to play.

Barrington made a duck and though England won by an innings he felt isolated from the England regulars who he barely knew.

He was kept in the side for the Second Test at Lords, coming in at 30 / 3 in the first innings and making 34, top-scoring in England's 133, but looked uncomfortable on a green pitch against the fast bowling of Peter Heine.

In the second innings Barrington and Denis Compton added 40 runs, but he was out for 18.

Even though England won again Cowdrey was available again and Barrington was dropped.

Returning to Surrey he made 73 out of 171 against Middlesex after coming in at 6 / 4 and helped the County to their fourth successive Championship.

He was voted " Young Cricketer of the Year " by the Cricket Writers Club and was chosen for the 1955 – 56 MCC tour of Pakistan.