Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

team in 1946/47 as they did not feel that English cricket had fully recovered from the effects of the War. There was, however, considerable pressure from the Australian end. There was also a goodwill aspect as it was a good way of showing British appreciation for the Australian contribution to the Allied effort in the recent conflict. MCC set about selecting a team in the usual manner and on 19 July announced twelve names. Joe was in the twelve, the others being Hammond (captain), Yardley, Gibb, Hutton, Washbrook, Compton, Wright, Bedser, Voce, Ikin and Evans. Pollard and Peter Smith were added on 2 August and finally the team was completed on 12 August, with the selection of Edrich, Fishlock and James Langridge. It was not an easy team to select and there was criticism about the age of the side. By the time the team departed for Australia there was also a feeling that some players were lucky to have been chosen. Looking back it does seem that there were too many batsmen and too few bowlers. Subsequently Yardley was made vice-captain, as had been widely expected, and Edrich was appointed as senior professional, which was probably unexpected. 49 In view of Joe’s pre-war experience of touring in Australia and the fact that he had just captained the Players, it is perhaps a surprise that he was not made senior professional. Despite his great innings at Lord’s and the fact that he had been selected for the winter tour, Joe was dropped for the Third Test at The Oval. Prittie suggests that it was lack of form and there is some foundation for this view, but one would have felt that he should have been a certainty. Anyway he did not play and his place went to Fishlock – now opening the batting for Surrey. The Times correspondent felt that at the time of selection Fishlock was perhaps worth more runs than Joe, but went on to say that no one could be more brilliant on occasion than Joe. Shipping arrangements had not yet returned to normal and so the touring party had to sail on 31 August, thus missing the end of the season. In fact Joe missed the last three Notts matches. Two of these took place in the week before he sailed which was spent in getting ready. This was not particularly easy as clothing was still rationed. Fortunately 100 extra clothing coupons were granted to those making the trip. His son Joe remembers helping to paint the MCC colours on his father’s cabin trunk which was labelled Perth. 90 Post-War Years, 1946-1948 49 Edrich’s reputation as a night owl came rather later, though.