Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

mortgage and on his behalf Notts invested £2,188 in British Transport stock. The rest of Joe’s season was not overly successful. After his benefit match his next six innings yielded only 16 runs before he made 48 and 92 against Leicestershire. 1948 was not amongst his best seasons, but injury and consistently poor weather did not help matters. The fact that it was his benefit season as well may not have helped. In addition his falling-out with Allen, who was to rejoin the MCC committee the following year, must have been unsettling. At the Scarborough Festival Joe came face to face with Allen and fulfilled his promise. Not surprisingly, Joe never played for England again. The contretemps with Gubby Allen was a regrettable affair, but no doubt there were faults on both sides. 106 Post-War Years, 1946-1948