Lives in Cricket No 38 - Lionel Robinson

66 The Great War cricket. In unusually splendid weather, Robinson’s XII made a very poor start, being bundled out for just 147 largely due to the pace bowling of Cyril Docker who took five for 34, but they managed to limit the AIF’s lead on the first innings to 80. The bowling honours went to one of Lionel’s tried-and-tested favourites, Sid Pegler, who took five for 54, whilst the leading batsman was Herbie Collins with 87. Facing that sizeable deficit Wally Hardinge dropped anchor and accumulated 72 runs in over three hours; at this point the tired AIF bowlers found themselves being battered by Lionel Troughton and Gerald Hough who added 124 in just 90 minutes for the seventh wicket. When Mason declared at 362 for eight, Hough was unbeaten on 87. As the AIF needed to depart early to travel to Leyton, where they were due to play Essex, it had been agreed to draw stumps at 3.30pm on the third day. This meant that the tourists had three hours and 45 minutes in which to score 283 on a pitch which was still playing well. Now it was the turn of Johnny Taylor to blunt the opponents’ attack as he took over two hours to garner 66 runs; this paved the way for some more aggressive batting by Carl Willis and especially by Jack Gregory who hit 44 in just 40 minutes so that the AIF appeared to be coasting to victory. However, Frank Woolley managed to trap two batsmen with their pads in front of the stumps and the tourists lost momentum at a crucial time, slumping from 260 for six to 268 for nine. A few minutes later time was called with the AIF still nine runs short with two wickets in hand. At this point Lionel, in an unusually magnanimous mood, decided to risk defeat by having the match played out. Kelleway, however, declined his generous offer and the match was left drawn. As usual, the Eastern Daily Press was full of praise for Lionel’s ground, stating that: “[the AIF] will make the acquaintance of few, if any, better or prettier grounds than Mr Lionel Robinson’s’. Plaudits were also accorded to the groundsman, providing evidence that the turf was still being lovingly maintained: ‘The condition of the ground did Porter much credit. He did his bit in France and Mesopotamia, and has a shortened leg as a constant reminder of the great war, and in a few short months he, and his henchman, Squibs, brought the ground to a state of fitness that won praise from everyone. The wicket itself had that perfect appearance which draws a sigh from the bowler ...’ The match between Norfolk and the MCC, which Lionel generously agreed to host, took place in August 1920. With Norfolk’s regular skipper, Michael Falcon again busy in the House of Commons, Archie found himself captaining his adopted county for the only time. 51 His side was not the strongest for Michael Falcon, Geoffrey Stevens, Harry Falcon and Geoffrey Colman were all absentees; the MCC would have been pre-match favourites, having Test all-rounder Aubrey Faulkner and the highly-rated youngsters paceman Clem Gibson and leg-breaker Reg Bettington in their eleven. As usual, it rained on Lionel’s parade and, despite play being allowed to continue until 7.20pm, there was only time on the first day for 51 During the Great War, Archie had served as a captain in the Royal Army Service Corps, before being invalided out in 1917.