Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

conclusion. Unfortunately, however, on the Monday evening of the Surrey match, he hurt his right hand with a spanner when tightening the nuts on the cylinder head of his car. He injured his little finger and severely cut his thumb and thus had to withdraw from the team. He was in the thirteen selected for the Second Test, at Lord’s, but he and Sinfield were omitted, Joe becoming twelfth man. Joe was in the thirteen selected for the Third Test at Manchester, but together with Hutton, Barnett, Edrich, Hammond, Paynter, Compton, Gibb, Smailes, Verity, Wright, Nichols, the sixteen members of the Australian touring team and the umpires Reeves and Dolphin, he spent his time watching the rain. The match was finally abandoned at 10.30 am on the Tuesday which would have been the last day. Neither Hammond nor Bradman announced his final selection and there was no toss. The English professionals did at least receive their match fee of £50. Joe was selected for the Fourth Test, which began at Leeds on Friday, 22 July. Hutton was injured, so Edrich opened with Barnett with Joe at No.3. England batted first. On Edrich’s dismissal by O’Reilly, Joe joined Barnett. His innings lasted eleven minutes. When he had reached four, Barnett called him for a single for a stroke played wide of mid-off and then sent him back. Joe dived for the crease but was well short of his objective when the wicket was broken. The Cricketer and other watchers felt that it was entirely Barnett’s fault. With O’Reilly taking five for 66, England eventually struggled to 223: Hammond was top scorer with 76. Thanks to Bradman who made 102 and Ben Barnett with 57, Australia reached 242. England were thus 19 runs behind. Barnett and Edrich cleared the arrears and took the score to 60 before Barnett was then dismissed. Joe was next. He reached seven and then swept a no-ball from O’Reilly for four. O’Reilly’s response was a fast leg break which hit the top of his off stump. From all accounts it was a tremendous delivery and quite unplayable. England collapsed for 123 (O’Reilly five for 56) and by the end of the day Australia, not without some alarms, had won by five wickets. There was a lull before the Fifth Test, at The Oval. Joe returned to Trent Bridge to play against Gloucestershire and promptly made 162. Two weeks later he made 134 against the formidable Derbyshire attack of George and Alf Pope, Copson and Mitchell. Regular England Player, 1937-1939 73