Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

Just before the Trial came the match between Notts and the Australians. Up to this point the Australians had been steamrollering their way around England and had played nine matches, winning eight of them, seven by an innings. Only the rain-affected Lancashire game had been drawn. At Trent Bridge, Sime won the toss and chose to bat. Keeton left to Lindwall’s fourth ball and Winrow soon followed. Simpson and Joe then added 98 for the third wicket with Simpson scoring 74 and Joe, who was caught behind by Tallon off Lindwall, making 48.The rest of the side then collapsed and Notts were all out for 179, Lindwall having taken six for 14. The Australians went on to reach 400, thanks to 122 from Brown and 86 from Bradman. Notts began the last day at 16 for no wicket with Keeton having retired hurt. On the last day Simpson played another good innings of 70 while Joe went on to make 107. This was the highest score made so far that season against the Australians and Joe became the first Englishman to score a century off the Australian bowling. With the aid of 41 from Peter Harvey, Notts ended the match on 299 for eight. By the time the team for the First Test was chosen, under Norman Yardley’s captaincy, Joe had scored 590 runs and was averaging 65.55. In view of this and his century for Notts against the Australians it was no surprise that Joe was selected. 61 It would be the first time that he had appeared in a Test Match on his home ground. Joe had won his bet with Allen who kept to the wager, duly sending Joe a cheque for £500. Joe had no hesitation in tearing it up and returning the pieces to Allen. The weather, as with much of 1948, was gloomy throughout the match and there were times when play continued in very poor light. Yardley won the toss and decided to bat, only for his team to be dismissed before the end of the first day for 165. The light was bad when Joe came in to bat with the total at 46 for two. He cut his second ball from Bill Johnston. It flew into the slips where Keith Miller dived to take a brilliant catch. The well-known picture of the dismissal shows Miller, feet in air, balancing on his shoulders and holding the ball in his right hand. Australia replied with 509, thanks to centuries from Hassett and Bradman. This left England needing 344 runs to avoid an innings defeat. Washbrook and Edrich failed again, but Hutton and 102 Post-War Years, 1946-1948 61 The selectors were A.J.Holmes (chairman), A.B.Sellers, R.W.V.Robins and J.C.Clay, with Allen co-opted onto the selection committee, though without voting powers.