Lives in Cricket No 25 - Tom Richardson

66 The Third Test at Adelaide was no better – another innings defeat and Australia well past 200 with only one wicket down. Richardson, who at last was fortunate enough to get a wicket... 151 This time, Richardson is less gracious in defeat. He acknowledges Australia’s superiority, but is privately critical of the umpiring: There is no doubt they played far superior cricket all round yet we had to fight against bad decisions of which we had more than our share and I think on several occasions it was simply disgraceful . The only consolation from the Fourth Test was that England managed to avoid defeat by an innings, but it was eight wickets as a youthful Clem Hill’s 188 saw Australia to a total of 323, low in the context of the series but a sufficient basis for a win by a significant margin. Hearne had six for 98, Richardson a modest two for 102 in 26 overs. Hill apparently relished taking on quick bowling; his century followed three consecutive half- centuries and this was very probably the occasion on which Tom is alleged to have remarked to him: You make me feel I took up fast bowling for your benefit. 152 The series was now decided. Richardson had a modicum of revenge on Hill in the final Test at Sydney, bowling him twice for eight and two. The one who would ‘live in history as perhaps the finest of all fast bowlers’ 153 signed off his Test career with his best figures of 8-94, enabling England to take a first-innings lead of 96 and, for a while it looked as though the trend of the series might be bucked, but a below-par batting performance in the second innings followed by Darling’s 160 returned matters to normal. Jack Fingleton reckons that this must have been one of the greatest innings of all time as Richardson was forced to have three men in the outfield. 154 Richardson took his wicket eventually, his 88 th and last in Test cricket; but by then the match and Richardson’s Test career were as good as over. Richardson’s first-innings figures are the third-best figures for bowling in a Test at the SCG after Lohmann’s two ‘eight-for’s on his 1886/87 and 1891/92 tours. His indifferent form returned in the state match against Victoria, but he did redeem himself in the second innings with five for 35 after two for 104 in the first. Except for 59 by H.Stuckey, who is in fine form this season, and 39 by Trott, the bowling for a change had mastery of the batting. Richardson was again expensive. …The wicket had been upset by rain, with the result that when Victoria went in again with a lead of 50, Richardson was at last able to do 151 19 January 1898 152 Website: Legside Filth 153 Wisden Obituary 1913 p 195 154 The Immortal Victor Trumper p 111 Australia 1897/98