Clem Hill's Reminiscences

Harry Trott won the toss, much to the disappointment of Stoddart, who was very keen to go in first, as he knew that would be an advantage in the task he had set himself – to win the game and thus make the tally two all. England had had bad luck with the toss, winning it only once in the five Test matches. Stoddart referred to this in a speech he made at the close of the season. ‘Harry Trott’, he said, ‘always pushes me into this [speechmaking] first, but never into batting.’ Disaster set in early as it often does on the opening day in Melbourne. The wicket, being two-paced, plays in an uncertain way. Bowlers are able to turn the ball on it unexpectedly. McLeod returned to the dressing room after having scored one. I went in first wicket down to join Darling. He was dismissed by Richardson when he was 12. Syd Gregory came in and was clean bowled by Richardson next ball. The Englishmen had visions of a hat trick. Frank Iredale came in and steered away safely. But he did not last and was out without scoring. Noble made four and was caught and bowled by Hearne. Five of Australia’s batsmen were out for 32. The crowd began to ask whether our excuse was that there was something wrong with the wicket. Others suggested that we were not trying, as we wanted the Englishmen to win so that there would be a big gate at the deciding match. I don’t know how the players would have benefited by a big gate. Trott filled the vacancy, and we were still together at lunch, the board showing 5 for 58, of which I had made 34. Trott succumbed to the bowling of Hearne after the addition of one run. Hearne now had 4 for 20 and Richardson 2 for 18. The outlook for Australia was as depressing as the weather. A band used to play at matches in those days, and I always enjoyed the music, even when batting. It used to break the monotony of long spells in the field. On the day when the prospects for an Australian victory had become black so suddenly, the bandsmen stopped playing. Boys and young men used to wear a button bearing the words ‘Australia forever’, and showing a kangaroo hopping vigorously. They were loud in their applause when things were going well, but on this day they were very quiet. I read in the papers afterwards that the men who had brought lunch boxes with them never opened them. They did not feel like eating, they just stood or sat, chewing the stems of their pipes. A telegram from Adelaide stated that a thunderstorm had reached there from the west, and was on the way east, and would bring rain with it. Some humorist suggested that to make sure it arrived on time to damage the wicket for the Englishmen it should be put on the Melbourne express. Trumble keeps an end going Hughie Trumble joined me. He came in determined to keep his end up, and he succeeded. At one stage the crowd had a thrill. I had to run hard to get home, and just as I passed the crease Bannerman, the umpire, raised his hand. But he was only brushing a fly away from his face. Stoddart’s Tour of Australia 41