Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

ambassadorial’ qualities. Holmes was told that this was ‘the nicest team we could produce’, and we may assume therefore that Joe was thought by Lord’s to have the requisite diplomatic skills. Holmes went on to give pen-portraits of the players. He described Joe as ‘the most classic batsman in the side with a fine upstanding style and all the shots in the book.’ He also said that he was ‘a brilliant fielder in the deep’ and ‘always ready for a joke’. The team sailed from Tilbury on 28 September on the Orient Line’s RMS Orion which was making her maiden voyage. 21 There was the usual stop at Colombo for the customary match against Ceylon. Rain ended the match early, with MCC on 27 for three after Ceylon had made 107. After arriving at Fremantle the tour began in earnest on 31 October with a match against Western Australia at Perth. Batting at four, Joe scored 13 and 55. The three-day game ended in a draw and the team moved on to Adelaide to meet South Australia captained by Don Bradman. This was not only Bradman’s first match for South Australia since his departure from Sydney, but it was also his first With MCC to Australia and New Zealand, 1935/36 39 Diplomats all. The ‘goodwill’ MCC side which toured Australia and New Zealand in 1935/36. Standing (l to r): J.H.Parks, S.C.Griffith (wk), A.G.Powell (wk), Denis Smith, J.M.Sims, J.Hardstaff, Jas.Langridge. Seated: W.Barber, H.D.Read, Hon C.J.Lyttelton, E.R.T.Holmes (capt), A.D.Baxter, N.S.Mitchell-Innes, J.H.Human. 21 The Orion would also carry the 1936/37 team to Australia.