LIves in Cricket No 31 - Walter Robins

72 Chapter Eight Captain of England Robbie was back in England in time to play in the first match of the 1937 season at Lord’s. Gubby Allen had not yet returned from California so the captaincy of MCC’s side against Yorkshire was given to Wyatt. Allen had made it very clear that he would not be available to continue as the England captain that summer, as he did not intend to play very much first- class cricket. Robbie’s record in the first weeks of the season leading Middlesex had been a roller-coaster ride between success and failure. But that was about to end when Yorkshire returned to Lord’s for the county match. Robbie top-scored with an unbeaten 65 in Middlesex’s only innings and inspired his bowlers to win by an innings. This was the sort of leadership that the selectors were looking for and the next Middlesex match was as hosts to the New Zealand tourists. Robbie’s five for 42 in the visitors’ second innings convinced Warner and Co that he was the right captain for England and his stint began with the First Test at Lord’s on 26 June where his chosen eleven was a mixture of old friends and new. Six members of the tour down under, Barnett, Hardstaff, Hammond, Ames, Voce and Verity, plus one player who should have been with them on that tour, Paynter, two debutants, Hutton and Parks, and Gover, the best fast bowler they could find to replace the missing Allen. Winning the toss seemed like a good omen for Robbie’s future as England’s new skipper but when they lost their first two wickets for only 31, some might have had doubts. A partnership of 245 between Hammond and Hardstaff brought England back on track to a first innings total of 424, and they soon had New Zealand struggling at 176 for seven with Robbie leading by example with three for 58. But he couldn’t break a century partnership between Maloney and Roberts and England had to be satisfied with a lead of 129. As always, Robbie believed that victory was possible and sent himself in at the fall of the fourth wicket, 292 in front, to hurry the score along. Eventually he declared at lunch on the last day 355 in front with four hours in which to get all ten New Zealand wickets. He very nearly pulled it off and when the match ended New Zealand were 175 for eight. Robbie’s luck with the coin continued in the Second Test and England ended the first day at 358 for nine. He declared first thing on Monday morning and at 119 for five the New Zealanders were again in difficulties. But Robbie could take no further part in the bowling attack after dislocating the index finger of his right hand trying to take a hard chance off Goddard, and then shortly afterwards he split the third finger of the same hand when