Lives in Cricet No 33 - Jack Robertson and Syd Brown

45 had been launching them in large numbers at south-east England since the middle of June, exacting a heavy toll among the population. The time to worry was when the engine cut out because the bomb would then glide to the ground, leaving those below with little time to seek shelter before it exploded. Invisible in low clouds, the bomb got closer to Lord’s, and then the engine stopped. Not surprisingly, so did the cricket. Bob Wyatt had been running up to bowl to Jack his usual medium-pace outswinger but wisely decided not to complete the delivery as, together with everybody else, he threw himself to the ground, whilst 3,000 spectators took what evasive action they could. Fortunately − at least for those at Lord’s, but not those nearby whose houses were knocked down − the bomb fell 200 yards short, rather than into the Nursery Ground as had seemed likely. Even at that range, however, a strong blast was felt at the ground and there was a slight pause, and relieved laughter, before cricket resumed amid the ringing of ambulance bells. Jack celebrated by hooking former England captain Wyatt straight into the cheering crowd for six. 60 Bill Edrich later suggested that if Hitler had seen such defiant unconcern ‘it would have broken his heart’. 61 This historic event was recorded for posterity in Wisden by a photograph which shows Jack and three fielders, including Edrich, lying prone on the pitch. After this excitement the match reverted 60 Wisden said that it was the second ball after the resumption. Others, including importantly Jack himself, thought it was the first. It doesn’t matter. Apparently the normally calm Jack explained his extreme reaction (ie the six) to annoyance both at the interruption and at the enemy. (McCarthy, Tony, War Games, The Story of Sport in World War Two , Queen Anne Press, 1989). 61 Hill, Alan, Bill Edrich: A Biography , Andre Deutsch, 1994. A young (not quite 12) Micky Stewart was in the crowd. He remembers them singing ‘There’ll always be an England’. Chalke, Stephen, Micky Stewart and the Changing Face of Cricket , Fairfield Books, 2012. Doodlebug Summer Evasive action, courtesy of a photographer with remarkable presence of mind. Players taking cover in the services match at Lord’s on 29 July 1944; Jack with bat. The others are A.E.Wilson (wk), W.J.Edrich and A.D.G.Matthews.