Lives in Cricet No 33 - Jack Robertson and Syd Brown

92 the Rest’s first innings. On his return Sharp was given an extended trial as his opening partner. The union met with some initial success, culminating in a stand of 166 against Yorkshire in mid June. It was a match of some interest, involving three declarations, the last of which set Middlesex just over three hours to make 308. Robins took up the challenge and went in first with Jack, who had made 120 in the first innings, but after a brisk opening stand of 32, Middlesex collapsed for just 78 with Wardle’s left- arm spin yielding him eight for 26. When Dewes came into the side later in the season he bolstered the batting considerably, scoring 739 runs in seven championship matches at an average of 61.58 and, in partnership with Jack, ensuring that Middlesex rarely failed to get off to a good start. The pair went to the wicket together 13 times during the season averaging an impressive 75 runs per visit, including three century partnerships. In all matches Dewes finished the season with 2,432 runs, a total only exceeded by Nottinghamshire’s Simpson. Unfortunately because of teaching duties − he eventually became a headteacher in Australia − this was to be his last full season of first-class cricket. A final career total of nearly 9,000 runs at an average of 42 indicates what he might have achieved if he had played full-time. Jack finished his county season with a century against the West Indians who had just trounced England 3-1. The mysterious Sonny Ramadhin wasn’t playing, but Jack still had to contend with the fizzing spin of his partner, bespectacled slow left-armer Alf Valentine, who had taken 33 wickets in the four Tests. The MCC team for the following winter’s tour of Australia and New Zealand had already been chosen and so his performance was too late to catch the selectors’ attention. Maybe if it had been a month earlier he might have come into contention. Or maybe not. There had been criticism of the advanced age of the previous party to Australia; this time the selectors had decided to go for youth, picking a number of promising but relatively inexperienced batsmen. 122 The policy was a failure and England lost the series 4-1, albeit a little unluckily. The need for more experience was obvious. The most startling omission had been Edrich. He had apparently been omitted because he had celebrated a little too well, and too late, during the Old Trafford Test − going to bed rather noisily in his room next to the chairman of selectors − and because the captain of the touring party, Freddie Brown, thought him ‘a problem’. 123 Wisden identified Jack among a group of experienced players who might have brought stability to the batting, whilst Gordon Ross thought that his omission, and that of Dennis Brookes of Northamptonshire, was ‘sacrilege’. 124 Initially, because of business commitments, Washbrook had declined his invitation to tour, but was eventually allowed to fly out later and join the team in time for the second State match. If he hadn’t 122 There were no fewer than eleven selectors, of whom only Les Ames had played as a professional. There was no obvious pro/am bias in the selection of young batsmen, however: Gilbert Parkhouse and Brian Close were professionals; John Dewes and David Sheppard were amateurs. 123 Hill, Alan, Bill Edrich: A Biography , Andre Deutsch, 1994. 124 Ross, Gordon, The Testing Years , Stanley Paul, 1958. End of an Era