Lives in Cricket No 15 - Michael Falcon

inspection of the Norfolk averages reveals that Falcon did not become a bowler of note until 1910. However, if Michael Falcon’s own account of his first-ever important match, published in Bernard Darwin’s Eton v Harrow at Lord’s , is to be believed, he approached his Lord’s debut against Eton expecting to be a specialist strike bowler. Unfortunately for the Harrow XI, batsman Clive Reunert fractured his finger in the run-up to the big match and Michael Falcon, who had been given his ‘flannels’ early in the season for his feats as a right-arm paceman and who was accustomed to bat at nine or ten, was promoted to bat at number four. Harrow won the toss and batted first, but did not take full advantage, being dismissed for 230. When Eton went in to reply, Falcon opened the bowling but was completely ineffective, beginning with a wide and failing to improve much: eventually he sent down 25 wicketless overs for 52 runs as Eton built up a lead of 135. In Harrow’s second innings Early Life in Norfolk, and Harrow 13 ‘Together join’d in cricket’s manly toil’, the Harrow School side of 1906. Back row (l to r): B.Osborne, A.W.M.S.Griffin, D.R.Brandt (wk), J.B.Royle, H.E.C.Biedermann. Seated: M.Falcon, R.E.Eiloart, E.H.Crake (capt), M.C.Bird, A.H.Lang. On the ground: G.A.Laverton. Five of this side played first-class cricket in their time, but they lost to Eton at Lord’s by four wickets.