Lives in Cricket No 27 - CB Llewellyn

14 ever-present tension between the Boers and the British population increased greatly – eleven years later, Jan Smuts, for over 50 years a prominent figure in South African politics, wrote that ‘The Jameson Raid was the real declaration of war … in spite of the four years of truce that followed.’ The chief interests that year for cricket enthusiasts lay in another visit by a team formed by Lord Hawke, whose itinerary included two representative matches which were later to be recognised as Tests. Buck, chosen for the first at Johannesburg in mid-February, bowled with exceptional steadiness to capture five wickets for 124 in the match from 56 overs, and his 38 was the second highest score in South Africa’s first innings. When Hawke’s team batted a second time, five catches were dropped off his bowling, but the crowning disappointment was the umpire’s mistake when, unlike everyone else on the ground, he adjudged Plum Warner not out when clearly stumped off Llewellyn, with his total on 82; he went on to carry his bat for 132 and South Africa, dismissed for 99, lost by 32 runs. The Second Test, at Cape Town, merits less discussion, as Buck was not selected to play. The Cape Times reported that he had stood down for business reasons. Away from the Cape, others deplored his omission. Buck may have believed that the administrators would not have him for racist reasons, and he may again have been relieved at his omission, not wanting the issue debated publicly. Now, after he had benefitted from the attentions of Dan Taylor, came relief from another ally. Onward and Upward