Lives in Cricket No 15 - Michael Falcon

1910 In his final year as an undergraduate, Michael Falcon was resident in Pembroke College, on K staircase in Ivy Court. His appointment to the captaincy of Cambridge University in 1910 was not unexpected, given his record for Cambridge and for Norfolk in the preceding two years. At the beginning of the cricket season he had to juggle his sporting commitments with the necessity of revising for his finals; three of the University’s nine first-class fixtures took place before his Part II examinations, with the game against Kent finishing the day before the start of those examinations. (These took place at the Law Schools between 2 and 4 June.) He was again awarded a third-class mark in the Law Tripos Part II – like two-thirds of the other candidates in this particular subject – and was placed equal 27th in the class list. After a few days’ rest, Falcon returned to his duties as captain and one of the leading batsmen of the Cambridge side. However, although there were a couple of highlights with the bat, his form dropped significantly from the previous two years. He had done little before his examinations, but finally found some form against Yorkshire, top-scoring with 63 after Lord Hawke put Cambridge in. Despite being hit in the face, Falcon hit 10 fours as the University batted consistently and rapidly. In reply, Yorkshire collapsed and Falcon enforced the follow-on. In their second innings, George Hirst reached an unbeaten 141 by close-of-play on the second day and both the Manchester Guardian and The Time s questioned Falcon’s decision not to bat again. However, the Yorkshire second innings was swiftly wrapped up on the final day and the final margin of nine wickets vindicated the skipper’s decision. The victory over the white rose county was probably the highlight of Michael Falcon’s captaincy of Cambridge University. Later in the term, a Gentlemen’s XI was also made to follow on. They scored over 400 runs at their second attempt, to set Cambridge a sizeable total. Promoting himself to open the batting, Falcon made 96 in the successful run chase, giving what the Daily Telegraph described as a ‘splendid display’. He hit 18 fours in an innings of 105 minutes, his driving coming in for special praise. The Times also lauded his driving on both sides of the wicket, but the Manchester Guardian stated that the Gentlemen’s bowling attack was not strong. Varsity Days 21