Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

Scarborough Festival had it not been cancelled due to the outbreak of war. He had a very small part in the First Test at Lord’s. Batting at No.6 he spent most of the time sitting with his pads on, watching Hutton (196) and Compton (120) add 248 for the fourth wicket in England’s first innings. An eight-wicket win for England meant that he was not required in the second innings. It was different at Manchester. England began badly and were 62 for five. Joe and Wood pulled things round, adding 88 for the sixth wicket. According to The Cricketer Joe played magnificently for his 76, scoring rapidly on both sides of the wicket. England declared twice but the match ended in a draw. For the Third Test, at The Oval, England made a number of changes, as a result of which Joe was joined by Walter Keeton. It was also Norman Oldfield’s only Test match. He was the same age as Joe and would surely have had an extensive England career had it not been for the War and his decision to play League cricket in 1946 and 1947. Batting first, England made 352. In what was from all accounts a magnificent display Joe scored 94. The Cricketer felt that his batting was up to the very high level he had shown in recent seasons and went on to say, ‘it must be a very accurate bowler who can keep him quiet’. The West Indies replied with 498. With no hope of a result, England batted out the rest of the match and Joe did not get to the wicket. The England fielding was reported as being very poor in this match, although The Cricketer specifically exempted Joe and Denis Compton from this criticism. By now the international situation was deteriorating rapidly. Notts played their remaining matches – against Essex at Clacton, Gloucestershire at Trent Bridge and Worcestershire at Worcester – and lost them all. As they had been beaten by Derbyshire at Ilkeston while Joe was away at the Test match it made four defeats in a row. The two-day defeat at Worcester ended the Notts season during the afternoon of Thursday, 31 August. Apart from the Sussex v Yorkshire match at Hove which ended the following day, there was no more first-class cricket in England until the first Victory Test in 1945. There was to be no more county cricket until Regular England Player, 1937-1939 81