Lives in Cricket No 15 - Michael Falcon

Of passing interest is a friendly match played at Lakenham on 5 September 1907, between M.Falcon’s XI and the Rev Morgan’s XI. It is the only surviving recorded occasion on which all three Falcon brothers played on the same team – Harry played quite a bit for Norfolk, but it is the only traceable match featuring William Falcon outside of his appearances for Harrow. Michael Falcon dominated with the bat, retiring for 126 out of a total of only 211, whilst William contributed 23 and Harry 21. The retirement was shown to be premature as Morgan’s side replied with 258 for five, future Norfolk batsman Ralph Thurgar making 116. Michael Falcon took two wickets, his brothers one each. This is perhaps a point in the story where we should say a little more of Michael’s siblings. Harry Falcon followed his elder brother from Harrow to Pembroke College, Cambridge but, despite showing some promise in Harrow’s match against Eton in 1911, he failed to establish himself in the Cambridge University XI. He played only two first-class games, both in 1914, remaining undefeated with the bat and claiming five wickets with his fast-medium bowling. Sadly, he did not obtain a degree, failing both to meet the residence requirements and to sit all the requisite examinations. He played sporadically for Norfolk between 1910 and 1924, mostly under the captaincy of his brother, with little success either as a batsman or as a bowler. His one day in the sun was in a fixture against Essex II at Witham in 1920 when he made an unbeaten 103, his only score above 50. Even then he was trumped by his brother, who made 134 in the same innings and then took six wickets when Essex batted. As a cricketer, Harry remained thoroughly overshadowed by Michael’s deeds on the cricket pitch and it was only in the Army, where he outranked his elder brother, that he shone in his own right. Harry took a Danish wife called Greta; they had no offspring and he died in 1950, at the comparatively early age of 57, whilst living in Lowestoft. Ironically it was William, the one brother who did not go on to play cricket at a significant standard after leaving school, who put in the most impressive performance when playing for Harrow against Eton. In 1909 he returned figures of 12-5-17-4 as Eton were dismissed for 92, conceding a first-innings deficit of 43. However, Harrow collapsed in turn for 76 in the second innings and Eton went on to win by three wickets, William Falcon being strangely underused in Eton’s run chase. He did not go to university, but studied mining in South Wales before the Great War. He was Early Life in Norfolk, and Harrow 15