Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

Holmes, who made 146, add 164 for the fifth wicket. Declaring at 397 for nine, MCC dismissed Leveson Gower’s XI for 206. Batting again and reaching 174 for six (Joe 36), MCC set Leveson Gower’s side 366 to win. At the end they were 244 for eight, with Herbert Sutcliffe, who many thought should have been restored to the England team, making 102. Thus the season ended. Joe had scored 1,615 runs and averaged 44.86 with four centuries. His 21 championship matches had produced 1,148 runs at an average of 39.59: for one of the wetter summers this was a good record. Joe returned home to prepare for his departure from Nottingham Midland station for Australia on Friday, 11 September. He would not be returning until Monday, 26 April 1937. Nottinghamshire’s first match was due to start on Saturday, 8 May. His was now a very full life. Towards a Regular England Place, 1936 52