Adjudicators

The Adjudicators’ role is to ensure the authenticity of the winning century. Emphasis is put on authentic bowling as bowlers are sometimes asked to encourage batsmen to score freely to entice an early declaration. Although a legitimate part of cricket today, centuries scored under these conditions do not qualify for the award.

David Gower From his striking debut, hitting his first delivery in Test cricket for an elegant four, to his untimely retirement, David Gower was one of the most attractive batsmen and popular cricketers of his generation. A slim left-hander, his elegant stroke play won him admirers worldwide. He captained England 32 times, and scored a then record aggregate score for England of 8,231 Test runs. His biographer, Martin Johnson, wrote, “.. his batting was the stuff of poetry, and enriched the lives of those who were privileged to watch him.” Since retirement he has made a successful career as a journalist and broadcaster.

Simon Hughes After playing for Middlesex through the `80s, and winning four Championship titles and four One-Day Final medals, Simon Hughes joined Durham for two years in 1992. He took 750 first-class wickets during his career. As an author and journalist since 1986, he has written for The Independent and Daily Telegraph. He has also worked for the BBC and became The Analyst on Channel 4’s cricket coverage in 1999. He has written several cricket books including: From Minor to Major, A Lot of Hard Yakka, which was The William Hill Sports Book of the Year, Yakking Around the World, Jargonbusting, Morning Everyone and And God Created Cricket.

Mike Atherton Following an illustrious playing career, for Cambridge University, Lancashire and England, ‘Athers‘ has become a seasoned media expert. He became Cricket Correspondent of The Times in May 2008, after a stint at The Sunday Telegraph, and was a popular broadcaster on Channel 4‘s Test match coverage before moving to Sky Sports, for whom he currently works as presenter and commentator. A gritty opening batsman, he retired at the end of the 2001 season with 21, 929 first-class runs (avge 40.83) to his name, and played in 115 Tests, 54 of which were as England captain. He has written three books: an autobiography Opening Up (2002), Gambling: A Story of Triumph and Disaster (2006) and Atherton’s Ashes (2009).

Brian Thornton A director of the construction company Walter Lawrence plc for 23 years, Brian has been Trustee of the Walter Lawrence Trophy since 1965. He has been a cricket lover and supporter all his life. He created a new ground at his home for his village side, Stansted Hall CC, and as a recent Chairman of the MCC Estates Committee was responsible for several of the new buildings at Lord’s including the New Grand Stand and the NatWest Media Centre.