Lives in Cricket No 22 - Jack Mercer

51 on, but that of his partner.’ 54 Jack remained stoically calm, but several of the other professionals – who had been riled by dubious decisions in earlier games – were outraged, and at lunch the tour party sat quietly by themselves rather than mingling with the locals as was the custom. The Indians duly complained about the churlish behaviour of some of the MCC party and with the local press seeing their actions, besides hearing lots of shouting from the English professionals in their dressing-room, events could have escalated dramatically. But the Governor, Sir Leslie Wilson, used his diplomatic skills to ensure that things continued smoothly after lunch. Perhaps he was also instrumental in a decision for the local umpire not to stand in any of the tourists’ other matches in Bombay. After this rumpus, Jack was pleased to be entertained the following day by the Maharaja of Rajpipla – a man who loved horse-racing and whose string of equine stars included Windsor Lad, the winner of the 1934 Derby, as well as horses that had won other leading races including the Irish Derby, the Grand Prix of Belgium and the Irish Two Thousand Guineas. A day of sightseeing, shooting, and plenty of racing chat was the ideal tonic before Jack returned to action in the final game, eventually drawn, in Bombay against an All-India XI in a match regarded as an unofficial Test against the cream of India’s players. Jack duly opened the bowling in sweltering heat with George Geary, with the Glamorgan man delivering an accurate new-ball spell before taking a breather and seeking some quiet in the outfield. Later, he came in for some rough treatment from Colonel K.M.Mistri, the Indian No.9, who hooked and cut him for a brace of boundaries en route to a quick-fire fifty before Jack had him caught behind. Jack also had the satisfaction of trapping India’s top-scorer, D.B.Deodhar, for 148. He finished with figures of three for 76. After his exertions for two days in the searing heat, the party thrown the following day by the Hindu Gymkhana Club must have been very welcome and relaxing; likewise the first-class carriages provided for the tourists on the express to Calcutta. On arriving at Howrah Station, the MCC party were introduced to their hosts from the Calcutta Cricket Club with whom they were to be billeted over the Christmas period. Jack was hosted by a businessman called Russell, but before heading off to his lodgings, he went to the Eden Gardens ground for a net session, knowing he would be doing plenty of bowling as Maurice Tate was suffering from an inflamed toe. There was still much socialising to be done, with a reception at Government House, followed by a ball attended by over 800 guests, including several Indian princes. ‘Like everyone else, they too were in their full dress,’ wrote one member of the party in his diary. 55 He added: ‘You never saw such a blaze of colour. The girls out here on the whole, I think, dress too extravagantly, but I must say some of them did look very well.’ A passage to India 54 Maurice Tate, My Cricketing Reminiscences , Stanley Paul, 1933. 55 The diary of Mervyn Hill, personal communication from the Hill family.