Lives in Cricket No 27 - CB Llewellyn

21 man, they were in a position to do so. Responses to his behaviour and references to reaction to his appearance are conspicuous by their absence. Another match should not be overlooked, though it did not rank as first-class. On 26 July 1900 Hampshire began a three-day game against the West Indians who were touring the United Kingdom for the first time. With their agreement Llewellyn formed one of the Hampshire team. He proceeded to give one of the most remarkable allround performances ever seen on the Northlands Road ground. When the West Indians won the toss and batted, he bowled 54 overs out of the 132 delivered by the county, and while the tourists accumulated 370, he dismissed seven of them for 153. Facing that large total, Hampshire lost two early wickets before Barton (59) and Llewellyn shared a lengthy third-wicket stand; then Bruce Lamb from Andover helped Buck for a time, but Woods the fast bowler had them both caught. Llewellyn’s total was 93 and when the West Indians leading by 121 went in again he dismissed six of them for 34. Set 234 to win, the county subsided to lose by 88. He scored only six, but had done enough with his big first-innings total and 13 wickets for 187 to whet appetites for 1901. As the end of his period of qualification approached, the question of Buck’s status – should he be openly paid or not – engaged the County Committee. When they convened on 11 October 1900, they decided that Charles Robson should sort out the matter with him and a month or so later, on 14 November, Dr Bencraft was able to tell the Committee that Buck was to play as a professional and receive £3 3s 0d (£3.15p) a week plus unspecified talent money. The Committee approved and the die was cast, and so Buck entered into 37 years as a professional cricketer. This change of status was soon followed by another. Out of Africa