Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

Indies in 1933, undoubtedly owed his selection to his century in the Test Trial. On the morning of the match – Saturday, 27 June – Gover was left out. There had been heavy rain on Thursday night and Friday morning. Winning the toss, Allen asked India to bat. By lunchtime they had made 97 for five and the innings was soon finished off with Allen taking five for 35. England struggled to reach 134. Only Leyland, who made 60, got on top of the Indian bowling spearheaded by Mohammad Nissar – three for 36 – and Amar Singh – six for 35. Joe’s contribution was two, which was two more than both Wyatt and Turnbull were able to manage. With a lead of 13, India went in a second time but were dismissed for 93, Allen taking five for 43 and thus earning match figures of 10 for 78. England were left 107 to win, but Mitchell was dismissed before a run had been scored. Turnbull joined Gimblett. Both batsmen had to fight for their runs. Eventually they gained the upper hand although Turnbull was dropped in the slips and Gimblett should have been caught at mid-on. Gimblett finished the proceedings by hitting five fours off the last seven balls which he faced and England won by nine wickets. The Cricketer was critical, feeling that the cricket generally was not up to Test standard and that the England eleven as it was at present constituted would stand no chance against Australia. Its correspondent went on to say that those whose duty it was to advise on the selection of the team for Australia had a lot of hard work ahead of them. The next major event in the cricketing calendar was the Gentlemen v Players match at Lord’s on 15, 16 and 17 July. The following batting candidates were on view: Wyatt, Mitchell-Innes, Turnbull, Holmes, Gimblett, Barnett, Hammond, Leyland, Hardstaff and Fishlock, giving the occasion a Test trial aspect. The Gentlemen batted first and made 130. The Players replied with 194. Joe made 69 and with Hammond, 72, added 95 for the fourth wicket: for the amateurs, J.W.A.Stephenson took nine for 46. Again Joe’s innings attracted much favourable comment. The Gentlemen made 195 for eight before declaring. The Players were 63 for five when the match ended in a draw. There is significance, perhaps, in the fact that Joe had now graduated to a place in the front row of the team photograph along with Verity, Hammond, Leyland and Gover. Towards a Regular England Place, 1936 47