Lives in Cricket No 15 - Michael Falcon

would have won a Test cap regardless of his county status. In support of this most favourable view of Falcon was Rowland Ryder, writing in Cricket Calling , who stated bluntly and without qualification: ‘Michael Falcon was a player of test match calibre who played for his native Norfolk.’ Sympathy for Falcon’s status was found, again, in The Cricketer : ‘Any really great cricketers, like Barnes or Michael Falcon, who happen to play for a Minor County, should have their claims especially considered if they happen to be great bowlers.’ Being bracketed with Sydney Barnes as a ‘great’ bowler is praise indeed! A comparison with Barnes was also noted by E.M.Wellings in Vintage Cricketers, who described Falcon as ‘ ... a splendid opening bowler who, like Barnes, played most of his more important cricket in the Minor County Championship for Norfolk, but was also good enough for Gentlemen v Players matches at Lord’s.’ It was in these fixtures between the Gentlemen and the Players that one discovers the one fly in Michael Falcon’s ointment: his 41 wickets in these fixtures, ranking just below Test status, cost as many runs as 31.08 each. Wisden opined that ‘he had moreover a knack of producing his best form on important occasions’: although he did have his successes against the Players, taking six for 58 in 1913 (including the last five wickets for eight runs in 3.2 overs), five for 157 in 1920 and seven for 78 in 1924 (all at The Oval), his record overall in these fixtures would tend to contradict Wisden and suggest that, at the very top level, he fell just short. However, consideration of Falcon’s performances against touring teams contradicts the view that he lacked the vital spark that would have enabled him to compete at the very highest level and backs up Wisden . Mention has been made of his many feats against the visiting elevens, so only a brief recapitulation will be made to highlight the fact that Michael Falcon regularly got the better of the tourists whenever he was allowed to meet them when in his prime. In 1909, at a stage in his career when he was a batsman, he top-scored with 46 for Cambridge University against the Australians. In 1911, he took five for 50 against the Indians to condemn them to defeat against the Light Blues. In 1912, his return of six for 47 against the South Africans helped dismiss the tourists for just 151. In 1919, Falcon and Johnny Douglas bowled out the Australian Forces for just 85, with Falcon’s share being six for 41. In 1921, of course, his six for 67 played a vital role in Archie MacLaren’s win at Eastbourne. Three years later he took three for A Test Cricketer? 117