LIves in Cricket No 31 - Walter Robins

38 brought Robbie into the attack they had already lost Ponsford, Woodfull and Bradman for a mere 16 runs. Fairfax and Kippax were staging a fight- back but Robbie broke the stand by getting Fairfax caught by Hobbs to make it 57 for four, and then had McCabe caught by Hammond bringing the score to 61 for five. Australia ended the day at 140 for eight after Robbie had taken the last two wickets before close of play. Australia were soon out on Monday morning and after England had rattled up 302 quick runs Australia found themselves batting again before play ended, needing 429 runs to win. Robbie was brought on to bowl with Australia 25 for one and his first three overs went for 17 runs. Chapman didn’t call him up again that evening and Australia ended the day at 60 for one. With all day Tuesday available, the pitch looking good, nine wickets in hand and Bradman batting, the target of 369 looked within Australia’s reach, particularly when news arrived that Larwood was unable to leave home suffering from acute gastritis. Chapman rotated the bowling between Tate, Tyldesley and Hammond for the first 42 overs of the day, but with only Ponsford gone and Australia 137 for two he reluctantly decided to use Robbie. With the third ball of his third over, Robbie made the breakthrough that England needed when Kippax cut the ball straight to Hammond. When the lunch interval arrived Australia were 198 for three, still needing another 231 to win but with four hours of play left in which to get them and Bradman well set. Soon after Bradman reached his century Tate induced McCabe to pump the ball to mid off and Australia were 229 for four, needing 200 in 195 minutes. Richardson came in to play a supporting role to Bradman who now started to attack Tyldesley and the runs came steadily. In desperation, Chapman turned again to Robbie, who for the past twenty-five overs had been racing around the outfield cutting off boundaries. He immediately forced Bradman on to the defensive and when he delivered the last ball of his third over Bradman read it as a leg-break missing the stumps but, taking no chances, withdrew his bat away from the ball. Instead of spinning harmlessly away, Robbie had sent down his googly which twisted back to strike the off stump. Bradman subsequently claimed that he had picked the delivery as a googly but ‘as I moved across to play it my bat got caught in my pad.’ Not a very convincing excuse, and if he really believed that he had been beaten by an accident why did he feel the need to threaten Robbie as he passed him on his way back to the pavilion by muttering ‘You wait till I get you at Lord’s’? The last five wickets fell while adding only 68 runs, Robbie wrapping up Australia’s innings and sealing the win by getting Hornibrook caught behind by Duckworth. Plum Warner was more impressed with Robbie’s Ashes debut than some others, saying that he ‘bowled finely with seven wickets, including Bradman’s, to his credit for 132 runs, had scored a brilliant 50 not out, and, as always, had fielded superbly.’ Kathleen Knight certainly was one spectator at Trent Bridge who was impressed by Robbie in his first Ashes Test: ‘Walter arranged for me to stay with our mutual friends, Dr and Mrs Cran in Nottingham, and he proposed in their parlour — the fact of taking Don Bradman’s wicket having clearly gone to his head — to this day, Don Test Match Debut