Lives in Cricket No 22 - Jack Mercer

46 more notable for the fact that Trevor Arnott took Glamorgan’s first-ever hat-trick with a series of fine catches being taken, including a one-handed effort by Dan Sullivan as Tom Young attempted an extravagant drive. Unfortunately, there were several dropped chances off Jack’s bowling when Somerset batted for a second time, and his return of five for 33 would have been much better had everything been held. It was the same story in the next match against Leicestershire at Swansea as several edges to the slip fielders ended up on the turf. These mistakes proved to be costly as, despite a polished century from 20-year-old Cyril Walters, Gla- morgan lost by just fourteen runs. The next contest was against the Australians at Swansea, and with the National Eisteddfod taking place in Victoria Park close to the St Helen’s ground, there were great waves of national feeling sweeping across the town – indeed, just like the waves themselves out in Swansea Bay. With Glamorgan still riding high in the Championship, great things were expected from Johnnie Clay’s team. ‘Nomad’ caught the mood of the cricketing public in an upbeat match preview, writing that ‘there are few better bowlers than Mercer and Ryan, and although their fame by this time is known in the Australian camp, that will not help the tourists when they are brought face to face with them.’ He went on: ‘The Australians will in all probability meet something more formidable even than they have done in the Tests. This is no idle boast for an on-form Mercer and Ryan are capable of really great things.’ 48 To the delight of a bumper crowd, estimated at 17,000, Jack did not let his supporters down. Australia batted first; Jack took five wickets and received again great support from wicketkeeper Dan Sullivan whose two catches early on were greeted by huge roars from the partisan crowd. Only Bill Ponsford, who carried his bat for an unbeaten 143, played Jack with any degree of confidence, but it might have been so very different had John Bell held onto a catch at mid on when Ponsford, on just 21, tried to drill Jack to the boundary. Jack repeatedly beat the edges of several Australian bats, besides varying his pace intelligently and with a quicker delivery causing Bill Woodfull to chop the ball onto his stumps – another dismissal met with loud cheers from the home crowd. There were over 20,000 shoehorned into the St Helen’s ground for the second day’s play, but there was no fairy-tale outcome. The clever bowling of Arthur Mailey and Clarrie Grimmett proved a handful for the Glamorgan batsmen, as the tourists secured a healthy first-innings lead. Batting for a second time, the Australians were more watchful against Jack’s bowling, and it was Ryan’s left-arm spin that posed most problems. The Australians set Glamorgan a target of 344, but against the wiles of Mailey and Grimmett, this was never remotely in their compass, and it only took 36 overs before the tourists were celebrating another victory. But it was not all doom and gloom in the Glamorgan camp, as on the final Turning the corner 48 Western Mail , 31 July 1926.