Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

collapsed for 104, Sam Staples taking seven for 36, whereby Notts won by 302 runs with Joe making 27 and five. Notts returned to Trent Bridge to face Worcestershire who were beaten by ten wickets. Barratt returned in place of G.V.Gunn. Joe made seven before being caught by Brook off the bowling of Fred Root. This was the end of the 1930 campaign. Notts finished in fourth position behind Lancashire (the eventual champions), Gloucestershire (who had won more games than anyone else) and Yorkshire. In addition Annesley were winners of the Collieries Alliance League. Joe had made a good start, but the 1931 Wisden failed to mention him in its detailed report of the Notts season. The Cricketer, though, said briefly that ‘Young Hardstaff is already rightly held to be a chip off the old block.’ Harry Lee, writing in 1948, said of Joe’s batting this season that he lacked confidence and that had ‘a ghastly habit of trying to pull a good-length ball off his middle stump round to square leg’. He added, though, that Joe’s father ‘who was a proud coach, cured him of this in time.’ 20 Groundstaff to First Eleven, 1928-1930 Coalmining has declined, but the cricket tradition lives on in Nuncargate, as can be seen at the local pub and on the gates of Kirkby Portland C.C. close by.