Lives in Cricket No 38 - Lionel Robinson

76 The visit of the Australians In 1921 outswingers providing support as he took three for 33. The fielding lived up to expectations, with Chapman’s catch off a hard cut by Hendry coming in for special mention. In a spell of nostalgia, The Times paid tribute to Archie’s captaincy in the field: ‘It was good to see Mr MacLaren leading a side again; there was the same genius displayed in the placing of the field, the same skill in blocking the batsman’s favourite stroke, while one beautiful pick up with the left hand in the slips served to remind us that he still retained his skill as a slip fieldsman.’ The wicket remained a little tricky when Robinson’s XI went in, lending assistance to Ted McDonald’s break-backs and to Gregory’s pace. After the early departure of Donald Knight, Hobbs and Jupp took the battle to the Australian attack, with the former being the dominant partner until the latter overcame a shaky start. Hobbs took a couple of blows from shortish deliveries but seemed untroubled. In Leo McKinstry’s comprehensive biography of ‘The Master’, he is described as showing ‘precise judgement in leaving the ball, playing a dead bat or going on the attack’. Ronald Mason, who has a pretty turn of phrase, stated that: ‘Hobbs ... tamed the fast openers and ... was the complete and prolific master of Mailey; he batted with the rare grace and control that only a great batsman can command against bowlers who begin with a high psychological advantage ... Hobbs, the quick-footed hawk-eyed master, playing [Gregory and McDonald] both like fish on the end of the line.’ He then continued his purple prose: ‘It is to be doubted if 1921, during all its blistering iron-hard summer, ever saw a finer concentration of cricket as it did in the depths of Norfolk, for an hour or two, on this cold uncertain May afternoon.’ As was stated in the Introduction, Mason had little time for Lionel Robinson’s cricket and Herbie Collins batting on the third day at Old Buckenham.