LIves in Cricket No 31 - Walter Robins

95 looked as if it was possible to win the last two Tests and share the series. The last thing anyone expected was that the selectors would throw the opportunity away by forgetting that the wicket at Leeds was certain to favour spin, preferably sharp and from the leg, and England had several bowlers, all fit and available to take advantage of such conditions. Instead they picked the off-spinner Laker. At least they brought back Hutton, who had scored two centuries and averaged 88.20 from six innings between the Second and Fourth Tests. He now shared two century opening partnerships with Washbrook to help put England into a commanding position on the final day when Yardley, hoping for an Australian collapse, declared after just two more overs and asked them to try and make 404 runs to win in just five and a half hours play, a feat never before accomplished on the fifth day of Anglo-Australian Tests. The runs came slowly at first but, after Hassett was out for 17, Morris and Bradman added 301 runs in 217 minutes before Morris was out, soon followed by Miller. Bradman went on to an undefeated 173 runs when Harvey hit the winning boundary with 14 minutes to spare: Robbie was ashamed to admit that he and other selectors ‘waited until it was dark and slipped out of a side gate.’ Now the idea of a recall for Robbie as England captain was the hot topic of conversation among England supporters once again. As Alan Gibson noted, ‘it was felt that Robins, still a fine player, might have brought a touch of dash and adventure which would have enabled England to end the season on a brighter note.’ Whether the other selectors took this seriously or not, Robbie returned immediately to the ranks of Middlesex and played in the next four championship matches. But the selectors remained faithful to Yardley for the final Test and Robbie stayed away from another crushing defeat at The Oval, to go off and play against Kent at Dover, hitting 101 in the first innings and 74 out of 203 in the second to help Middlesex win by six wickets. There were two more championship matches to play before what would be for Robbie the biggest event of the season. He would captain the Gentlemen of England XI against the Australian tourists in Bradman’s last match at Lord’s, which would also be Bradman’s fortieth birthday. It must have been an emotional moment for them both as they walked out to the middle to toss for innings. Bradman chose correctly and elected to bat on a perfect wicket, going in to treat the spectators to a magnificent innings of 150 and then sacrificing his wicket by lofting a ball from Brown to Donnelly in the deep. Before walking through the doors of the Long Room for the last time as a batsman, he took off his gloves, hung them around his bat handle, raised them high, removed his cap and bowed farewell, first to the crowd, then to the members in the pavilion. Before Bradman returned to Australia there was one last official function. A luncheon was arranged at the Savoy Hotel in his honour, attended by a host of dignitaries and players who had competed against him. He was presented with a replica of the 2,000-year-old Warwick Vase found in Rome by Sir William Hamilton, the cost of the gift having been raised by an appeal in The People newspaper. There was a considerable amount left A Fresh Start with Old Friends