Lives in Cricet No 33 - Jack Robertson and Syd Brown

32 would have attracted a large crowd. However, because of the international situation, there were ‘only’ 5,000 at Lord’s on 26 August, a crowd that present-day county treasurers would no doubt warmly welcome. After heavy overnight rain, 16 wickets fell on the first day but conditions eased and Middlesex were eventually left 426 to win in just over four and a half hours. Jack’s partner as his side set out on their rather unlikely chase was George Hart who, with Joe Hulme, was the match’s joint beneficiary. Hart went without scoring, caught and bowled by Eddie Watts who the previous week had taken all ten Warwickshire second-innings wickets at Edgbaston. He might have wished to finish his 198-match first-class career on a slightly higher note. There was never much chance of a definite result and stumps were pulled at a quarter past five with Middlesex 328 for four, of which Jack who had played ‘an innings of strokes of great charm’ contributed 140. E.H.D.Sewell, another journalist of strong opinions, thought that his performance was ‘quite fit to rank with Compton’s best’. With the worsening international situation moving to its inevitable conclusion the last championship match at Lord’s for nearly seven years started on Wednesday 30 August, Middlesex overwhelming Warwickshire by an innings. The visitors’ attack was weakened by the absence of the fast- medium bowling of the injured Danny Mayer, whose thirteen-year, 1,144 wicket, career had thus come to an end, and Middlesex took full advantage by knocking up 525 for seven by close of play. Not surprisingly, in view of his period out of the side, Syd was more painstaking than the assured and aggressive Jack who made 41 out of the first 50 and reached his century just before lunch − the first Middlesex batsman to do this on the opening day of a match since Pelham Warner in 1907. The partnership was finally broken at 171 when Syd, having just reached his fifty, was leg-before to leg-spinner Eric Hollies. Warwickshire’s greatest-ever wicket-taker would eventually have figures of three for 145 in 26.6 overs to dwell on in the long period before he could turn his arm over again in first-class cricket. Jack finally went after three hours for 154 with the score 247. The Times commented that he ‘had shown all the makings of an opening batsman who may be of great value to England in the near future’. There had been some criticism that he had been inclined to get out when apparently well set. His last two matches suggested that he was overcoming this tendency. After he left, Edrich (101), Compton (86) and Smith (a swan song 45 in 15 minutes) all made merry and Paul Brooks , a left-handed batsman making his first-class debut aged 18, chipped in with an impressive 44 not out. 44 Middlesex declared at their overnight score. Poor light on a second day did Warwickshire no favours and they were dismissed twice, well short of making Middlesex bat again. It was a gloomy end to pre-war first-class cricket at Lord’s. The international situation was now critical. In the early hours of the following day Germany invaded Poland. The only county cricket played 44 Brooks had already come to national attention the year before by bowling Don Bradman in the nets at Lord’s. The press referred to him as ‘The boy who bowled Bradman’. A bright future beckoned. However, although he was the youngest player in the match, he would be the only one taken by the War. Gathering Clouds