Famous Cricekters No 53 - George Geary

could claim to have been proved right, and Geary had had the opportunity to play in one of the classic matches of all time. The first official MCC tour to the Indian sub continent took place during the winter of 1926-27, and both Geary and Astill were invited to take part. The original itinerary, bearing in mind the vast distances to be travelled, was far too onerous. Eventually, all but nine matches were reduced to two days, but despite this 30 matches in India, Burma and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) are considered to be first-class. The intense heat, coupled with extremely generous hospitality, added to the difficulties. The team were unbeaten, but the restricted playing times made it difficult to complete matches. In spite of all this, Geary had a good tour, and finished second to Maurice Tate in the bowling averages. The damp slow pitches experienced in 1927, together with the fact that he was still feeling the effects of the hard winter tour, reduced Geary’s effectiveness with the ball. He also suffered a strain early in June, which kept him out of the side for a month, and consequently for the first time since 1922 failed to take a hundred wickets. His success on the mat during his previous visit was remembered, and he was an early selection for the MCC team to South Africa in 1927-28. Astill and E.W.Dawson, from Leicestershire, were other team companions. Twelve wickets in the First Test were followed by a breakdown in the Second. The injury to his right elbow, which had been troubling him for some time, virtually finished his tour. After a later game, in which he neither batted nor bowled, he only played in the final match of the tour, scoring a duck and bowling only three overs. The elbow injury continued to plague Geary when he returned home, and he bowled very little in the following season, with no great success. The County continued to play him, chiefly as a batsman, until mid July. This may not have been very wise - but it was more accepted in those days, that a man should seek to play his way through an injury, at least, if he were a professional. Geary had an operation at the end of July, and the Leicester Mercury noted that it appeared to have been successful. Meanwhile, the selectors had met to pick the side for Australia, and announced sixteen names. A seventeenth place was reserved for another bowler and, although no announcement was made, it was generally assumed that Geary would fill it, if passed fit - an indication of how highly he was regarded. “Second Slip”, writing in The Cricketer on August 25, wondered if it “... would be wise to include yet one more about whose fitness there is a doubt” - a reference to Larwood who, although he missed a few matches, was said to be suffering from a loose cartilage. On the 30th, it was reported that Geary had been passed fit, and had been selected, and he played for the touring team at Scarborough, being described as bowling well. Looking back, it does seem that the selectors took a big risk. The party was not as strong in bowling as in batting, and to take two pace bowlers with injury problems was tempting Providence. S.J.Staples was included at the last minute, presumably as cover, but, ironically, it was he who had to return injured, without playing in a match. It seems odd that neither Jupp nor Macaulay was picked; Kennedy had had a poorish season by his own high standards, or he would also have come into the reckoning. The selectors faith in Larwood and Geary was justified by events, and the risks were forgotten. But there very nearly was egg on the selectors faces! Geary’s run of bad luck with injuries continued in Australia. The opening match of the tour at Perth was heading for a draw on the last day. With little over an hour to play, he opened the MCC second innings with Morris Leyland. His nose was smashed by a rising ball, and he was carried from the field on a door, as apparently no stretcher was available! The following three matches were missed. He returned to active service for the Australian XI match, and took nine wickets in this and the next match; nevertheless, he was not picked for the First Test, the tour selectors taking yet another risk and going into the match with three specialist bowlers and Hammond. With hindsight, this seems foolhardy, but Chapman won the toss, and, of course, they got away with it. The risk was not taken again, and Geary played in the other four Tests, bowling with 9