Lives in Cricet No 33 - Jack Robertson and Syd Brown

79 And, winning all four matches, including the final decider against Mildura, that winning team was Broken Hill. The side’s fielding in particular was outstanding, no doubt due to Syd’s influence. Two of the team, Horrie Thorp and Ron Adams, performed well enough to earn selection for the Victoria Country side which was to play the Indian tourists at Mildura at the end of the month. Syd did his bit with the bat, making 31 against Swan Hill and 74 against Ouyen. The team were probably glad to be away. Back in Broken Hill temperatures had peaked at 108 deg F, and to make matters worse there was a beer shortage which was likely to last about a week. This was not wholly attributable to overconsumption; the main reasons seemed to be a shortage of casks, and the fact that there had been no train from Adelaide on Monday. Given the success of the Broken Hill side and Syd’s popularity, it is not surprising that he returned the following season to continue his good work. It seems to have been an eventful journey. The Barrier Miner for 22 November reported that he had been due in Broken Hill on that day but had been delayed at Colombo, whilst a week later, when he had finally arrived, it also referred to delay in Cairo! Broken Hill again sent a representative team south to Mildura, although this time some of the team flew down. An extra team, Renmark from South Australia, took part this time. With some players unavailable Broken Hill weren’t quite as strong as in the previous year. However, the players selected had been practising hard twice a week and the team were still expected to do well. In the event they again gave a very good account of themselves but, going into the final match level on points at the top with Mildura, they lost to their hosts after being set a tough target of 241 in 170 minutes. Syd had a good tournament with the bat, the high point being a century before lunch against Swan Hill. He also took his turn with the ball and obtained four for 31, to follow up two for 22 against Renmark. In a letter to the Corporation at the end of his trip Syd thanked them for their fine hospitality. He commended Broken Hill on its plentiful supply of very good batsmen, bowlers and fielders, although he thought that a bit more attention should be paid to ‘good field placings’; presumably an indirect criticism of the captaincy. He was also glad to see the introduction of more turf pitches. In reply he was thanked for his ‘splendid work’ and for ‘the excellent relationship you established with everyone you came into contact with on and off the field. We were all sorry to see you leave.’ I don’t think he came into contact with Don Bradman, but Rob has in his possession a letter from the great man asking Syd to call on him if he came to Adelaide. Like his Middlesex opening partner, Syd clearly had an aptitude for coaching. He obtained his MCC Advanced Coaching Certificate three years later and would subsequently go on to make use of this talent at a number of local cricket schools, including in particular the county’s cricket school, in those days at Alexandra Palace. Strangely, however, Rob thought his Broken Hill