Clem Hill's Reminiscences

Then there was Macaulay, also of Yorkshire. The Australians heard a great deal about him. He was, according to all accounts, going to send them back to the pavilion quick and lively. That was in 1926. Unfortunately for him, Charlie Macartney was in great form, and in the very first over pasted him all over the ground. The bowler wondered what he had met. His figures were 1 for 123. F.W.Tate, the father of Maurice Tate, was also hailed as a bowler who would skittle us. He was included in England’s side at Manchester in 1902, taking, to our surprise, the place of Hirst. That was his one and only Test. ‘Dead March’ in ‘Saul’ at Lord’s The last Test of this 1899 tour was played at Kennington Oval. This was England’s last chance to avenge the defeat at Lord’s. The Australian bowlers were beginning to get stale after the heavy work they had had. It had been the driest summer experienced in England for many years. The wicket at the Oval was a batsman’s paradise and all the sting was taken out of Jones’ fast deliveries. Two fast bowlers were included in the home team – W.M.Bradley and W.H.Lockwood. We thought a great deal of Lockwood, and were surprised that he had been left out of earlier matches. He was a good all-rounder. In between his deliveries – he was not far behind Richardson in speed – he would send along a most deceptive slow one which would turn sharply from the off. He first played against the Australians at Lord’s in 1893. Next year he came to Australia. Then he dropped out until this match. He showed the selectors what he was made of by taking 7 for 71. A.O.Jones, who subsequently led an English team in Australia, appeared in a Test side for the first time in this match. Jackson with 118 and Hayward with 137 gave England a great start. MacLaren then changed his batting order and instructed his batsmen to take risks in getting the runs. His ambition was to make a big score quickly and get us out twice. The Englishmen compiled 576, to which we replied with 352. On the morning of the match, Major Wardill 37 received a telegram from R.G.Knowles, our comedian friend, telling him to ‘search Gregory for a hundred’. Gregory had not been making many runs, but he promptly obliged by finding 117. There was always somebody who would make a stand when runs were wanted. We were 224 behind at the close of the first innings, but we wiped this off and were 30 ahead and five wickets in hand when the game closed. Once again the dauntless Noble with 69 not out had helped to save the game. Worrall made a capital 75 and McLeod – this was his first Test for the tour – helped himself to 77. He did not oversleep this time as he did at Leeds. Australia still had the credit of having won the only completed Test match. His Second English Tour 54 37 Ben Wardill was secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club from 1879 to 1911. He hosted visiting English teams in 1882-83 and 1886-87, organised and managed the 1886 Australian tour of England, and managed the 1899 and 1902 teams.