Gubby Under Pressure

with whom he was less familiar, during the programme of seven first-class matches leading up to the First Test. 1 At Colombo [Maitland Crescent]: 3 October, 1936. Not first-class. ¹ All-Ceylon 149-4d: MCC 232-5 [J.Hardstaff 65*, G.O.B.Allen 82*]. MCC won by five wickets. In effect this was a limited overs match, each side batting for 55 six-ball overs: All-Ceylon batted first. [Note: In this and all other matches where the information is available, the side winning the toss is shown by the symbol ¹ .] Some of the problems with the batting line-up were immediately revealed at Colombo, the Orion’s last stop before reaching Australia, when the MCC tourists played their traditional one-day game against All-Ceylon. In reply to the hosts’ 149-4, MCC slumped to 92-5 before Allen came to the rescue with an unbeaten 82 and a stand of 140 with Hardstaff in 65 minutes while they used up their allotted 55 overs. Surprisingly, Allen made no mention of his heroic effort in his letters, although it must have been a great confidence booster on the one hand and a cause for concern on the other that the success of the team rested very firmly on his shoulders. 2 At Perth: 16, 17 and 19 October, 1936. ¹ Western Australia 142, and 147 [J.M.Sims 5-37]: MCC 469-4d [R.E.S.Wyatt 106, C.J.Barnett 54, W.R.Hammond 141, J.Hardstaff 87*]. MCC won by an innings and 180 runs. G.Duckworth was injured during the home side first innings, and Wyatt and Hardstaff kept wicket during the second innings. The first match at Perth went very well for Allen’s men, with just about everyone finding form immediately, although Allen had reservations when writing on the second day. ‘We look like making a lot of runs today . . . and I have nothing particular to do. We did quite well yesterday to get Western Australia out for 142, but I don’t know that I was very impressed by the bowling. I am not worrying about my own fitness at present, as I don’t want to over train and run the risk of going stale, as I have a strenuous time ahead of me, but the others didn’t look too good. However, it is early days yet and the batting of Hammond and Barnett has been decidedly encouraging. Bob Wyatt has so far made 58 out of 197 in three hours and has played very badly. I only hope I haven’t backed the wrong horse. He caught a really great catch at cover so can’t have gone completely to pot.’ Both Hammond and Wyatt went on to complete centuries, followed by strong contributions from Hardstaff and Barnett. Farnes and Allen featured as the opening attack, sharing six of the wickets in Western Australia’s first innings, and Farnes came back to grab another couple in the second. 3 At Perth: 22, 23 and 24 October, 1936. ¹ MCC 497 [W.R.Hammond 107, T.S.Worthington 89, L.B.Fishlock 91, G.O.B.Allen 65, R.A.Halcombe 4-124] and 120-4: Combined XI 436 [C.L.Badcock 167, W.J.Horrocks 140, W.H.Copson 4-82]. Match drawn. Badcock and Horrocks added 306 for the second wicket in the Combined XI innings . MCC stayed on in Perth to face a Combined XI, consisting of the best of the Western Australia team strengthened by the arrival of Fingleton, Badcock, The cricket 35