Lives in Cricket No 29 - AN Hornby

79 the hilt. He even threatened to walk away from the game after Crossland had been shouted at and jostled by spectators as he came off the field at the close of Surrey’s first innings on the first day. It was half an hour before Hornby could be persuaded to send out his openers, but he was not one of them. He asked Frank Taylor to open with Barlow and the captain was so furious he threatened never to play again with Lancashire at the ground, although later he relented and appeared there several more times before the end of his career. The dispute rumbled on through the winter when Nottinghamshire announced their refusal to play Lancashire in the upcoming 1884 season. Nottinghamshire didn’t mince words when they stated: ‘Lancashire have during the last season played in their Eleven at least two men as to the fairness of whose bowling there is grave doubt.’ In December 1883 the county secretaries met to discuss the question of unfair bowling and tried to get a gentlemen’s agreement, couched in rather catch-all terms ‘not to employ any bowler whose action is at all doubtful’. Yorkshire, Kent, Middlesex, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey signed. It is believed that The Crossland and Mold throwing controversies The Lancashire team that played Oxford University in 1883. Standing: A.Watson, J.Crossland, R.Pilling, W.Robinson, G.Nash, Seated: H.B.Steel, A.N.Hornby, S.M.Crosfield, E.Roper. On ground: R.G.Barlow, J.Briggs, C.Coward (umpire). The bowling actions of Crossland and Nash later provoked a series of confrontations in which Hornby vigorously supported his bowlers.