Lives in Cricket No 22 - Jack Mercer

115 fielders out on the boundary to prevent Davies from passing his score and standing in good stead to win the substantial cash prize for the highest first-class score of the season. The return match, at Bristol, saw rain interrupt play on the first two days and on the final morning Maurice Turnbull persuaded Hammond to declare Gloucestershire’s first innings, in which Jack had claimed the wicket of George Emmett thanks to a smart catch at short leg by the Glamorgan captain. Turnbull also guaranteed that his side would chase whatever target was set, and the upshot was that Glamorgan were challenged to make 117 in seventy minutes. Cyril Smart led the way, hitting an unbeaten 67, whilst Jack was promoted up the order to six in the hope that he could repeat the fireworks from the Worcestershire match. He was, though, handicapped by the old injury in his left calf and, after scoring just a single, he miscued a mighty drive. However, the Gloucestershire fielder could not complete the catch and shortly afterwards, Jack had a second moment of luck as Hammond missed with a throw at the stumps as he tried to run out the limping Glamorgan batsman. The ball sped away for four overthrows and with his movement now severely restricted, Jack opted to use the long handle, striking a six and a four in quick succession as Glamorgan secured a thrilling victory with just four minutes to spare. The Times reported the game in its austere way under the heading ‘An Exciting Day’s Play’, but elsewhere commented on ‘Lessons of the Black-out’. This match, ending on 11 August 1939, proved to be Jack’s final Championship match for Glamorgan as, after returning home for treatment on his injured leg, the club’s medical staff ruled him out for the rest of the season. It was not, though, the way Jack had wanted his Glamorgan career to end. At the start of the season, he had quietly told Turnbull that he thought that 1939 would be his final summer, adding that he would confirm things in mid-summer. The club had already been looking at who might fill Jack’s boots and during the winter months, an approach was made to Wat Jones, a young policeman from the Swansea valleys, who had impressed in Second Eleven matches. No agreement could be reached with the man renowned to be the fastest in league cricket in South Wales, but terms were reached with Peter Judge, a journeyman professional who had previously played for Middlesex, now playing league cricket in the north. The seamer was eager to get back into the county game, and despite quite modest terms, he agreed to join Glamorgan for 1939. Jack was pleased to pass on a few tips to Judge and also to Wooller, with whom he shared eight wickets against Surrey at The Oval in mid-July. This proved to be his last hurrah, as the following week, Mercer formally told the Glamorgan captain and the committee that he would be seeking other opportunities for 1940, and in his letter to the committee he indicated a desire to go into coaching. However, with Hitch and Matthews already lined up for coaching roles, the officials swiftly told Jack that they might be not be able to offer him anything. After his many years of service, Jack The last hurrah