No 28 December 2020. The Virtual Wisdener

The Newsletter of the Wisden Collectors’ Club

y the me you get this isn't here at the moment, B newsleer, 2021 will either can I take a message’ and I be a few hours away or a few insist that you reply with, hours old…in fact, do you mind if ‘Has he gone to a match?’ I I just ponder on that for a intend to carry on trying to moment. walk 20 miles a week, in fact This edion of the Virtual I have signed up to the 1,000 Wisdener will be sent to miles in a calendar year and Wisden lovers in 41 of the 48 challenge. If I listed all the counes in England (according to things that I am going to do Wikipedia there are 48), to you will get even more someone from every state in both bored than you might be now…. Australia and New Zealand, to 13 states in the USA and to recipients Friends…they beer watch in 37 different countries. We all out for I intend to do a year have something in common, a of catching up. love of cricket or a desire to enjoy Both our girls will go back to and collect the wonderful tome called ‘Wisden University and as soon as they are allowed a normal Cricketers’ Almanack.’ We are from all walks of life, we University experience they will go out, see friends, are of all ages, we are fathers, mothers, brothers, have too much to drink and relish every second of it. sisters, grandparents and relaves too many to They might even get to go to a proper, real, actual, menon. It is fair to say that for three quarters of the with other people, lecture. countries this newsleer reaches English is not the first language and in 2020 every single one of us has London shows, the cinema, going out randomly for a been touched, some far more than others, by Covid. meal on a Tuesday night - you crazy man Furmedge, going to my local pub and having one drink and It is pointless trying to sum up 2020, but I will say one leaving, asking my neighbour if he fancies watching thing, Sadly, I will not get the chance to talk again to the football on the TV with me and hugging my mate some truly good people and I will miss them. Not of 41 years who I have not seen for 11 months, and because they bought Wisdens from me, not because he’s a bloody Evertonian. they were a customer, but they were people I chaed to about Wisdens and about cricket and about the Yes, 2021 is going to be the best normal year ever. world and the world’s brother and they are gone, The VW is going to connue and I hope you have ahead of me, too soon and they will each be telling found it interesng and fun. Please let me know if me to shut up, grow a pair and to be posive and to there is anything you would like to see included, If I look ahead and for many different reasons we have so can do it I will and if you find it intrusive or dull, then much to look forward to. please tell me, again I will do my best to make it less

In 2021 I will be going to more cricket matches than I so. have ever been to…you will call me and it might go to To all of you, here is to a 2021 that brings us back to voicemail, you will email me and I might not reply for all the lile things that we have truly missed and let ages. Lorraine might answer the phone and say ‘he us hope that in the not too distant future cricket can be played once again in every country that The BUMPER QUIZ seems to have quite a few of you, I think the this newsleer is being sent to. three pictures have been a parcular challenge. If you haven’t entered To everyone, may we wish you a wonderful, yet, you sll have me, the closing date is January 8th and the ‘correct’ safe and liberang 2021. quesons appear again on Page 10 of this edion of the Virtual Wisdener. I also apologise for making a couple of errors on the quiz in the Bill, the lovely Lorraine, and the (‘surely you last VW. want to go back to University now and see For those of you who need a clue, some guidance, a lile hint on the your friends rather than being stuck at home picture queson, here you go…each of the three pictures is of someone with us two’) young ‘uns, Abbey and Libby. who is associated in the playing sense, with cricket. I am too good to you!

1 2020

Which team from any level of cricket would be In the last few issues I asked a few simple quesons and a massive your Team of The Year: thank you to all of you who sent in your menons for: Your Team of West Indies 184 The Year: Your Player of The Year and your Favourite Match of Pakistan 41 2020. As you can see there were some interesng ‘menons’ and rather than make a vote of it, I have decided to list the top Essex 18 selecons along with some comments that I hope you all find of Somerset 10 interest. New Zealand 8 In an awful year, there were crickeng highs and it is easy to forget Australia 2 them. (India, South Africa and Mumbai Indians each received one menon.) With so lile cricket I had to look at which performance excited me and it has to be Crawley’s hundred. Which player, again from any level of cricket, Watching him and Butler bat in glorious unison and then looking in awe at Andersons late treble…it made all the events around us would be your disappear, for a lile while. Player of The Year Sandra Bowden Zak Crawley 95 Andrew Walsh 83 Without being able to watch any live cricket I took to watching 61 matches online, but the game that I only followed via the county 46 home page was Somerset v Gloucestershire. our rivals out 22 twice in the 70’s and three of our baers hing centuries…in a 314 Nine other cricketers received three menons run victory. How I wish I could have been at the game. Brian Addy each or less)

What was your favourite match of the past 12 For the first part of 2020 it seemed that there would be no cricket at all during the English summer and then it was announced that months, again any level of cricket? there would be a domesc season and that the West Indies and England v West Indies First Test 219 Pakistan would tour…the build-up to the First Test against the West England v Australia 3rd ODI 25 Indies was surreal, like most things in 2020 there was a sense of New Zealand v West Indies 2nd Test 14 unease and oddness about it, but it happened and I loved every Somerset v Gloucs - Trophy 3 minute of it. It was my favourite match of the year. Pat Evans (Four other matches received one menon each) Aer reading about Andrew Walsh’s match winning performance in club match in Sydney, I had to pick him as my player of the year. I will be honest, I found this ‘exercise’ from Bill The arcle and his achievement made me realise that things will difficult. The year seemed to blend into one, and get back to normal and all forms of cricket will be back. cricket felt the same. John Pendleton This is not in any way a cricism of the schedule, the players or the administrators - in fact I do not think they have all been thanked enough for pung a Irrespecve of being under contract or receiving payment, my team season together - but with everything going on my of the year is the West Indies. The enre party would have le joys were not related to on-field achievements or family and loved ones to come and play cricket during the strangest matches, but one of my highlights was taking part in and the most dangerous of mes and they deserve respect and Isolaon Quiz 1 and 2 and both mes, failing to get on gratude. the leader board - why was it a highlight despite it Stephen Baxter ending in failure? Well, just talking about cricket with someone was enough for me. The final ODI between England and Australia was a fabulous match My Player of The Year was going to be Bill’s daughter and it brought out the very best in the longer form of the one day Libby, but she didn't pick my name out as a winner in game. It was an ‘edge-of-the-seat’ occasion. any compeon, so she didn't get my vote! Tim Harield. George Stubbs

A Very Big Thank You to all of you who responded

2 It Happened in a Day

THAT'S A CRICKET MATCH — THAT WAS! Following the recent series of matches that had been TWO , EIGHT RUNS.’ ‘Completed in a Day’ - courtesy of Basil Easterbrook - one of our longest serving club members and a 100% bona fide That was a newspaper headline above a report on a (born near Richmond and a county member for Yorkshire v Gloucestershire match at Sheffield. It was 60 years) sent me details of a Yorkshire v Gloucestershire followed by match at Sheffield, from 1931. He sent me a typed report of 'STRANGEST COUNTY GAME WON BY GLOUCESTER’. the match and an arcle wrien over sixty years later by Neville Denson. Contrived finishes to get a in the are usually thought of as a reasonably Headed ‘BRIGHTER CRICKET', it said that in this restless recent phenomenon. But, in fact, they first appeared in age our county cricket was one of the few things to this game — over 60 years ago. connue on its unruffled way, and that men who In June 1931, the Daily Herald said of this Yorkshire- craved excitement said it was dull. Gloucestershire fixture: 'Never in cricket history has The game's rulers had introduced a 'system of scoring there been such a sensaonal match.' This was on the points in the Championship that fully rewarded the front page. team that went out boldly for a decisive result'. Rain had washed out the first two days' play, but the 'Behold the result!' it went on, asking who would have 'Brighter Cricket' captains, F. E. Greenwood (Yorkshire) imagined Yorkshire, 'Dourest of the dour', aempng and B. H. Lyon (Gloucestershire), decided the match to finish a match in which not a ball had been bowled could be finished in one day. unl the last day's play? The greybeards would shake Gloucester, described as the 'brightest of all the their heads and there would be subdued murmurings "brighter cricket" counes', had set the sporng world in quiet corners in pavilions about 'making the game alight by beang Yorkshire in what was said to be the harlequinade'. But the writer was not concerned; his most amazing Championship match in the history of view was that a new cricket was abroad and it was to the county compeon. be welcomed. The third day had dawned with the prospect of a dull Wisden shows that Gloucestershire had to be content day's play. A first-innings decision was very with being runners-up that year. 'Dourest of the dour' improbable. Victory for either side appeared to be or not, Yorkshire had the last laugh. They won the absolutely out of the queson. Championship that season and in the following two years. 'But Gloucester mean to win this season's Championship,' claimed the report, and a 'daring One can only speculate as to whether there was an scheme was evolved'. element of poec jusce in these two enterprising and innovave counes finishing first and second in the Out to the walked Dipper and Sinfield to open table in 1931. the Gloucestershire innings. Emmo Robinson's first ball was well off the stumps: the batsman made no Gloucestershire 4-0 dec and 171 (Verity 25-5 7-64). aempt to play it. As it sailed away for four byes, the Yorkshire 4-0 dec and 124 (Goddard 13-4 5-21) openers calmly strolled back to the pavilion.

There was a buzz of excited conversaon among the spectators, unl suddenly they realised that Footnote Gloucestershire had declared. 'Surely the most Wisden held back on being over-generous in its praise remarkable innings of all me?' the Daily Herald of the captains, the match report taking a pragmac reporter said. approach as a one-innings match would have given the But more shocks were to come. Yorkshire followed victors 8 points - ‘In order that the points at stake exactly the same procedure — four byes and a should not be reduced from 15 to 8, the first innings of declaraon. How that must have hurt the Yorkshire each side was declared aer a ball had been bowled to opener Holmes: Sutcliffe was spared the walk out to register four byes.' the middle and back. Wood accompanying Holmes. 'This was breathless cricket,' ventured the reporter. DeJa Vu Two months later against Northamptonshire at For the record, the second innings saw Gloucestershire Bradford, the same approach was adopted. Northants score 171 and then bowl out Yorkshire for 124. All this declared aer one ball and four byes, Yorkshire did the must have seemed almost oddly insignificant aer the same and aer then bowling Northants out for 88 sensaon of the first innings. (Verity 16.5-4 7-62) they triumphed by 5 . Even the leader-writers were moved to include a piece alongside comment on the state of the 'Mosley Party'.

3 The Tied Test - A Contemporary Report

t the end of day one of the First Test between Sixty years ago the first ever Tied Test Match was played A Australia and the West Indies at Brisbane on out between Australia and the West Indies in Brisbane. It December 9th 1960, the West Indies had reached began on December 9th 1960 and reached its historic 359-7. conclusion on the 14th. The Virtual Wisdener is grateful to SECOND DAY Pete Appleton who sent us a contemporary report of the match wrien by journalist Ron Roberts. First produced in West Indies were not expected to add many more runs the Age, it was then reproduced and amended for Roberts’ this morning but in the event they gave value in equal book, The Fight For , 1961 (even though the measure to their abundant producon yesterday. book did not focus on the A v WI series). Alexander, who by sheer grit and determinaon, has This is the second and final part of the arcle. made himself into a most useful lower order batsman in even the hardest games, provided the cornerstone his last eight first-class wickets have been heavily of the effort. bought for 406 runs. One wonders, at this rate, Aer Ramadhin (Pictured, Below, Le) was in whether Australia will be reverng to the paern of the slips, sparring at Davidson, Hall gave the innings an the 1930s when first Wall, then McCormick, unexpected li with bang that started on a comic shouldered the fast aack alone, with the spinners level, but which the doing the bulk of the work. Australians were soon Davidson again bowled well, oen lucklessly, and obliged to regard in a Benaud felt obliged to push him harder than he would more serious light. Hall probably have wished. Behind the stumps. Grout was apparently is alone in not very sure. When he stumped Hall (that player having being prepared to treat just reached his half century in an hour with a single his bang efforts lightly. completed in baseball style) off Kline he had had a

While his contorons and hand in five dismissals and 70 in 18 Tests. Alexander, flamboyant gestures are like Hall, enjoyed his highest Test score and their guaranteed to raise the partnership of 86 for the ninth wicket is the best on humour of the onlooker he himself transcends comedy record for West Indies against Australia. and sets about the business in dead earnest. Yet one So the total of 453 scored in under even me was a would dearly love to see him bang in partnership formidable one, aer all. Australia had 20 minutes with Trueman. It would be a Royal Command bang before lunch and their new combinaon of performance, in the best Crazy Gang tradion. McDonald and Simpson came through it sasfactorily. Burlesque became arstry, however, as Hall seled They were far from being unscathed during the down. One pull off Meckiff and several square aernoon, however, for Hall oen got the drives off Davidson were executed in a manner ball up sharply off the grassy patch that that would have pleased any self-respecng Davidson had exploited. batsman. At other repeated mes, it would be McDonald was twice struck agonising charitable to say that he was not quite good blows under the heart, but his is a brave enough to get a touch to Davidson as that heart and he carried on, unflinching, unl bowler swung the ball across the angle of the the partnership was worth 84. Then, pitch. glancing Sobers, he was caught at short leg. Poor Meckiff (Pictured, Centre) had a McDonald’s was a long way short of the nightmarish experience. His first two deliveries bang he oen produced against England with the new ball were hammered by Alexander two years ago but characterisc in its courage. Few straight back for fours. The over cost him 19. Three opening Test batsmen before him have blunted the overs produced 39 and when he took his sweater, new ball so effecvely. Meckiff, in 18 overs, had seen 129 runs taken off him Simpson was content to play second fiddle to for that one lucky wicket. Meckiff’s concern has McDonald, and picked his bearings carefully. He has switched from his le arm to his right foot. He told me been in and out of the Australian side since 1957 and he finds he is not ‘ landing right ’ and with his front naturally is ambious to make his place secure. Not foot giving way as he delivers is losing the value of his unl he was in the 40s did he really let the bat ‘ go ’. acon. As Harvey's magic of earlier matches had deserted

Like Rorke, Meckiff has a long way to go before he can him, the cricket took on a flat tone compared with claim an England tour place. Indeed, like Rorke, he will what had gone before. That was the trouble - the be out of the Test reckoning altogether unless he turns comparison. Australia’s aainment of 100 in just over in a much more convincing performance very soon for

4 two hours would have been acclaimed in previous but neither did Hall bowl well, his direcon being so series! errac Worrell could not have found it an easy maer At length, Harvey (Pictured, Below, Le) , drawing posioning his field. Hall’s luck was out, however, and away to play his favourite square cut, but against when O’Neill ducked into a bumper that skidded Valenne’s spin, helped the ball into his stumps off the through low and struck the upper arm he must have under edge of the bat. That was 138 for two and been parlously close to lbw.

Worrell greeted O’Neill with another spell from Hall. Worrell and Sobers shared the seam effort and the The fast bowler at once laer bowled well enough to jusfy more than one doubled up O'Neill with a slip. Tendency to bowl to a split field did not restrain blow to the mid-riff. run scoring rate and O’Neill always looked happier

It made one feel that a working the ball to the leg-side. His off-side play, nice gesture on the part of though oen equally strong, was also inclined to be M.C.C., with the fesve suspect, for he was frequently hing across the ball. season approaching, The off-stump certainly seemed the place to aack him would be to send out a and at 47 he was dropped at slip off Worrell and seven consignment of those runs later missed at the wicket off Valenne. These bumper proof vests to the misses were blemishes in improved West Indies Australians. Not that Hall fielding and proved very costly. exceeded his fair raon of Favell, aer some early indecision, was beginning to bumpers. Most of his bat well and shaped to go aer Valenne. Twice direct hits were registered with balls that were further successively he lied the le-arm spinner long and up than a ‘ bumper ’ length. Aer errac use of the high over mid-off for six, only to be run out off the very new ball, Hall bowled well but unluckily. next ball. Favell played out towards square-leg, but By now, however, Hall was a ring man. Worrell had was sent back from the middle of the wicket by O’Neill. worked his faster bowlers, himself included, hard and He must have been close to geng back and it was an had spared his spinners. Apparently he did not want unlucky end to an innings. the Australian batsmen to get aer his slow men while Developing promisingly, before lunch O’Neill twice the pitch sll remained so good. A spinner it was, drove Valenne to the extra cover , an however, who claimed the third and last Australian ominous sign for West Indies, for whom lile apart wicket of the day to fall. from that run out went right. O’Neill nearly played on Simpson, in an innings of fits and starts, must have and Mackay was almost bowled when one from been close to being lbw to Valenne at 65 and was Worrell surprisingly cut back off the pitch. Australia dropped off Worrell at 88. Now, with the close fast topped 100 before lunch and then O’Neill, warmed to approaching, he seemed too anxious to complete his his job, scored more quickly aerwards. With five century before the weekend. At 92, this normally well boundaries and a single O’Neill reached his century in disciplined batsman hit outrageously across and just under four hours. It was his fourth in 14 Tests and around a half volley from Ramadhin and was bowled. with a string of lovely boundaries he quickly added the Within sight of his first Test hundred, it was a careless further 24 needed to top 1,000 runs in Tests. mistake for self and side and Simpson was clearly Ramadhin was punished almost scornfully and even vexed with himself. On the other hand, his innings had Valenne, more accurate than for years, could not clinched his right to the place vacated by Burke’s contain the flood. The 100 partnership came in 95 rerement. In the long-term view, it was a solid effort. minutes, Mackay 34. The chance of a vital break Australia at the close were 196 for three with a seemed to be lost when Mackay edged Worrell and restrained O’Neill holding fast. The game sll looked Alexander, diving across to deflect the ball with his open but with the odds swinging towards a draw. A fingerps, deprived first slip of a comfortable chance. final thought on the day centred upon Sobers’ In the next over, however. Sobers bowled Mackay twixt remarkable versality. Known to English batsmen as a bat and pad with a googly. spinner of the orthodox and googly kind, today he Davidson’s appearance was a salutary reminder of operated throughout ‘ seam up ’ and remarkably Australia’s bang in depth and he maintained his effecvely. He would be my pick for a single wicket previous sure touch this season in the most match against any comer. entertaining partnership of the innings. Nothing was

THIRD DAY going right for West Indies at this stage and the third new ball soon lost its shine, even though O’Neill was The new ball, that alone seemed to be a barrier to a understandably ring aer his long innings. Hall was strong Australian reply, was due early, and it did not ring, too, and was beginning to look a broken man as prove effecve. The pitch was now thoroughly placid,

5 120 went up against his name on the big scoreboard, failed to fulfil sparkling promise and that was the without a wicket. turning of the de. In fact, the game was ebbing fast Australia by now were ahead, and with five wickets away from West Indies when Davidson pitched one le, a total in the region of 600 seemed probable. At right in Sobers’ block hole and the tall le-hander, with 469, however, Davidson edged Hall to the wicket- his big pick up, was unable to adjust his stroke in me keeper and the tonic of this success sustained the fast to stop it squeezing through. bowler to the end of the innings. With Valenne at The volale Kanhai was the soul of discreon before mid-off giving him words of encouragement this lunch, even more than the unruffled Worrell, who magnificent athlete summoned up an extra effort and luckily escaped being caught sparring at Davidson’s had Benaud and Grout lbw in one over. O’Neill, too, first ball. Grout dived across to baulk Simpson of a slip displayed his great reserve of strength and, indeed, chance that would probably have sewn the game up was too quick and ambious for Meckiff between the altogether. Aer lunch, however, Kanhai could not wickets. Seeking to retain the strike, O’Neill reckoned resist the temptaon to chase aer a wide one to give without Hunte’s fleetness in the field on a second run, Davidson his third wicket. Davidson’s was another and Meckiff was run out at the bowling end. Finally, superlave exhibion of seam bowling on a sunbaked O'Neill lied Hall to mid-off and the innings was at an pitch only occasionally helpful. He used the bowling end. crease so well to accentuate the angle of his . In just over five hours today Australia, somemes Bowling le-arm over the wicket Davidson at one me luckily, but always enterprisingly, added 309 runs to in his career tended to follow through straight and cut lead by 52. O’Neill’s 180 in 400 minutes, including 22 up the wicket area. In recent years he has been fours, was not his best Test innings, but it was his bowling from nearer the return crease and breaking highest. Several superb strokes lied the innings away more sharply from the wicket area. This tends to towards ecstac entertainment, but large helpings of increase the slant of the ball as he aims at the right- luck, notably in the first 70 runs, brought it back to a hander’s off-stump and, of course, West Indies are mundane level. The best thing about O'Neill’s effort prone to flash in that region. With the ball going away was that he resourcefully held the innings together. wicket-keeper and slips are in constant state of expectancy. Solomon, however, concentrates well and Although West Indies faced a possible awkward half an refused to rise to Davidson’s bait, while Worrell seled hour’s bang the light was poor with thunder clouds down to play another cultured innings. banking up and the umpires upheld Hunte’s appeal against it in the first over. By tea they had carried the total beyond 200 and with Australia reporng casuales in McDonald, bruised FOURTH DAY ribs; Kline, severe chill, and Meckiff, jarred ankle, West West Indies erased the arrears of 52 with bang Indies were almost across the Rubicon. Meckiff’s equally brilliant to that of the first innings. Smith, who absence from the bowling line-up aerwards, however, opened again despite a throat infecon, was soon out proved a blessing in disguise for Mackay used the new when O'Neill picked up a mismed cover drive off his ball beer than Meckiff has done on recent occasions. bootlaces, but Hunte (Pictured, Below, Le) and Without taking wickets Mackay bowled economically Kanhai (Pictured, Below, straight and boled up one end Right) produced a stream of while the magnificent Davidson lovely strokes. In less than made further inroads at the half an hour their other. At 210 Davidson made his partnership topped the half big push, dismissing both century and West Indies Worrell, who had completed his were ahead. sixth successive half century, and There is no finer sight in Lashley in one over with balls cricket than Hunte in full cry that did quite a lot. The rest of against the new ball, and the innings was a struggle with Kanhai in similarly good extended by the watchful efforts fele West Indies at high of Solomon, but then threatened noon had made 79. by a useful spell of leg-spinning by Simpson. Simpson turned the ball more than Benaud’s accuracy put a brake on this invigorang Benaud who in this match was never 100 per cent fit. acvity and indirectly led to the fall of the next wicket. His only wicket was when he bowled Alexander with a Hunte played out two maidens to Australia’s . flipper, but he bowled far beer than the yield of 163 Coming to the other end he neglected to fling his foot runs off him can possibly convey. West Indies closed at across in driving at Davidson and edged an 259 for nine. accommodang chance to slip. Once again Hunte had

6 FIFTH DAY and reminiscent of their play against Tyson six years Valenne stayed with Hall while they unexpectedly before. The pitch had developed uncertain bounce, but delayed the end of innings for 40 minutes and added beyond that there was no excuse for this startling 25 precious runs. Davidson, at last red of seeking a collapse other than an inspired spell of bowling by catch behind the wicket, and pitching the ball further Hall, who, when rested, had taken four for 38 off 12 up, yorked Hall for his sixth wicket and a match overs. aggregate of 11 for 220. Worrell was a lile reluctant to introduce spinners He is the first Australian fast bowler to take so many while Australia sll had a winning chance, but when at wickets in a match against West Indies and the effort last Ramadhin came on he had Mackay missed at slip reflected glowing merit on his strength and stamina as off his first ball. In his fourth over, however, Ramadhin well as his skill. In contrast the hapless Meckiff looked deceived Mackay with his leg-break, the le-hander to be in disnct danger of losing his Test place deflecng it (off-break to him) into the stumps. He had irrespecve of his fitness, because of his bowling being held up the bowlers for an hour and a quarter, but uerly devoid of life. Davidson, maintaining his stupendous all-round form, Australia’s assignment was 233 in 310 minutes and held them up even longer. He had started very quietly with the pitch looking remarkably wholesome for a and when Benaud joined him the seventh wicket pair fih day the odds were firmly upon them. Hall’s first for a long me were preoccupied with saving the three overs caused a hasty revision of odds and situaon. By tea Australia, at 109 for six, needed 124 in feverish acvity on the wager market. In his second two hours. Aerwards the two great all-rounders over Simpson hooked indecisively and sent an easy decided to take the bull by the horns and by judicious catch into the leg-trap, possibly off the glove. hing and slick running between the wickets built up the drama for 60 to be the requirement in the final Hall was a different bowler to Monday, much faster hour. and more direct and in his third Harvey, aer a complete over of apprehensive pushes, outside his off- With 50 minutes le, Sobers was at last used with his stump snicked fast and low to second slip where googly stuff, and it seemed the call had come too late Sobers took a spectacular diving catch and had to go in the day. The 100 partnership, product of superb off temporarily for repairs to a dislocated finger. cricket, came in 94 minutes, the second 50 in 40, and Australia were wavering at seven for two and in 70 Australia were ahead of the clock. West Indies, minutes before lunch made only 28, but without however, stuck to it very well and when Hall took the further shocks. new ball Australia sll needed 27 in the last half hour Off Hall’s first 15 balls of the aernoon O’Neill added of a great game. Davidson reached his highest ever 18. Twice he put the fast bowler away uppishly Test score, beang his 76 at Lord’s in 1953, and then through the leg-trap, twice he cut him superbly to the history was forged in the white heat of a boiling climax. third man boundary. Worrell refused to put a man back, preferring to ence Australia v West Indies with the open space, and had sweet reward when December 9 - 14 1960. Hall’s next ball found O’Neill’s outside edge and Brisbane. Alexander held the catch. Worrell, sealing the other end firmly, then came into the wicket act as McDonald West Indies 453 (Sobers, 132. Worrell, 65. Solomon, pushed forward down the wrong line and was bowled. 65. Alexander, 60. Hall, 50. Davidson, 5-135. Kline, Favell stayed long enough to produce one rippling 3-52) and 284 (Worrell, 65. Kanhai, 54. Solomon, 47. square-cut, but then pushed Hall weakly to square-leg Davidson, 6-87) and half the side had gone dramacally for 57. Australia 505 (O’Neil, 181. Simpson, 92. McDonald, 57. Playing rather like a man feeling his unsure way in a Hall 4-140) and 232 (Davidson, 80. Benaud, 52. Hall blackout, Mackay played and missed three mes in 5-63). Hall’s next over. It was symptomac of Australia’s complete lack of confidence against the fast bowler Result: A .

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The Virtual Wisdener is the publicaon of the Wisden Collectors’ Club 7 The Heygate Incident

As play went on aer lunch, the 2,000 spectators at In The Cricketer in July 1990, Clifford Jiggens took a the county ground, Taunton, sensed that a dramac look back to May 1919, to a ed Championship game finish was in store. And indeed there was, for the between Somerset and - and an incident match, between Somerset and Sussex on May 22, described by Wisden as ‘extraordinary and in some 1919, ended in a e - a rare enough event in the respects very regreable’ county championship. But the excitement over the result was overshadowed by the controversy In 1919, as an experiment, county matches were of surrounding the fate of the last Sussex batsman, who two days only. Bang first, on May 21, a Wednesday, was dismissed from the game in a manner never Somerset scored 243 then dismissed the visitors for before known in first-class cricket, and not since 242. But in their second innings Somerset collapsed to repeated. 103 all out. The incident led to headlines and sermonising in the Sussex, needing 105 to win, were soon struggling, and press over the next few weeks, to countless early on the Thursday aernoon were 48 for six. The arguments, and to an inquiry and pronouncement by captain, Wilson, who had opened, was bang well, the MCC. This match of 70 years ago was the first at and a partnership with a professional, H.E. Roberts, Taunton since the Great War. It proved to be one of took the score to 103. But then Roberts went, and the fluctuang fortunes, right up to the controversial final number nine batsman fell to the next delivery. minute, or, to be precise, four minutes. There was now ‘intense excitement' wrote the Few of the names of the 22 players involved would be Somerset County Gazee man at the county ground. A remembered today. The home county was led by run was scrambled and the scores were level. White ‘Farmer’ Jack White (who later captained England), had so far had only one success in the match, but with one of the great slow bowlers. The next best known in the third ball of his over he deceived the new batsman, the Somerset team was all-rounder Len Braund, one of the Sussex wicket-keeper R.A.T. Miller, and had him four professionals in the side, who had played for caught for a .

England 23 mes and who was to figure that aernoon Nine wickets down, and only Heygate had not baed. in what Wisden called ‘an extraordinary and in some In Somerset’s first innings he had fielded with a bad respects very regreable incident.’ limp, and when Sussex baed had gone in at number The Sussex captain, Herbert Langford Wilson, also had 11 and been bowled without scoring. A member of four professionals. One was a young off-break bowler Taunton Cricket Club took his place in the field through and more than useful batsman, Maurice Tate, who was the home side's second innings, and it was generally to make his reputaon later when he understood that he had withdrawn from developed a fast-medium acon. On the game. this occasion he had lile success Consequently, when Miller was caught, with the ball, but his 69 in the first one of the umpires, Alfred Street, a innings was the highest score of the former Surrey professional, removed the match and helped to set the scene bails and the players turned to walk off. for the climax. However it was one of But suddenly they were halted by a sign the Sussex amateurs, who scored no from the pavilion. What was happening? runs, took no wickets, and held no catches, who was to provide the The crowd, who had got up from their headlines. seats to leave, then sat down again, were Harold John Heygate (Pictured, Right) puzzled. In the centre, some of the , aged 34, had played several mes fielders were holding a discussion, and the for Sussex in his late teens and early two captains and umpires were seen 20s. He was a very keen cricketer, together; but as the clock moved on there and was regarded as a stylish opener. was no other acvity. Serving in the war he suffered a leg Then came the answer. From the pavilion, wound and this, and rheumasm sll clad in the blue serge trousers of his which developed, were to put an end to his career. lounge suit and wearing a e, but with pads hasly

The Taunton match was his sixth and last in first-class strapped on and carrying a bat, there slowly limped cricket; and one suspects that with his handicap he the figure of Harold Heygate. Aer what seemed an may have been brought into the team only to make up age, and was in fact a total of four minutes from the the numbers. In those days, counes somemes had me the last wicket fell, he reached the crease problems in bringing together 11 players unl the (strangely, he seems not to have been accompanied by university and school vacaons arrived. a runner).

8 White returned to the end from which he was bowling than two minutes.’ Incidentally, Tate recalled later to connue the over. But then there was consternaon playing in a match in which Street and Braund were among the crowd. Before Heygate could take guard, the umpires. the same , Street, took off the bails, pulled up Did Braund ever have regrets? I have been unable to the stumps, and walked towards the pavilion. discover any indicaon. He was a man with few rivals The match was over: a e. in his intense devoon to the game (he oen aended Heygate was recorded as ‘absent’. The next day, under Lord’s in a wheelchair aer his legs were amputated in a variety of headlines (The Times sub-editor wrote: A the Second World War). In 1919 he was nearing the remarkable result at Taunton - Mr H.J. Heygate ‘not end of an outstanding career: C.B. Fry later described allowed to bat'), the newspapers explained that him as ‘one of the game’s greatest all-rounders' and a although both captains had been willing to play on, cricketer who was ‘as cool as a cucumber.’ Street had ruled that Heygate had exceeded the two Fry did not menon that Braund also had a cussed minutes allowed to reach the wicket. It subsequently streak. As a professional he had toiled long and hard emerged that he made this decision in response to an for Somerset in an amateur-dominated game. One appeal by a Somerset player, sll later idenfied as senses that there was a division of opinion between Braund. Braund and his fellow professionals on the one hand The reports were mingled with comment and cricism and the amateurs on the other on what to do about (including, inevitably, ‘it isn’t cricket’), and the issue Heygate; and that White (who was only depusing as became an emove one. The Sussex captain was captain on this occasion) should perhaps have been quoted a day or two later as saying that Street was more asserve. wrong, as he and White had agreed to connue play. Somerset’s former captain, the legendary Sammy Woods (who played for both Australia and England), The other umpire seems to have adopted a very low was more posive. Woods (Pictured, Below) , one of profile both at the me and in the public debate that whose sayings was ‘Draws are no good - excepng for ensued. At the end of the match Street was happy to bathing’, was among those in the pavilion urging tell the County Gazee’s man that he himself ‘had no Heygate to go out and try to get the run needed for desire but to carry out the laws of the game.’ But, the victory; and aer Street’s decision, he is said to have Gazee reported, ‘Umpire Fred Roberts, the old called out ‘Shame!’ Gloucester player, who was on duty at the other end, preferred not to make any statement.’ Heygate died a year or two before the last war, and all the Although no formal appeal was made to the MCC its other players and both umpires commiee decided, ‘recognising the public interest,’ to have joined him. The last find out the facts from the captains and umpires. Aer cricketer who might have been doing so, the commiee issued a statement explaining able to throw more light on what that the umpires ‘had every reason to believe that happened was the Taunton CC Sussex would bat only 10 men, having been told so by player, Percy Cowlishaw, who the 10th Sussex batsman when he came in and, so fielded as substute for Heygate. Street reports, by the Sussex captain.' When it was Cowlishaw was sll mentally alert inmated from the pavilion that Heygate was, aer all, and full of memories when he to bat, ‘the Sussex captain asked the Somerset captain died in Taunton a few months ago aged 102; alas, if he had any objecon.’ shortly before I planned to interview him. Without referring to Braund’s appeal, the MCC At the me of the Heygate Incident, and unl the 1980 statement connued: ‘Some discussion took place code, the laws provided that the nonarrival of a new among the Somerset eleven as to whether Mr Heygate batsman within two minutes meant that the team’s should be allowed to bat, with the result that the enre innings was closed, i Since 1980 only the Somerset captain le it to the umpires to decide what individual batsman is ‘med out’ (as the mode of should be done. Meanme several minutes more than dismissal would be recorded); although as Heygate was the legal two minutes had elapsed and the umpires, number 11 it would have made no difference in this taking all these facts into consideraon, decided to case. terminate the match.’ (In fact, Heygate exceeded the legal me by only two further minutes). There was an amusing sequel in the very next match in which Street and Roberts officiated, which was at The commiee concluded by saying it upheld the Gloucester. Several of the incoming batsmen were umpires’ decision. noceably quick to reach the wicket, crossing their One of the few printed references since occurs in Tate’s outgoing team-mates 20 yards and more from the reminiscences. According to Tate (who was not on the pavilion! field), Braund’s words to Street were: ‘What about the me, Jim? (as Street was known). He’s taken more 9 BIGGEST QUIZ EVER

ENJOY!!!!! 27: Which player took the most wickets in the 2019 Cricket 1: Which man played in 392 first class matches before he World Cup? made his Test debut for the West Indies? 28: Please name the three former Test Cricketers pictured 2: Who was the last man, over 40, to make his Test debut. below. A: 3: Who was the last man to take 4 wickets in 5 balls for England in a Test match? 4: Who was the last man to take 5 wickets in each innings of a Test match for Australia against England in Australia? 5: Which man had played 254 first class matches before he made his Test debut for New Zealand? 6: Which man with 20 has taken the most catches off his own bowling for England in Test matches? 7: Who was the last man apart from Herath or Muralitharan B: to take 10 wickets in a Test match for Sri Lanka? 8: Who was the last Englishman to take 500 wickets in List A one day games? 9: Who was the last wicket keeper to take 4 stumpings, in an innings, in a domesc one day game in England? 10: Who was the last wicket keeper to take 7 catches in an innings in a domesc one day game between 2 first class counes in England? 11: Who was the last man to score a century and take 5 C: wickets in an English domesc one day game? 12: Which man with 116 has played first class cricket on the most different grounds around the world? 13: Which man holds the record of the highest score by a No 11 batsman in a domesc one day game in England? 14:Who was the last man to take 8 wickets in an innings in a domesc one day game in England? 15: Who was the last man to take 6 catches in an innings in a County Championship match (not wicket keeper)? 29: Place in order - most down to least - who has played the 16: Who was the last man to take over 50 catches in a most Test matches, as of November 30th 2020, from the season in the County Championship (not wicket keeper)? following list. YOU DO NOT need to list the number of 17: Which ground has hosted the most World Cup matches? matches they played: - Brendan McCullum (New Zealand), 18: Who is the oldest man to play in a One Day Internaonal Joe Root, (England), Mark Taylor (Australia), AB de Villiers for England? (South Africa), Salem Malik (Pakistan), (India), 19: is the oldest man to play for England in the Carl Hooper (West Indies). World Cup but who is second on the list when he played his 30: The first official internaonal cricket match was held in last match in the tournament at the age 38 years 261 days? 1844, between which two countries?

20: Two men have captained Australia in one game only in Every single person who enters and gets more than 10 World Cup matches. Who are they? correct will receive a £10 Wisdenworld Gi Voucher. 21: Which batsman scored the most runs in the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy? The winning entry will receive a £100 Wisdenworld Gi 22: Which former Lancashire player scored three half Voucher and a 2021 Wisden Hardback or So Back. centuries in the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy in his first season Second Place will receive a 2021 Wisden Hardback or So with his new county.? back 23: Which two batsman scored the most fiies (4 each) (If a 2021 has already purchased from Wisdenworld then a without going on to score a century in the 2020 BW full refund will be given). Trophy? 24: Six half century’s were scored by England in the Third Third prize will be a £25 Wisdenworld gi voucher. Test against the West Indies in June, name the players. If more than one person is ed for first, second or third then 25: Which is the only team in the history of first-class cricket a name will be drawn out by Libby as that will be her one to score 1,000 runs in an innings twice? ‘family’ task over Christmas and new year.

26: List in order - most down to least - which state has won the most Sheffield Shield Titles. YOU DO NOT need to CLOSING DATE is Friday January 8th 2021. Please answer how many each has won. email or post all entries - Details are on page 7.

10 The Virtual Tea Interval

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