LIves in Cricket No 31 - Walter Robins

73 Captain of England stopping a hard cut, and New Zealand escaped having to follow on. Then it was England’s turn to collapse and at 75 for seven their slender lead of 152 looked vulnerable on the last day. But fielding mistakes allowed the last three wickets to add 112 runs after they had been encouraged by Robbie to attack the bowling to give his own bowlers enough time to bowl New Zealand out, no matter how slim the lead. Disheartened at the change from looking potential winners to fighting to save the match, New Zealand lost their last six wickets for 40 runs. The final Test was at The Oval and once again Robbie’s positive attitude in search of another win might have paid off if there had been more than only half-an-hour’s play on the first day. New Zealand progressed steadily on the second day and when Page had reached his half-century Robbie put himself on to bowl and took the last three wickets for the addition of only another five more runs. At the end of play England had raced to 86 for three but as soon as they had passed New Zealand’s first innings of 249 for the loss of only seven wickets on the third day, Robbie declared. Ringing the changes between seven bowlers, including Hutton and Compton, he hoped to skittle New Zealand out for a total low enough that England could reach before the drawing of stumps. Given enough time England, with the talents of Hutton, Hardstaff, Hammond and the debutant Compton, who had made 65 in the first innings, the eventual target of 183 would probably have been within their reach, but the match ended with England 31 for one after ten overs. Robbie’s tactics throughout the series did not impress everyone and in Warner’s opinion, ‘Robins had captained well and his fielding was inspiring, but he was more of a battle-cruiser or destroyer leader than an Admiral of the Fleet. He was always out for the “kill” but, as has been suggested, he perhaps attempted to “kill” before he was really in a position to do so.’ So it seems that, in the mind of the chairman of the selectors at least, there was a question mark over whether Robbie should retain the captaincy when the Australians arrived next summer. There would be no MCC winter tour and without another Test series on which to judge the merits of whoever might have been chosen as captain, any decision would have to be put on hold for another seven months. * * * * * * * As well as his success as the new England captain, inspiring his players to play aggressive, entertaining cricket as the best way to win matches, Robbie was driving his Middlesex team to even greater efforts in his determination to be the top county. He had a small squad of experienced players but there were younger players showing great promise and Robbie believed that time and money should be spent on the provision of better playing facilities in the cities and rural areas, so that even more would emerge to strengthen English cricket. Immediately after his return from Australia he had written to The Cricketer magazine: During the recent MCC Australian tour nothing impressed me so much as the contrast between the concrete wickets on which the young Australian learns the game and the so-called turf wickets in our parks