Peter May: England's Finest Postwar Batsman

England's Best Since Hutton

Peter May succeeded Len Hutton as England's batting cornerstone in the 1950s and was considered by many judges — including Don Bradman, who named May in his all-time Test XI — the finest England batsman since the war. May played 66 Tests from 1951 to 1961, scoring 4,537 runs at 46.77 with 13 centuries. He captained England 41 times, winning 20 and losing just 10.

Edgbaston 1957 — Saving the Series

May's most celebrated innings came in the first Test against West Indies at Edgbaston in 1957. England had slumped to 113/3 in their second innings when May joined Colin Cowdrey. West Indies had Sonny Ramadhin — the most feared spin bowler in the world — who had dismissed English batsmen with ease. May and Cowdrey batted all day, then all the next day. Their partnership reached 411 — still a record for the fourth wicket in Tests. May scored 285 not out. England declared, Ramadhin was never quite the same force again, and England won the series.

Legacy

May retired in 1961 due to a persistent illness, still only 32. He later served as chairman of England's selectors and remained a beloved figure in the game. Bradman, when listing cricketers he most wished he could have watched at their peak, included May without hesitation. England have produced fine batsmen since, but May's combination of technique, temperament, and results over a decade of Test cricket has rarely been equalled.