Famous Cricekters No 53 - George Geary

great accuracy and variation of pace, and heading the averages. Apart from M.A.Noble, who averred that the batsmen were inclined to flatter him, the critics were impressed by his tremendous stamina, particularly in the final Test, when he sent down the then record number of 81 overs in the first innings. All in all, he played a major role in a great and exciting series. A very full season in 1929 - 35 first-class matches altogether - confirmed Geary’s return to full fitness. It was also his best season ever; 152 wickets and 923 runs was the closest that he came to the double. For good measure there were also 30 catches. He made a splendid hundred at Liverpool against the strong Lancashire attack. His outstanding performance, however, was ten for 18 against Glamorgan at Pontypridd, at the time the best analysis ever; Verity was to surpass it three years later. Sixteen for 96 in the match is still Leicestershire’s best match bowling. He was chosen for the last two Test Matches, at Old Trafford and The Oval - despite his current form, with all the competition his place was not secure. Only one Test followed in 1930, at Headingley, but Geary was no more successful against Bradman than was anybody else. He continued to bowl well and accurately in county cricket - his economy rate was remarkable, conceding only 2.05 runs per over. In both of the following two extremely wet seasons this rate dropped to less than two runs per over. Needless to say, he took over one hundred wickets in each season of 1930,1931 and 1932. In the early spring of 1932, he went on a short tour to Jamaica with Lord Tennyson’s team. This unofficial touring team was not a strong one, and it encountered George Headley at his imperial best; he made 723 runs for twice out in the three representative matches. No doubt the social side of the tour was equally formidable! Geary had very little success with bat or ball. The gremlins struck again in 1933. Never fully fit, he missed a number of games during the season, and then on August 16 in the match with Hampshire, pulled a muscle running up to bowl, and was not seen again. His bowling figures were his least impressive for years, and it seemed that the machine was running down at last - but he was to prove the doubters wrong, yet again. Geary was hardly expected to play in the Australian Tests of 1934; his international career was seen to be over; but, with good performances against Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, he forced his way into the side for the first two Tests. At Trent Bridge, he and Hendren were associated in a courageous partnership when England were in deep trouble, and, although it didn’t save the game, it showed that a formidable Australian attack was at least playable. Geary had little part to play in the historic Lord’s Test, dominated by Verity; he was injured, missed the next month’s cricket, and now his Test career was over. A hard hitting and attractive hundred was scored against the Gentlemen at Folkestone, in his final innings of the season. But there was life in the old dog yet. In both 1935 and 1936 a hundred wickets were taken, although his batting fell away considerably. The Warwickshire match at Hinckley in 1936 was set aside for Geary’s second benefit, and Leicestershire won a low scoring match by one wicket in a thrilling finish. His efforts in this match amounted to six for 36 in Warwickshire’s first innings, and a quite staggering 13.3-8-7-7 in their second. Probably shooting himself in the foot by his performance, he received £10 as the net proceeds! Wisden says “...afterwards efforts were made on his behalf, and these proved quite successful”. The modern players benefit road-shows were not yet in being! His bowling became expensive by his standards in 1937 - 68 wickets at 31 runs each. Age and time was at last beginning to tell. There was a glorious swan song with the bat in 1938; three centuries by mid-June, and a final average of 36 for the season. But bowling was a different matter. Delivering 10