Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

Compton took the score to 121 for two by the end of Saturday. On Monday their partnership ended when Miller bowled Hutton for 74 and Compton was then joined by Joe in poor light. According to the accounts of O’Reilly, Fingleton and Swanton, Joe got off to a bad start, flicking at a rising ball outside the off stump and being dropped by Morris in the slips. In the same over he cut and missed, played one into his pads and then snicked another ball through the slips for two. The light worsened and led to a stoppage. The game then restarted and both batsmen got going, with Joe playing some excellent cover strokes. In light that was always poor, they added 93 for the fourth wicket before Joe, not going right through with his stroke, was caught by Hassett off Toshack for 43. Compton battled on and was eventually dismissed for 184. England reached 441. Australia needed 98 to win and made them comfortably for the loss of two wickets. The spell in the field on the final day turned out to be Joe’s final day of Test cricket. The Test ended on 15 June. Notts had no match starting the next day and so Joe’s next game was against Glamorgan at Trent Bridge the following Saturday, 19 June. Joe kept his place in the Test team for Lord’s, which was announced the following evening. The only change was Post-War Years, 1946-1948 103 The England side which lost to Australia by eight wickets at Trent Bridge in June 1948. Standing (l to r): J.A.Young, R.T.Simpson (twelfth man), J.C.Laker, A.V.Bedser, J.Hardstaff, D.C.S.Compton, T.G.Evans (wk). Seated: L Hutton, C.J.Barnett, N.W.D.Yardley (capt), W.J.Edrich, C.Washbrook. This was Joe’s first Test at Nottingham, and his last appearance for England.