His career was in decline by the time of his benefit in 1907. More than 7,000 people turned up on Whit Monday, a fair crowd on a day of unpleasant weather, an indication that the ‘workhouse’ quip need not be taken too seriously. They saw Middlesex make 286, enough to earn them a lead of 50 as a result of some good left-arm bowling from Frank Tarrant. By the close of Tuesday’s play Middlesex had been dismissed for 213, leaving Somerset with a target of 264 on the final day. A sparse crowd on Wednesday morning saw Somerset begin well, Lionel Palairet and Len Braund opening with 56 before Tarrant had Palairet caught. Trott caught Johnson in the slips off Tarrant at 74 and then came the drama. Talbot Lewis was leg-before, Massey Poyntz deceived in flight and bowled, Sammy Woods suffered a similar fate when trying to chop the ball away and Ernie Robson clean bowled. Trott had taken four wickets in four balls and there was very nearly a fifth, Fred Lee missing a delivery which was said to have clipped a stump but failed to dislodge a bail. Gregor MacGregor, the wicket-keeper, evidently thought that Lee was out for he did not take the ball, which went for byes. Trott was not finished yet. In poor light he had Mordaunt caught by Mignon at mid-off and bowled Wickham first ball. He completed his hat trick and ended the match by dismissing Bailey, easily held by Mignon. Somerset were dismissed for 97, Trott taking seven for 20 – four in four and a hat trick in the same innings. Woods, his fellow-Australian, presented him with a straw hat. Hand-painted on the band were seven rabbits bolting into the pavilion and Trott wore it for the remainder of the season. The headlines belonged to Trott but Tarrant also played his part: 52 and 28, six for 47 and three for 35. Braund saw all ten wickets fall, carrying his bat for 28. Stoddart and Trott shared a common fate, the former shooting himself in April 1915 in the face of financial problems and an unfortunate marriage, Trott having chosen a similar way out of his troubles, mainly caused by ill health, the previous year. Such was the darker side associated with two of the great figures from the series but there was another whose only legacy was pure charm and style. Lionel Palairet (Repton, Oxford University, Somerset, the Gentlemen and England) epitomised Golden Age grace, a batsman of whom HS Altham wrote: “A perfect stance, an absolutely orthodox method, power in driving that few have evoked and withal a classic grace and poise, unruffled even in adversity.” LCH Palairet introduced poetry to the games with hundreds at Lord’s and Taunton in 1895 and several other notable performances during which he engaged in holiday duels with JT Hearne. Palairet brought a glimmer of light to Somerset, who were usually at the receiving end of trouncings from Middlesex. An exception was 1902 when Hay’s benefit at Lord’s saw some fine cricket. On a cold Monday Len Braund wrecked the Middlesex first innings only for Trott to respond in kind. Trott was then badly missed at slip by Braund when he had made five and he went on to 103, leaving Somerset 313 to win. The two Palairets and Braund were soon out towards the end of the second day before the captain, Woods started a recovery. That evening, at a dinner given by the Somerset London Society, Woods said: “Well, gentlemen, I hope you will come up to Lord’s tomorrow and see us win.” Robson made 76 and Lewis 63 but Somerset still needed 11 when the last man, the left-arm spinner Beaumont Cranfield arrived at the crease. Woods greeted him: “Keep your bat straight and still. Just stop ‘em. I’ll get the runs.” ‘Cranny’ promptly managed a legside boundary from the first ball he received, which pitched outside the off stump. Woods uttered a few expletives and made it clear that Cranfield would not face another ball. He Lord’s and the West Country 45