Lives in Cricket No 48 - Maurice Leyland

164 In Memoriam Hilarem EW Swanton, in the Daily Telegraph wrote: “Maurice was a modest man (like most of the very best performers of his generation). His best self was seen when the going was tough. Indeed no more courageous or determined cricketer ever buckled on pads for England.” Neville Cardus, for the Guardian , managed to find one or two anecdotes missed by his Yorkshire colleagues the previous day, starting with an incident between Maurice and an umpire at Brisbane in 1936-37. An appeal against the light was turned down, even though, in the Press Box, we could not easily see to write,” recalled Cardus. “But after a few more overs, during which Voce bowled Fingleton, the umpires decided to put an end to the proceedings. As the players were walking off the field, Leyland engaged one of them in conversation. ‘Tha’s got reight good eyesight,’ he said. ‘Now, Maurice,’ replied the umpire, ‘none of your sarcasm.’ ‘Ah’m not being sarcastic. Ah’m only sayin’ tha’s got good eyesight’. He paused, put his hand to his eyes and gazed hard ahead. ‘Tell me,’ he asked, ‘wheer’s dressing room?’” Then there was the Roses match at Old Trafford in 1933 when Cardus, a life-long Lancashire enthusiast, had been particularly ironic in his assessment of a dour six hour knock fromYorkshire’s Arthur Mitchell, who had made 121 on a wicket that, unbeknown to the writer, was beginning to crumble at one end. “Next day,” said Cardus: I met Maurice before the game’s resumption. ‘Tha’s written a funny article in Guardian this mornin’, he said. ‘Thank you, Maurice,’ I replied. ‘I’m glad you liked it.’ ‘Aye,’he said, ‘and tha’ll ‘ave to write a funnier one tomorrow.’ George Macaulay bowled Lancashire out twice, for 93 and 92, on that Bank Holiday at Old Trafford long ago. In conclusion Cardus wrote: “Ripe character and natural skill