Clem Hill's Reminiscences

Sawdust was used to fill the holes made by the bowlers and batsmen. Delay was caused through having to wait for the ground to dry sufficiently for the bowlers to get a safe foothold. To a great extent this disability has been removed by covering the ends about a yard in front of the popping crease, and to a distance of about ten yards behind the wicket as soon as it rains. England were all out for 145, and we replied with 119, a poor score after Darling and Iredale had put on more than 60 for the first wicket. In their second visit to the wickets the Englishmen made 84, leaving us 110 to score on the last day. The rain had gone and the wicket looked to be improving. We retired to bed with fairly light hearts. However, although none of the Australians heard it raining in the night or saw any sign of moisture about in the morning, they were astounded, when they arrived on the ground and anxiously inspected the pitch to find that it hardly dried at all. And yet the practice wickets were all right! 14 We were all dismissed for 44. ‘Bobby’ Peel, a great left-arm bowler, captured 6 for 23 and J.T. Hearne 4 for 19. It was Peel’s last appearance in a Test match for England. He must have retired quite satisfied with his performance, as he was largely responsible for the win of the home side. Spofforth the Demon shows his skill Ranjitsinjhi failed. He was a different type of batsman on a bad wicket from what he was on a true and fast one, being quite ordinary in comparison. Before I leave this disappointing game, there is another incident associated with Dr Grace which I must recall. He was batting. I thought from where I was fielding at third man that I heard a sound as if he had touched the ball. ‘How’s!’ I yelled as if to make an appeal. W.G. looked round at me. Harry Trott came to the rescue. ‘Don’t take any notice, W.G.,’ he said, ‘it’s only our kid squeaking.’ I felt as I did on a previous occasion when I missed him that I would like the ground to open and swallow me. 15 Before I close I must say a word or two about Spofforth, our former demon bowler, and regarded as the greatest bowler of his type. On this same Kennington Oval where we played the third Test he had 14 years earlier – in 1882 – put Australia on the cricketing map by taking 14 wickets for 90. This was the first Test match Australia won – by the narrowmargin of seven runs. 16 I never saw him at his zenith. I travelled home to England with him in 1899. 17 He promised he would play against us during that tour and he did, taking his place in a team of amateurs at Wembley Park. Although he was getting on in years we realised what a great bowler he must have been for he had all of us wondering what he would do with the ball. I attended his funeral in 1926 in company with A.C.MacLaren and Dr R.Pope. It was a cold, bleak day and after the burial friends of the family invited us to His First English Tour 26 14 Hill seems to be implying that the pitch had been illegally watered. 15 It is obvious from this comment of Trott that Hill perceived that he was a newcomer yet to win his spurs. 16 Won in England. 17 In the times when imperial loyalty was strong, England was referred to as ‘home’.