Lives in Cricket No 48 - Maurice Leyland

The wagon wheel for Maurice’s 109 in the Leeds Test of June 1934. Headingley’s Nursery End is on the left 101 international cricket for he was destined to join a select band who have managed to hit a century in their first Test match at the home of cricket. He took his score to 105 before succumbing to Bill Bowes for the first of two dismissals at the hands of the big Yorkshireman in this game. “The thing about Bill Bowes,” he recalled, “was the bounce he managed to get on the ball. He wasn’t as quick as some but that extra bounce made the difference. I remember getting one that lifted in the first innings, that I gloved to Ames, behind the stumps, and in the second innings I was caught half way to the boundary by Cyril Walters. I didn’t have a particularly good hook shot and I didn’t get hold of it.” If only he’d read Hobbs’ assessment 18 months earlier. Verity took eight for 43 in the Australian second innings, to go with his seven for 61 in the first, and they were all out for just 118 on their way to defeat by an innings and 38 runs.