Clem Hill's Reminiscences

What a side England had in that first Test of mine! Among their batsmen were Grace and Stoddart, who led off for them, Abel, Brown, Jackson, Gunn, and Hayward. Their bowlers were Richardson, Lohmann, Hearne, Hayward, Jackson and Grace. The last-named was a foxy old bowler, who often made the best batsmen sit up. Knew too much for Grace W.G. was just beginning to go downhill, but he was still a marvellous batsman. I missed him badly when he made 40, and oh, how I did wish the ground would open up and swallow me! You would have thought that Grace had made a record score, judged by the outburst when it was seen that I had dropped the chance. It was off Trott, and naturally I went up to him and said how sorry I was. This brought forth the remark, ‘Never mind, you will drop many more easy catches before you finish playing cricket’ – and I have. However, I did catch the veteran in the second innings, Trumble being the bowler. The ball glanced off his bat on to his pad, and around to me at short leg. Naturally, I tossed the ball excitedly into the air and was really in ecstasy when, lo and behold, I was astounded to see W.G. walk a couple of paces down the pitch and pat the wicket as if nothing had happened. I really thought that I had made a mistake, and began to feel very foolish, when much to my relief, Trott called out, ‘Hey, W.G., what’s your game?’ The big Englishman replied, ‘Nothing.’ Trott appealed to the umpire, who declared that the English skipper was out. Graham could not resist the temptation to give the champion a sting as he went past, saying, ‘My word, W.G., you’re a real old bluffer; you know too much for us youngsters.’ The veteran smiled and walked on. Australia did well to get out the English side for 292, and Trott and Syd Gregory in our second innings, by a grand partnership, gave us a chance. Trott compiled a lovely 143 and Gregory 103. It was one of the most spectacular displays ever given by Syd. England won by six wickets. Graham did not play with us again. He had contracted a chill on the boat, and rheumatism developed. He was a dashing, quick footed batsman, and he had shown in the previous tour of England by having the best average that he could play on English wickets. We missed him very much. 3 Captain’s cab ride during Test: batsman saved by brandy and soda A brandy and soda going into bat. And it worked wonders. That was the medicine which Harry Trott, captain of the Australian Eleven in 1896, prescribed for Frank Iredale, a teetotaller. Iredale immediately went from poor scores to centuries. But he always took his nobble. 10 Clem Hill, in this third article on Test matches in which he has played, tells this amusing story. He also tells one of Trott leaving the ground and going for a ride in a cab because he His First English Tour 21 10 A glass of spirits.