Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

engaging Ernest Robson as one of the few county professionals that they could afford. He was now eligible to play for the county. Robson was a Yorkshireman who had played for Cheshire until 1894. He would stay with the county until 1923 playing in 424 matches. He would score over 10,000 runs and take over 1,000 wickets, as a most reliable member of the team. On May 4, the county started its annual pre-season match to find new players within the county; so L Palairet’s eleven played SMJ Woods’ eleven. Lionel was dismissed in each innings again by Gill. However during the second innings Lionel made 51 and added 135 in 55 minutes with Robson. By making 102 Robson had followed up a hundred he had made earlier playing in the match with Lionel against Bridgwater. Committee members must have been pleased with Robson’s early form. Somerset began the season with an easy win at Bristol over Gloucestershire, Tyler with match figures of 14 for 122 and Woods making a century being the chief contributors. It was then back to Taunton to entertain Yorkshire. Electing to bat Somerset ran up 323 with Lionel making 113. However Yorkshire led by 77 on the first innings and were to complete a five wicket victory late on the third day. The next match against Middlesex at Lord’s was not for 12 days and on the morning of the second day, he received a telegram to return home due an incident in the family. I have been unable to ascertain what this was; in his absence the Somerset team easily lost by an innings. He returned for the next game at Brighton against Sussex. In a high-scoring game Somerset made Sussex follow on; however Sussex then made 525 for four, with a double hundred from Billy Newham and centuries from old Billy Murdoch and Ranjitsinjhi. Playing for a draw Somerset slumped to 21 for six within 45 minutes; a defeat now looked likely as two hours still remained. Lionel though found useful partners in Hedley and Robinson as Somerset closed on 122 for seven, Lionel making an unbeaten 83. After missing the next couple of weeks he returned to the team to play Hampshire, starting on June 15. The weather badly affected the game and Somerset’s 337 for nine was as far as the game reached. Spread over two days Lionel batted four hours Marriage, family, work and Somerset 50