and many spectators had headed for home and the evening meal. At least it got the domestic season going, the weather was generally fine and Yorkshire won a Championship that was open until the final day. Worcestershire’s absence - beset by financial problems they arranged only nine first-class friendly matches before returning to the competition in 1920 - meant a change to the holiday programme, Derbyshire meeting Warwickshire and coming from behind to win at Edgbaston after some fine bowling by Bill Bestwick. The defeat was avenged by Warwickshire at Derby in August despite another prodigious effort from Bestwick, countered by a century by Len Bates. “The old cricket feud between Lancashire and Yorkshire broke out again at Old Trafford yesterday in a contest that went on through the long day with unfailing keenness,” wrote Neville Cardus at Whitsuntide. Lancashire won at Manchester and the return at Bramall Lane was drawn. Names which would dominate the titanic Roses struggles of the 1920s rang out; hundreds for Harry Makepeace and Charlie Hallows and for Yorkshire’s Herbert Sutcliffe and Percy Holmes, who shared an opening partnership of 253 in the August match. Cecil Parkin took 14 for 123 at Manchester and Ernest Tyldesley made two half-centuries at Sheffield. The war delayed the 24-year-old Sutcliffe’s entry into county cricket, when, after demobilisation from a commission in the Green Howards, he was given a place in the Yorkshire side. Possessing courage, concentration and a flawless technique, his defensive mastery became a byword but he could score quickly when required and was a fine hooker of fast bowling. Sutcliffe, who was to form England’s best-ever opening partnership with Jack Hobbs, had a rare temperament which allowed him to focus on one problem at a time and while he might not have the artistry and elegance of Hobbs or the majesty of Hammond he was among the finest of batsmen. By contrast Percy Holmes was 31 when his association with Sutcliffe began, his career having begun, albeit with little success, in 1913. Holmes possessed a wider range of strokes and was a more carefree batsman than his partner yet he was the perfect foil as 69 opening partnership of more than a century testify. At Sheffield they had a hundred up by the end of the first day in reply to Lancashire’s 124, continuing on Monday to 253, made in three hours. There was heavy scoring, too, in the other great holiday fixture between Nottinghamshire and Surrey. George Gunn made 169 and 185 not out at Trent Bridge, sharing an unbroken stand of 233 in the second innings with his brother John, who made 62 and 111 not out. Hobbs was in the runs at Nottingham and The Oval, both matches being drawn. The 14-year-old Harold Larwood walked to Trent Bridge – a round trip of 24 miles – especially to see Hobbs bat and the future Derbyshire and England all rounder Leslie Townsend, then just 16, saw his first county game. “George Gunn was my hero that day and has been ever since. What a glorious start for my first view of county cricket – a lovely sunny day on the beautiful Trent Bridge ground, and to see George walking down the wicket to fast bowler Bill Hitch.” No county enjoyed the first post-Great War holiday fixture more than Middlesex. During the Whitsun match against Hampshire at Lord’s, Greville Stevens, 18 and still at University College School, took seven for 104 in the first innings and had a match analysis of 10-136 with his leg breaks and googlies on his debut. He was to recall that if Harry Lee had not grassed a sitter he would have had eight for 80. Middlesex amassed 608 for seven declared, Jack Hearne 218 not out and Patsy Hendren 201 adding 325 in 175 minutes for the fourth wicket. ‘Young Jack’ Cornerstones of the Season 60