Clem Hill's Reminiscences

Chapter Three His First English Tour, 1896 England won the three Test series 2-1, with each match providing some terrific struggles. Australia lost the first game at Lord’s, when put out for 53 in its first innings by Tom Richardson and George Lohmann, but evened the score in the second at Manchester, despite losing seven wickets chasing a victory target of 125 runs. England won the rubber at The Oval when Australia was bowled out for 44 by Peel and Hearne on a difficult wicket when only 111 runs were needed for a win. 2 W.G. Grace and the bluff that failed In this second article of his series Hill tells how, in his first Test match, at Lord’s in 1896, he was dismayed to miss catching W.G. Grace, the English captain. In the second innings he was given another chance by the great champion, and this time he accepted it. But the wily skipper took no notice, just stepped forward and patted the wicket as if nothing had happened. Hill also introduces the reader to Tom Richardson, the greatest fast bowler England had in its early years, and to the artistic Ranjitsinhji. He pays a tribute to Harry Trott, the finest skipper he ever played under. In addition to myself, five of the Australian team which went to England in 1896 were making their first trip. They were H.Donnan, Joe Darling, J.J.Kelly, Ernie Jones and C.J.Eady. Albert Trott was not in the team, and his omission was, I think, one of the greatest mistakes the selectors have ever made. Playing in Adelaide in a Test match in 1895 he made 38 not out and 72 not out, and took eight wickets for 43. In the following Test in Sydney he scored 86 not out. Subsequently he went to England, where he played for Middlesex, and achieved fame as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. His brother, Harry Trott, was our captain. On his day there were few finer players than Trott. He made the late cut and off shots through the covers almost to perfection. As a captain he was in a class by himself, and was the best I ever played under. He was quick to grasp a situation. He saw an opponent’s weakness in a second. He knew in a moment when a crack bowler was doing well or having an off day, and time and again he secured a champion batsman’s wicket by putting on a bowler whom he knew that the incomer did not like. These experiments were not limited to small matches, for Trott was so confident in his conviction that he applied them in Test games. 18