On the 8 August 1909, the English cricketer, Bill Voce was born in Annesley Woodhouse, near Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

Bill was fast bowler who played for Nottinghamshire and England. He came from a working-class background, and in the late 1920s when living in the colliery town of Hucknall, it is said he walked several miles from his home to Trent Bridge in the hope of a trial with Nottinghamshire CCC.

His natural talent was quickly spotted, and Voce made his first-class debut for Nottinghamshire against Gloucestershire in 1927. At this stage, he was a left-arm spinner, so when he changed to a faster pace the following year there was a good deal of criticism. In 1929 Voce returned to his slower style with some success, in a number of games on sticky wickets, notably against Northamptonshire when he took 14 wickets for 43 runs.

In the 1932-1933 season Voce, alongside his club team-mate Harold Larwood, played an instrumental role in the England team’s ‘bodyline’ strategy on its infamous tour of Australia.

The tour was organised by the MCC, and included five Test matches for The Ashes, which England won by 4 games to 1. After the Australian tour was over, the MCC team moved on to play in New Zealand, where 2 further Test matches were played.

Voce made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1930, and played his last Test against Australia in 1947. In all he played 27 Test matches scoring 308 runs, and bowled 6,360 balls, taking 98 wickets at an average of 27.9, his best bowling figures being 7 for 70. He played 426 first-class matches, scored 7,590 runs and bowled 85,428 balls, taking 1,558 wickets at 23.1, claiming 10 wickets in a match on 20 occasions. His best figures were 8 for 30.

He died at Lenton, Nottingham in June 1984 aged 74.

8 August, 2019