Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

of the partnership and never looking comfortable. Lionel soon brought his fifty up in only 40 minutes. He slowed afterwards, mainly because of wickets falling at the other end, but his 90 out of 141 for four was made in two hours and ten minutes with 15 fours; he gave no chance. It is almost certain that this innings was responsible for his call-up to the Fourth Test team. Somerset afterwards rallied and eventually reached 315, sadly though rain came shortly after the Australians commenced their second innings. After the defeat at Sheffield, with the Fourth Test starting the following week at Manchester, England made four changes. Out went CB Fry, George Hirst, Gilbert Jessop and Sydney Barnes. In came Ranjitsinjhi, Bill Lockwood (Surrey), Fred Tate (Sussex) and Lionel. Hirst ended up being twelfth man. Both Lockwood and Tate (the first to reach a hundred wickets in the season) were having fine seasons, with Ranjitsinjhi being recalled after missing the last Test. The committee choosing the team at Manchester consisted of Lord Hawke, Gregor MacGregor, HW Bainbridge, FS Jackson and AG Steel. Newspapers made little of Lionel’s inclusion other than it was his first game and his innings of 90 had impressed the selectors; the newspapers agreed with his inclusion commenting on his graceful batting. Lionel had made only two fifties in the summer to date as it was nearly the end of July, so he was perhaps fortunate to have been chosen. Australia won an important toss, electing to bat, on a dead and lifeless pitch. As a result Trumper and Duff opened with a sterling partnership of 135 before the stand was broken by Lockwood. Trumper went on to score 104 in only 115 minutes. As the day progressed the sun started to dry the wicket out, the England bowlers started getting more purchase on the ball and it became increasingly harder to make runs. Although Clem Hill and Joe Darling made fifties, after such a good start the Australians were restricted to 299 made in four and a quarter hours. Bill Lockwood’s return of six for 48 being particularly excellent. Lionel caught Hopkins at long-on off Lockwood. However by now the wicket was drying rapidly and it was expected that England would struggle to make runs from the outset. 1902 and one more good season 82