 Playing for Yorkshire against the Rest of England in the Champion County match at The Oval in September 1931, Backhouse bowled four overs for four runs, as the Rest were bowled out for 124 by Bill Bowes and Hedley Verity.He was bowled by Bill Voce for two runs, batting at number 10 in his only innings, and was not asked to bowl again when the Rest compiled 290 second time around in a drawn game.His second and final first-class match was scarcely more successful, when he turned out the following year at Lord's for the MCC against Kent.