Lives in Cricket No 22 - Jack Mercer

102 Rather than abandoning the game, the umpires duly waited before mak- ing a belated start at 5.20 pm, with the two captains doing what they could to see the two players to their landmarks. Glamorgan declared their second innings at 4 for two, leaving Worcestershire with around half an hour or so to bat. Warne was promoted up the order from his usual berth at seven, and with some generous bowling and sympathetic fielding he duly reached his personal landmark. A couple of balls later, it was Glamorgan’s turn to celebrate as Emrys Davies bowled Peter Jackson, who attempted a rather ungainly slog. The umpires then called time and everyone trooped off, knowing that the two players had reached their landmarks. Jack was pleased for Emrys after all his years of perseverance, but little did he know that the New Road ground the following year would see the pinnacle of his own first-class career, without any suggestion of contrivance. Indeed, 29 July 1936 saw Jack etch his name forever into the annals of Glamorgan C.C.C. as he became the first and only bowler who has taken all ten wickets for the club in an innings. His remarkable feat came during a spell of 165 minutes on the opening day of the match at New Road. Overnight rain delayed the start and it was still quite humid when the contest began, with Bernard Quaife, the home captain, deciding to bat on what looked like a decent surface. Worcestershire, though, were soon in trouble, collapsing to 59 for six before lunch with Jack bowling a superb spell of 13-7-7-6 as he gained huge swing in the conditions. Jack was also ably assisted by some fine catching close to the wicket, with Cyril Smart taking a good catch in the slips, whilst Maurice Turnbull held onto a sharp inside edge at short leg. The only batsmen to play with any certainty were Roger Human and Sandy Singleton, and after lunch the latter tried to disrupt Jack’s progress by hitting him off his length. But the veteran was not cowed by these tactics and after being hit to the ropes several times, he asked wicketkeeper Tom Brierley to stand up to the stumps, and soon afterwards, had Singleton stumped as he fell out of his ground, swinging wildly at another perfect away-swinger. Jack then removed Dick Howorth and Reg Perks, and with all nine wickets to his name, Maurice and the rest of the team realised that their senior professional was on the verge of a club record. At the other end, Emrys Davies, who had benefitted so much over the years from Jack’s advice, deliberately sent his next few deliveries wide of the stumps and out of the reach of the batsmen in order that Jack would get a chance of claiming all ten. The tension started to mount and a couple of half chances were spilled in Jack’s next two overs, and after Roger Human had been given a life, it looked as if the record might elude him. But Peter Jackson then skied a ball high into the outfield and George Lavis set off to try and get underneath the descending ball. Jack responded by standing at the end of his follow through with his hands raised up together, praying to the heavens. As the ball swirled around, Jack also turned to umpire Ernie Cooke and said, ‘It’s six bob to four that George will drop it.’ Ernie took the odds, but Jack was happy to settle his debts as Ten wickets and a benefit