Lives in Cricket No 29 - AN Hornby

52 ten for 20, including a hat-trick, as the Aussies strolled to a nine- wicket victory. MCC had 13 ducks in the match! This was the second match of an arduous 39-match four-month tour for the Australians, who in addition to playing against many of the counties, also featured in games against less well- known teams including Batley, Longsight, Birmingham, Hunslet, Stockport, Hull, Crewe, Rochdale and Sunderland. It sounds more like a football or Rugby League fixture list than a cricket tour programme. Even though Hornby was dismissed for nine (c Spofforth b Boyle) in his only innings against the Australians when appearing for the Gentlemen of England at Prince’s Cricket Ground in Chelsea the following June, Horan had most definitely not changed his mind about A.N.’s prowess as a cricketer. He stuck to his guns, writing: ‘I have already alluded to the Melbourne match and I still maintain the opinion expressed viz that he [Hornby] is a very hard hitter and nothing more. ‘As a fielder he is unsurpassed, save by [George] Strachan and returns with right or left hand, just as the ball reaches him.’ But Horan was far from impressed with Hornby’s performance in this particular encounter, writing: ‘Hornby was fortunate to survive a catch and an easy stumping off two successive Boyle deliveries and was [eventually] caught by Spofforth [off the bowling of Boyle] for a wretchedly obtained nine.’ A month later Hornby was in action against the Australians again when Lancashire took on the touring team at Old Trafford. Hornby once again fell to his nemesis, Spofforth, failing to score in either innings of a drawn encounter. Horan, as usual, had plenty to say about Hornby, writing: ‘In Mr A.N.Hornby, it [Lancashire] has one of the best bats in England although he has shown miserable cricket against us so far this season. He likes a fast wicket and can’t play on a sticky one. Hornby forms a formidable partnership with R.G.Barlow, stone- waller, and one of the most difficult batsmen to get out.’ Horan then turned his attention to the Lancashire ground and its supporters. He described Old Trafford thus: ‘The ground is one of England’s largest and finest and is kept in splendid order. In size it occupies the same area as the Melbourne ground and it possesses a good pavilion with a bar attached.’ Married to Sport