Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

Carr declared, but rain ended the match after 75 minutes with Sussex still needing 241 to win with nine wickets in hand. Unfortunately for Joe the going thereafter became harder and the next six matches yielded only 107 runs at an average of 17.83. He then hit an unbeaten 56 against Cambridge University at Fenner’s. It was after this that Arthur Carr awarded him his county cap, with the official announcement being made at Trent Bridge on 1 June, before the start of the match against Somerset. There were two further fifties this season. He made 58 not out against Sussex at Horsham in the return friendly, and 86 against Warwickshire at Birmingham, his highest score in the Championship in that season. He did not appear in eight matches and ended the season with 646 runs at an average of 23.07. These were respectable figures for a 19-year-old in his first full season. The committee obviously thought so too and on 28 July he signed a new three-year contract. Being a capped player meant an extra £2 per week. The Cricketer ’s end-of-season comments were encouraging: its correspondent felt that he showed ‘promise of attaining the foremost rank’. 10 At one stage it had looked as though Notts might win the Championship, but accidents and injuries meant that they were unable to maintain their momentum and they finished in fifth place. It had been found necessary to recall George Gunn who, at the age of 52, scored 1,329 runs at an average of 39.02. Payton had also reappeared in four matches. On the other hand, Keeton, Harris and ‘Young George’ Gunn had all established themselves and, like Joe, had become capped players. Poor Frank Shipston had struggled, managing only 66 runs in his seven matches. In 1932 Notts finished fourth, winning 13 of their 28 games. Sadly Joe’s contribution amounted to only 400 runs and his average dropped to 16.66. He missed the first two matches against Sussex and Surrey before replacing the injured George Gunn who had been felled by a full toss from Alf Gover in the Whit Bank Holiday match at Trent Bridge. Joe played in the next eleven matches scoring 289 runs at an average of 21.07. His highest score was 42 made against Somerset at Taunton. Ironically this was Somerset’s first victory over Notts since 1893. Making His Way, 1931-1934 23 10 As if to celebrate the award of his contract, he took his first two first-class wickets (Stan Squires and Ted Brooks) against Surrey at The Oval when, as Notts’ seventh bowler, he had figures of two for 14 in 2.3 overs.