Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

Somerset commenced their innings with Palairet and Braund to the bowling of Hallows and Mold. Each bowler sent down an over and it was not until Hallows completed his second over that the sensations commenced. ‘His first ball passed safely, but Phillips then challenged the second and third deliveries, when putting up his hand shouted ‘no-ball’ to each. Instantly there were loud shouts of disapproval from the crowd (about 1,000 being present at the ground). But this did not deter Phillips who kept calling Mold for throwing. The over eventually amounted to eleven balls, five being called no-ball. ‘At the other end there was total silence from Richardson, Hallows then bowled his third over and Mold was then replaced by Webb, this change did not meet the approval of the Old Trafford crowd who continued to shout and boo. The crowd appeared to regard it as a capitulation to the decisions of Phillips and they took vehement notice of the fact. ‘MacLaren, though had a card up his sleeve. If Phillips at square-leg could discern what Richardson at the bowler’s end could not, it was only fair that both should have the judgement accordingly. As a result Mold replaced Hallows. The crowd cheered this action. Now came the test. Phillips could not watch the feet as well as the action of the bowler and Phillips apparently was content with watching the style of the bowler (Mold). ‘The first ball went unchallenged, but on the second he raised his arm at square leg and called no-ball. Phillips repeated the call for the fourth and fifth deliveries. There were three no balls in this over. The crowd now were now barracking Phillips, calling him some uncomplimentary names. Phillips ignored this and continued to call no balls. Meanwhile Palairet and Braund batted on and showed little disturbance to their batting amidst what was going on around them. ‘In Mold’s next over Phillips called him four times for no balling. Only one was called in each of Mold’s next two overs. In his seventh none were called and Mold had Palairet caught at mid-wicket and clean bowled Jupp two deliveries later. The eighth and ninth each had one no-ball called. In the tenth A new century and 1901 73