Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

with Barnett. Joe batted for 154 minutes, hitting 11 fours. In the second innings, Frederick, a leg-break bowler, had him lbw for nought. Joe followed this with another duck and 20 against New South Wales, O’Reilly getting him both times. There was considerable criticism of the umpiring in this match, particularly the lbw decision against Joe which came with two balls of the match remaining. This came after Barnett had been given run out when he was past the wicket and there had been two dubious lbw decisions given against Fagg and Allen. The whole team was infuriated and Allen made an official complaint to the Australian Board of Control. Joe fared little better against the Australian XI, making 12 and two and losing his wicket to the spinners both times. A golden duck followed against Queensland. His second innings produced 12 runs. Joe’s morale must have been very low. The major problem for Joe was coping with the spinners. He had been dismissed by Zimbulis, Ward, Frederick (twice), O’Reilly (twice), Chipperfield, Gregory and Allen (twice). Gubby Allen commented in one of his letters home that ‘Hardstaff will not get to the pitch of the ball.’ Only once had he lost his wicket to a pace bowler – Cotton at Adelaide. Joe was not the only one to struggle. Until his innings of 112 against Queensland, Fagg had scored 147 runs at an average of 14.70. Fishlock had an average of 20.90 and Worthington’s was 27.50. Only Hammond – who had scored four consecutive centuries – Barnett and Leyland had shown any sort of form. Selection of the team for the First Test led to considerable debate. It appears that the other selectors – Hammond, Leyland and Ames – wanted Fishlock instead of Joe, but Allen, supported by Robins, preferred Joe. Eventually Allen had his way as he also did over the selection of Voce instead of Farnes. Thus the final selection was: Allen, Ames, Barnett, Fagg, Hammond, Hardstaff, Leyland, Robins, Verity, Voce and Worthington. Allen won the toss and decided to bat. Strangely, especially in view of his successful opening partnership with Barnett against Queensland, Fagg went in at No.3 and Worthington opened instead. England’s start was calamitous. Worthington was caught behind by Oldfield off the first ball of the match and the rubber. Fagg made only four and Hammond was out first ball. England were thus reduced to 20 for three. Barnett and Leyland added 99 and Ames and Leyland had taken the score to 162 before Ames 56 Australian Test Tour, 1936/37