Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

This time, however, Joe was the senior professional. Shortly after arrival in the West Indies, given the fantastic hospitality to which the side was exposed, Allen instructed Joe to ensure that all members of the team, perhaps with some justification, were back in the hotel by 8 o’clock and was not amused by Joe’s ‘am or pm’ joke. Joe flatly refused to carry out this order, protesting that the touring team was under some social obligations and that in any case this was no way to treat a group of adults, all of whom had either been in the Armed Forces or the mines during the war. 59 Allen would have none of this and accused Joe of insubordination. Matters went from bad to worse. Later in the tour Allen insisted on playing Harold Butler in the match against British Guiana in Georgetown when Butler was clearly unfit. Joe recognised the symptoms of malaria, but Allen insisted that Butler was ‘swinging the lead’ and would play. In the event Butler bowled just eight overs in the first innings of the match and thereafter took no further part. Accordingly, Joe sent a telegram to Trent Bridge suggesting that, on medical grounds, Notts should recall Harold Butler from the tour. Allen was furious and accused Joe of disloyalty. On the return voyage, Allen told Joe that he was ‘finished as an England player’ and that he, Allen, would ensure that Joe would never play for England again. Joe’s reply was: ‘Want to bet on it?’ The wager was made with odds of 100 to 1 which Joe accepted for £5. Joe showed Allen his fist and added that if he ever saw Allen again, he would do what he should have done at the start of the tour. 60 * * * * * Joe returned to Trent Bridge and began the 1948 season, his twelfth as a Notts ‘regular’, with a flourish. An unbeaten 182 against Warwickshire was followed by 100 and 79 against Surrey. Such form led to selection for the Test Trial at Edgbaston. The match was ruined by drizzle and a chill wind. Edrich was the only batsman on either side to pass 50. Playing for England, Joe made 18. Post-War Years, 1946-1948 101 59 Joe was now 36. His cricket experience was considerable: this was his sixth overseas tour and before its start he has played in 297 first-class matches. 60 E.W.Swanton’s hagiography of Allen, Man of Cricket, makes no reference to this dispute.