Lives in Cricket No 22 - Jack Mercer

21 Chapter Two Debut for Sussex In England and Wales plenty of young cricketers dream about their first county match; some no doubt expect to make a century in their first innings or take a clutch of wickets in a match-winning spell. Jack’s entry into the first-class game, at the ripe age of 26, was quite the opposite: his debut created no headlines and could not have been more low key. It came on 9 July 1919 when a message was sent to Hove for a member of the groundstaff to make his way as soon as possible to Northampton. The new Sussex secretary, Bill Sarel, had arranged 24 first-class fixtures – only three counties played more – but found themselves without the playing resources to fulfil them, because the armed forces released their pre- war professionals only reluctantly. 14 John Vincett, a former Sussex professional helping out his county as an amateur, was taken ill on the first morning of the match at Wantage Road, Northampton, and doctors advised that he should take no part in the game. Having impressed Arthur Millward with his bowling and enthusiastic attitude in the nets at Hove, Jack got the nod and he was soon on his way to Brighton station to catch a train to Victoria, and then across London to Euston for the next available service to Northampton. By a strange coincidence, a similar chain of events had happened in 1912 to his good pal Maurice Tate, who had also been summoned to make his debut at Northampton. On his journey, Jack wondered if it was a good omen but it was not the case as he played a minor role in the match. He eventually arrived at the Wantage Road ground shortly after tea, by which time Northamptonshire had amassed 410. Soon after Jack got to the ground, Sussex started their innings, with the 26-year-old pencilled in at number eleven. After his hectic journey, Jack had perhaps hoped he would get the chance to bat after a good night’s rest. Wickets quickly tumbled, however, and at 7.15 pm – this was a season of two-day Championship matches and long playing hours – Jack walked out to the wicket. As luck would have it, Tate was at the other end, and for the next ten minutes, the two friends shared a brief stand until Jack was caught by Albert Wright off Fanny Walden for eight as Sussex were dismissed for 125 at the end of a highly eventful day for the team and their debutant. Sussex duly followed on the next day, with their batsmen making a better fist of things second time around, with the two Wilsons – Bertie and Keith – each making centuries. Jack’s contribution was just a single before being bowled by Dick Woolley, leaving the home side just 81 to win. Jack took 14 Sussex fielded 36 players in their 20 Championship matches in 1919; 27 were amateurs.