Lives in Cricket No 24 - Edgar Willsher

76 the city. They were allowed to rest until 11 o’clock, when they were taken by a coach and four to the Germantown Club ground at Nicetown, eight miles from the city centre. Later the site of the Nicetown freight station, the ground is now covered over by industrial units to the south of the Roosevelt Expressway, the legendary route No.1. By the time the coaches drew up at the ground, trainloads of spectators had paid their 50 cents admission and settled in to await their distinguished international guests. The Club’s new headquarters had been paid for by Thomas Pratt McKean, son of the second Governor of Pennsylvania, and had reached an immaculate standard, as described by the Philadelphia Inquirer : The field presented a beautiful appearance, the pavilion of the club affording ample accommodation … the ground itself was in admirable condition, having been thoroughly drained and resodded early in the spring. Writing many years later, George Newhall himself gave some indication of the special atmosphere at such international matches: The English element would congregate on the ‘township line’ side of the field to loyally encourage and shout for their visiting countrymen, and the natives, around the ropes, would offset the British enthusiasm and be ever ready to cheer on the Americans; and the ‘grandstand’, that wonderful assemblage of fair women and brave men (such a picture and such a flutter!), would sympathize with the fallen in a most heartrending way, and laud the heroes to the echo. Not quite the Barmy Army, but noisy enough with 5,000 present on most days and the Germania Band striking up at regular intervals! After winning the toss, George Newhall finally marched to the wicket at 1.40 pm accompanied by Charles Cadwalader, a leading member of the organising committee behind the week’s entertainment. Freeman gave the English a dream start by bowling Newhall first ball, and he also removed Hargraves in similar fashion with the score at 18. At this point, after an hour’s action, a late lunch was taken, which only played into the fielding side’s hands. After putting his feet up for an hour, Freeman was able to carry on much as he had all tour, and with Shaw and Tarrant alternating from the other end, he bowled straight through to the close, at which point he had taken 10 for 19 from 26 overs. Only the cautious Cadwalader, with 15 in two hours, looked like offering serious resistance, and the twenty-two would have been glad of an Cricket on the Brain