Lives in Cricet No 33 - Jack Robertson and Syd Brown

24 Wisden had been particularly impressed with Syd: ‘Most gratifying was the discovery of Brown, an opening batsman for whom the authorities had been searching … [he] showed himself possessed of all the strokes.’ It is interesting to note that at this stage he was perhaps more highly rated than Jack. These comments were vindicated in his first match in 1938 when, opening with Edrich (115) for MCC against Surrey, he contributed 34 to a second-innings century partnership. His dismissal paved the way for a two-hour Compton century, and the match finished in some excitement as Surrey remarkably lost by just five runs chasing 466 to win. Edrich was in a purple patch that would see him become only the sixth batsman to score a thousand runs by the end of May. At this early stage of his career he would often open the batting as neither Middlesex nor England had yet hit upon settled opening pairs. However, as Robertson and Brown, and Len Hutton and Cyril Washbrook, came to the fore he moved down the order with great success. Later, when England again searched for a suitable partner for Hutton against Australia in 1953 and 1954/55, he would finish his Test career as an opener. Middlesex had seen enough to give Syd his chance, and his championship debut followed, again as Edrich’s partner. With 40 out of an opening partnership of 69 in the first innings, and 30 out of 54 in the second, he contributed significantly to a comfortable nine-wicket two-day win over Warwickshire at Lord’s. Syd was a regular member of the side for the rest of the season, missing only three matches and finishing his first full year as a capped player and with a creditable 873 runs at an average of 22. Although he passed fifty only four times, he often reached double figures, and finally achieved a coveted first century, against Lancashire at Old Trafford on a gloomy, late August day whose light was likened by The Times reporter to the witches scene in Macbeth . Hitting strongly to the off, his 114 lasted nearly four hours and included ten 4s; it took a brilliant diving catch by Washbrook at mid on to remove him. Lancashire pace bowlers Dick Pollard, Eddie Phillipson and Bert Nutter took 270 championship wickets in 1938 and they no doubt found the humid and oppressive conditions in which the match began helpful to their skills. For a batsman not yet aged 21 to make a century, and top score, in these circumstances therefore augured well for the future. Eric Thompson of the Daily Mail, one of seven journalists to die in the Munich air disaster 20 years later, thought that he had looked ‘entirely free from nerves or tension’. Because of rain the match petered out to a draw. The weather had been unkind to Old Trafford in 1938, most famously in the Test match against Australia which was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Jack’s chance was a little longer coming. Edrich’s form meant that he was almost a certainty to make his Test debut in the forthcoming series against Australia, and Middlesex were therefore going to need another opener. Jack came back into the side at the beginning of June. The bad weather he had experienced at The Parks on his debut followed him there again. An overnight gale had wrecked tents, covers and screens, and following heavy rain it was not possible for Jack and Syd to open together in first-class cricket for the first time until after lunch. It was a propitious start, the Making the Grade