Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

On 20 July the selectors announced their first seven selections for the Australian tour, namely Allen (captain), Robins, Hammond, Leyland, Verity, Hardstaff and Fishlock. It would take until late August before the selection of the team was completed. It has always seemed to be a strange way of going about things, but the practice persisted until after the war. 28 This, however, would not have worried Joe. Twenty-nine years on, he was about to emulate his father by taking part in a Test tour of Australia. The left-handed Fishlock’s selection was unexpected, but at this stage of the summer he was more or less at the top of the first-class averages; he had made 48 in the Test Trial and was reckoned to be a good fielder. Describing Fishlock as an ‘attacker with a straight bat’, The Cricketer felt that he might be a counter to Grimmett and O’Reilly. The team for the Second Test, at Manchester, was announced a little later. James Langridge, Mitchell, Turnbull and Wyatt were dropped. This turned out to be the end of the road for both Mitchell and Turnbull while Langridge did not appear in Test cricket again until 1946. Wyatt was out of form and seemingly out of the running for selection. Hammond, now fully fit, returned. Gover, who had been left out at Lord’s, retained his place in the twelve. Two new batsmen were introduced, Fagg and Fishlock. The former was selected in place of Mitchell to open with Gimblett. Aged 21, Fagg was highly regarded as a future prospect although he had not appeared in the Test Trial, nor had he been selected for the Players. Fishlock’s selection was inevitable having already been chosen for Australia. 29 Just before the match Leyland withdrew through injury and the selectors replaced him with Worthington of Derbyshire. The Second Test began on Saturday, 25 July. The Maharaja of Vizianagram (‘Vizzy’) won the toss – perhaps his greatest achievement in Test cricket – and elected to bat. By the close of play India had been dismissed for 203, Verity taking four for 41. In reply England had reached 173 for the loss of Gimblett, bowled by Nissar for nine, and Fagg, who made 39. He and Hammond added 134 for the second wicket. Hammond was undefeated on 118 and Worthington, who came in shortly before the close, had scored five. 48 Towards a Regular England Place, 1936 28 The 1950/51 team was the last to be selected in this manner. 29 At this point Fishlock was a middle-order batsman. He did not begin opening the batting for Surrey until 1937.