Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

was out. Batting down at seven, Joe found himself at the crease with just over an hour and a half of the day’s play remaining. He took his time over his first run and then moved on to 27 by the close, but after they had added 90, Leyland, who had made 126, was dismissed shortly before close of play. In Australian Summer , Neville Cardus felt that, after a very difficult start, Joe ‘somehow resurrected himself gradually and his innings had a kind of second birth’. The following day Joe went on to 43, helping England reach 358. Cardus thought that he ‘was escaping from the complicated interstices of self-doubt’. With Voce taking six for 41, the Australians were dismissed for 234, which gave England a lead of 124. Largely thanks to 68 from Allen, England reached 256 in their second innings, Joe making 20. Again he began slowly, but Cardus praised his ‘lovely strokes’ as he helped Allen add 61 for the seventh wicket. Set 380 to win, Australia were caught on a wet wicket which was exploited to the full by Voce and Allen who took four for 16 and five for 36 respectively. Totally against expectations, England won by 322 runs to go one up in the rubber. Allen must have been satisfied that his controversial selections of Joe and Bill Voce had proved their worth. Despite having played in every match of the tour so far there was no break for Joe. Three days after the Brisbane victory Joe was playing against a Queensland Country XI at Ipswich. This match ended in a draw with Joe making 22. Fagg scored 46 and Worthington 72 with the out-of-form Fishlock managing only seven. The Second Test, at Sydney, began on 18 December. England made one change, with Sims replacing Worthington. Again Allen won the toss and England batted first. The England innings was dominated by Hammond’s unbeaten 231 out of England’s 426 for six. On the second day Joe made 26. Cardus felt that this was an unconvincing innings and that he appeared unable to make a really hard stroke. Joe was dropped by Robinson when on 11 and McCormick got him with the new ball. It should, of course, be remembered that England’s progress on the second day was hampered by the rain which led to Allen’s declaration. As at Brisbane Australia had to bat on a wet wicket and were dismissed for 80. Allen enforced the follow-on and on the fourth day England won by an innings and 22 runs. Unexpectedly and Australian Test Tour, 1936/37 57