Lives in Cricket No 39 - Alec Watson

40 Chapter Four The anni mirabiles Lancashire’s new captain was A.N.Hornby, by now aged about thirty-three. Coming from a cotton-spinning family, he had been educated at Harrow, and his first full season for Lancashire was in 1870. Though an amateur, he had a tough streak in him, as we shall see when, with backing of the Lancashire CCC committee and the honorary secretary, S.H. Swire, he was prepared to resist Lord Harris, though much of the day-today running of the club was in the hands of the ‘assistant secretary and collector’, the above- mentioned Fred Reynolds: an arrangement that also pertained at other county clubs. One perhaps should wonder, however, whether his defiance of Lord Harris was a true loyalty towards his professionals or a determination not to be browbeaten, even by Harris. A letter to The Manchester Guardian in 1881 noted Hornby’s popularity with supporters, as he made Lancashire into a successful team that did well in the ‘championship’. W.E. Howard noted that Hornby had confidence in his opinions, and set an example by his physical strength and hard work. Hornby was captain until after the end of Watson’s first-class career in 1893, though in the last two seasons other commitments restricted his appearances significantly, and Sydney Morland Crosfield deputised. He then became president of the Club until 1916. Hornby returned to captain the side in 1897 and 1898; so he may have been instrumental in asking Watson, vainly as it happened, to turn out again for the club in 1898. Hornby’s career batting average was 24.07, and he played in three Tests and nine rugby international matches; and occasionally also played soccer for Blackburn Rovers. Christopher Martin-Jenkins in The Wisden Book of County Cricket (p 22) aptly summed him up: ‘He was rash, truculent and warm hearted.’ His abilities and conduct, on and off the field, made him a respected captain, and Watson would have been glad of his friendship and support. In 1880 Lancashire had twelve matches against counties and one against MCC. However, they did not play the touring Australians.