Ken Cranston played for the Lancashire Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship before World War II.

In the Fourth Test at Headingley, he took four wickets in six balls (w.w.ww) to end the South African second innings.

He was selected as vice-captain of the relatively weak Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) side that toured West Indies in 1947–48.

[1] He captained England once, in the first Test against the West Indies at Bridgetown, as Gubby Allen had pulled a muscle on board the boat carrying them there.

[1] Cranston led Lancashire to third place in the County Championship in 1947, with the team losing only one match.

He resigned as captain of Lancashire at the end of his second season to concentrate on his dental practice in Liverpool.