Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

Test would obviously depend upon performances in the first seven matches. As it turned out choosing a Test eleven was far from straightforward. It is generally considered that the selection of the touring party was not as well thought out as it might have been. Warner felt that the selectors were not as thorough as they had been when selecting the 1928/29 and 1932/33 teams. The batting choices have long been criticised – especially the omission of Paynter. Many have felt that places should have been found for Hutton and Compton and that Sutcliffe should also have been included. Whatever one’s opinions might be about all this, it is clear that there was a problem about the opening batsmen. Whereas it is true that Wyatt and Worthington had experience of opening, only Fagg and Barnett were regular openers. Thus the opening pair would be two of Barnett, Fagg and Wyatt, with Worthington a fourth possibility. Hammond and Leyland were certainties at No.3 and No.4. If Ames was at six and Allen at seven followed by four bowlers then there was room for only one more batsman. Competing for this place would be Fishlock, Wyatt, Worthington and Joe. It would be interesting to know what ideas Allen had about the make-up of the Test team before the tour Australian Test Tour, 1936/37 54 At ease. Joe Hardstaff and Jim Sims relaxing aboard RMS Orion en route to Australia in September 1936.