Famous Cricketers No 63 - A.O.Jones

the season. The Notts batting averages were not particularly impressive. No-one scored a thousand runs but six batsmen made more than 500. Only five Championship centuries were scored. Arthur Owen’s batting performance was adequate, he did not need to bowl much but he passed 40 catches in a season for the first time. In the rain affected draw against MCC, Jones and Hardstaff put on 39 in 20 minutes. Nottinghamshire then won 4 consecutive matches. Following the draw with Yorkshire, they won a further 3 in a row. The win against Northamptonshire provided an encouraging start. The whole match was all over in a day and an hour. The Northamptonshire first innings was all over in an hour and a half. Jones did not declare but Northamptonshire were not much more successful when they followed on. Wass and Hallam bowled unchanged in both innings. Playing at home against Leicestershire, Jones’ decision to open the batting resulted in a stand of 62 with Iremonger, so that Notts were 165 for 2 in reply to Leicestershire’s 134 all out. Rain prevented any play on the second day and Wass and Hallam were unplayable on the third. Oates kept wicket splendidly, conceding no extras. Jones and Iremonger recorded their only century opening partnership of the season in the Whitsun win over Surrey. Even though the visitors were not at full strength, the Notts first innings total did not seem adequate. Wass bowled well and was brilliantly supported in the field. Surrey were reduced to 89 for 7 by the end of the first day. Jones and Iremonger made exactly 100 in 65 minutes, in the second innings. Arthur Owen hit 10 fours altogether. Arthur Owen had, literally, a field day against Sussex at Hove. He took five catches in their second innings to ensure that his side had a reasonable target in the fourth innings. He took a wonderful catch at deep mid-off to dismiss Killick. In the two matches against Sussex this year, he held 9 catches altogether. The influence of the weather is clearly seen in the exciting away win over Essex. In the course of two days, 40 wickets fell for 345 runs. Joe Hardstaff’s 26 was the top score of the match. He and Jones had the biggest stand of the match, 31. A.O.Jones’ only century of the season was scored in the drawn home game against Essex. This match was blessed with fine weather and Essex did not experience the full terrors of Wass and Hallam. When Notts batted, Jones put on 114 with George Gunn for the second wicket, 57 with John Gunn for the third and 89 with Joe Hardstaff for the fourth. He began slowly but his stroke play then became progressively more dazzling. He scored his 100 out of 183 on the board, in 145 minutes. His innings contained 15 fours and he received a standing ovation at the end. Arthur Owen was invited to represent the Gentlemen at Lord’s. Although he did not achieve much with bat or ball, he fielded brilliantly and took 5 superb catches at second slip. He dismissed Tarrant in the second innings with a left handed catch at full stretch. He was also able to hit the winning run. In the Oval Jubilee match, Jones found himself on the losing side for the only time this season. Iremonger, John Gunn, Oates and Hallam were all picked for the Players and it was the last of these who claimed his wicket in each innings. Jones dismissed Braund in both innings with fine slip catches. Nottinghamshire had an easy win over Gloucestershire, aided by the weather. Jones batted down the order but scored a duck. George Gunn and G.T.Branston each made over 50. On the second day, Gloucestershire found themselves batting twice on a drying wicket. Gilbert Jessop made 57 out of 62 in a dazzling display which lasted all of 32 balls. In dismissing Jessop, Hallam claimed his hundredth wicket of the season. When Notts played Middlesex at Lord’s, neither side had as yet lost a match in the Championship. Jones and Iremonger were out cheaply, but the middle order retrieved the situation. Middlesex got within range of the Notts total. Jones took a fine slip catch to dismiss Warner. Jones and Iremonger put on 41 runs before stumps on the second day. Next morning it was Nottinghamshire’s turn to find themselves batting on a drying wicket and all their wickets fell for a further 76 runs. Needing 153 to win, Middlesex scored 44 for the first wicket. As the effects of the roller wore off, Hallam’s bowling 56