Lives in Cricket No 5 - Rockley Wilson

against an England XI at Harrogate in mid-August. Yorkshire just failed to complete a convincing victory by an innings but, in truth, the opposition was hardly of England calibre. Nevertheless, Rockley could be pleased with his four for 11 off ten overs in the England XI’s first innings. This was a gratifying comeback to the first-class game and Rockley could have expected to improve on his performances in the following season. But by the time that Rockley was free of his teaching duties at Winchester in 1914, Great Britain was on the brink of war with Germany. He played in the match against Lancashire at Old Trafford that started on 3 August, the day before war was declared, and in the following match against Warwickshire. He made no impact in either game. The remaining matches of the 1914 season were played in a surreal atmosphere, with British troops already leaving for the front, and Rockley Wilson played no part in them. His place in the Yorkshire side was given to Tommy Birtles, a batsman. When the season was finally brought to a hurried close, first-class cricket was put aside for four long years. Return to First-Class Cricket 63