head the table before a poor finish let in Yorkshire. For the remainder of the decade, both teams descended to mid-table ordinariness, their clashes memorable only for notable individual achievements. Tate took eight for 105 in 54 overs at Lord’s in 1925, Hearne making a century, and there was a close finish at Hove that year. This game produced one of those fascinating ‘matches within a match’ which occur when players of the highest quality who are at the peak of their careers are in opposition. On this occasion Sussex were dismissed for 117 but Tate hit back with six for 72. By now he had developed from a run-of-the-mill medium slow bowler into the fast-medium genius who obtained such deceptive swerve and pace off the pitch. At Hove the only batsman to face him with confidence was Hendren, who was unbeaten with 82. “As a bowler he made the batsman play at five balls out of six. He was the finest fast-medium bowler I ever played with or against,” said Hendren. Middlesex required only 92 to win on the last day but they were forced to work hard by Tate and the medium pace of Bert Wensley. Seven wickets were down for 74 and two more fell at the same total before Mann’s unbeaten 17 and a single from Durston got them home. Middlesex found little respite from Tate. He performed a hat trick in taking nine for 71 at Lord’s in 1926, although Hendren tamed him with a second innings hundred as Middlesex made 366 for five – another example of the awesome batting power which brought an astonishing victory after they had been second-best for most of the game. Hearne and Lee chipped in but the turning point was a fourth wicket partnership of 121 between Hendren and Hon CN Bruce, later Lord Aberdare, who made 73.But some of the cricket during the 1920s was turgid, the Hove game of 1927 being an example. Sussex piled up a huge total and Middlesex spent 117 overs in making 305 for six. They had some excuse, Hendren (118) and Stevens (81) having to consolidate in a third wicket partnership of 140 after two wickets had fallen for eight, but it was poor holiday fare. Things grew worse a year later, although there was, at least, a decision on the first innings. The August crowds saw hundreds from Ted Bowley, KS Duleepsinhji and Tate in a total of 496, accrued in 148.3 overs. Middlesex responded with 497 for seven in 184 overs, ET Killick and Hendren adding 301 for the third wicket. Ranji’s nephew, Prince Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji, ‘Smith’ to the Hove faithful, averaged nearly 50 during his first-class career but never quite realised his full potential owing to ill health. His connections with Sussex provide another example of the type of meeting which often took place during the Bank Holiday weekends. After close of play onWhit Saturday 1924, Ranji came into the Sussex dressing room and invited Arthur and Harold Gilligan to a lunch party at his home, Jamnagar House in Staines. Here, in his study, Ranji discussed the possibility of his nephew playing first-class cricket. “He has acquitted himself quite creditably at Cheltenham and he is a very fair bat.” Such was the beginning of an illustrious career, among the gardens, putting green and bowls lawn of a big house in Staines. Sussex were developing into a fine side. Bowley, Tom Cook, the Parks brothers Jim and Harry and the Langridges James and John, Wensley, Walter ‘Tich’ Cornford, the diminutive wicket-keeper who stood up to Tate, and the added polish of Duleepsinhji, who came down from Cambridge and then captained the team in succession to Harold Gilligan in 1931 and 1932. RSG Scott followed him as captain and when business called he passed the reins to the South African Alan Lord’s and the Seaside 65