Lives in Cricket No 48 - Maurice Leyland

161 In Memoriam Hilarem and equanimity as a person won him lasting friendships in all parts of the world. The outstanding virtues of Leyland’s cricket lay in temperament as much as in technique. He possessed, with his fellow Yorkshiremen Herbert Sutcliffe and FS Jackson, an uncommon ability to be successful on the important occasion. His first Test match innings against Australia was a century and so was his last. Cricket needs many Maurice Leylands. Yorkshire will remember him with pride. His old friend Jim Kilburn wrote the formal obituary for that morning’s paper and among the necessary career details were his own heartfelt memories of the man: Leyland’s assurance was based on professional competence, but his calm was a gift of nature. He never sailed under false colours and he saw difficulty and accomplishment in due proportions. He saw the humour in cricketing incidents and he shared it. Spectators enjoyed his cricket because he was so obviously enjoying it himself. He made no enemies and innumerable friends and his benefit in 1934 brought £3,648 as their tribute to a favourite who never ignored their interests to the advantage of his own. Leyland’s sturdy frame, his independence of outlook and his resolution in performance represented the popular conception of the Yorkshire character and his nickname among cricketing contemporaries was ‘The Tyke’. Wherever he went Yorkshiremen could feel assured that their reputation was in good hands. It was hard for anyone to add much to the above but the Yorkshire Evening Post did manage additional tributes. Herbert Sutcliffe said: “Maurice was a great sportsman and a wonderful batsman, as his record against Australia alone shows . He had strong wrists, put terrific force in his shots and delighted all crowds with his hard hitting. He gave all he had, all the time.” While Hutton added: “There was no more lovable character who played cricket. I have just been in South Africa and all his old