Lives in Cricket No 39 - Alec Watson

62 bat, but could take only one wicket. Lancashire then called in at Oxford, where Watson bowled only twelve overs, without success. Then they played at Old Trafford against Kent and the Australians, when Watson did not appear, and against Sussex, when he did; again scoring 20, but again going wicketless. That was the end of Alec’s 1893 season, and the end of his first-class cricketing career. Three ‘not outs’ in five innings allowed Watson to have a batting average of 22.50, in theory his best ever, while he took four catches. He bowled only 36 overs in the three matches and managed only one, very expensive, wicket: 74.00 was, again in theory, his worst-ever bowling average. Wisden noted his disappearance from the side, and lamented that nobody had been found to fill his place. It also commented on Hornby usually being absent from the side, noting his past ‘spirit and enthusiasm’, and that Crosfield followed ‘worthily’ in his steps. However, one senses that Watson may have felt that, with his old friend largely absent from the side, it was time for him too to go. Lillywhite’s Annual did not mention his departure. Perhaps it was felt that he might return. Wisden’s obituary of Watson and other sources, state that he was asked to return in 1898. As mentioned above, Hornby returned as captain in 1897 and 1898, and so possibly he may have been behind this projected recall of his friend. Be that as it may, Watson apparently did not feel able to play in his fifty- fourth year. That is, of course, a valid point, as also is the fact that Watson may have felt constrained from making a return by his coaching duties at Worcester ( of which more later); but one must also wonder whether his action would have come under ever more serious scrutiny as the anti-throwing controversy was then reaching its height. Slow Decline and Sudden End