Lives in Cricket No 38 - Lionel Robinson

8 Introduction It would be a cliché to say that Lionel Robinson is a ‘forgotten man’ of Norfolk cricket but it would also be true for, even during the few years when teams bearing his name were playing in matches deemed to be of first-class status, he himself was a shadowy figure to natives of his adoptive county. Contemporary reports in the Norfolk press might have gone into considerable detail about the deeds of ‘Lionel Robinson’s XI’ at his ground at Old Buckenham Hall but they had little to say regarding the man himself. Nor has history deigned to redress the balance and give Robinson due credit for his achievements. Although the first first-class game granted to him saw his eleven defeat the 1912 South African tourists by no fewer than 191 runs, he is now remembered almost solely for attracting the 1921 Australians to Old Buckenham Hall to play against what was a near- Test strength eleven captained by his cricket manager, Archie MacLaren. Writers who have covered this match in any detail have tended to fall into two categories: those concerning themselves with the deeds of the formidable tourists, and those detailing the Indian summer of the first- class career of MacLaren. None has been particularly interested in the man whose money and vision had made the game possible (with the honourable exception of Jeremy Malies who, ironically, has the least space available in which to digress on Lionel) whilst one, Ronald Mason, almost rejoices in his ignorance of Robinson – presumably to cover-up his lamentable failure to do any research. Many of those who know a little about Lionel Robinson are likely to agree broadly with the popular but rather implausible hypothesis advanced in ‘The Cricketer Book Of Cricket Eccentrics And Eccentric Behaviour’ (edited by Christopher Martin-Jenkins). This states that: ‘Lionel Robinson’s dream was to host a match at his own country house between England and Australia. First though, he had to find a house .... He was attracted by a manor house at Old Buckenham, some 15 miles south-west of Norwich .... He bought it and completely restyled it. He appointed Archie MacLaren, the former Lancashire and England captain, as his manager .... to [Robinson’s] delight he was able to persuade the Australians to play the second match of their 1921 tour on his ground.’ This strikes one as unsatisfactory on at least three points. First, although Lionel had been a keen spectator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that he was actively involved in cricket before he was settled in Old Buckenham; indeed it is more than likely that his interest was kindled by the activities of the village club after he became lord of the manor. Second, Old Buckenham would have been a wilfully remote choice of venue for someone who was driven by a life-long goal to host