Lives in Cricet No 33 - Jack Robertson and Syd Brown

72 team eventually docked three days late in Bridgetown. The warm welcome from the locals, and the beautiful weather, was some small consolation for the fact that the team were consequently now compelled to play their first match only three days after their arrival and therefore with little time for gradual acclimatisation to the unfamiliar and demanding conditions. Perhaps not surprisingly in view of all these problems, eleven first-class matches would be played on tour with not one victory to raise the spirits. The last two Tests ended in defeat, the first two in draws with West Indies on top. However, although their cricket would leave much to be desired, for the players the tour was a fascinating experience as they visited the three main cricketing islands, plus British Guiana. Staying roughly three weeks at each venue gave them time to settle in, do some sightseeing, and experience the warm hospitality of the people. On the field, with spectators in the palm trees and constant loud chatter from the crowd, Jack would have found it different from playing at Lord’s. The Tests were attended by large crowds who showed their appreciation of the fare provided, although The Cricketer end of tour report mentioned some (unspecified and atypical) ‘very uncalled-for behaviour in the Trinidad Test’. MCC began the tour at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, with two matches against Barbados followed by the First Test. 99 In the first match MCC were given a taste of burgeoning West Indian batting power as the home side 99 Where, for the first time, a black man, the great George Headley, was appointed to captain the West Indies. Caribbean Johnny Wardle, Billy Griffith, Dennis Brookes, Dick Howorth, Joe Hardstaff, Harold Butler, and Jack spend Christmas morning 1947 afloat. All smiles, but did they realise how bad the crossing was going to be?