Lives in Cricket No 5 - Rockley Wilson

best ‘flighty’ bowler then playing cricket, but we always joked about his ability as a batsman until that memorable game. Afterwards, we said, with the fullest justification that in him we had a batsman who could set his teeth and stay there when there was a need for someone to stay.” 86 There was much criticism of Rhodes in the Press. He explained himself thus in a speech he gave on the occasion of another Roses match: “I expect you will say we should have gone for a win. But I say that after doing our job well for half an hour, why take the risk and undo all the good work in the last over? We had already got points for a first innings lead, and as things turned out, these were invaluable in helping Yorkshire to win the Championship in that year.” 87 In a later newspaper article, Rhodes added the interesting observation that there was no discussion between himself and Wilson as to how they should go about their task: “I expected he thought I was old enough to know what to do and I certainly thought he was. I may as well say I made up my mind to play for a draw, and play for a draw we both did.” 88 It is quite remarkable that the acting captain, as Wilson was in the absence of his namesake, and the senior and much respected senior professional, did not think the situation, which was clearly extremely tense, called for at least the occasional mid-pitch discussion. One must assume from this incident that, however different their backgrounds and personalities, Rockley Wilson shared some of Wilfred Rhodes’ tough approach to the game, at least when the stakes were high. And he was no stranger himself to criticism, as we have seen in the account of the 1920/21 Test series in Australia. As a footnote to this memorable game, William Ringrose, Yorkshire’s scorer, later recounted how he had travelled to Gloucester in the company of Rhodes, Wilson and the journalist James Staunton. It was an all-night train journey “but it passed most pleasantly for we were generously entertained by Mr E.R.Wilson. He has a wonderful knowledge of the game and it was interesting to listen to him and Wilfred Rhodes.” 89 One can imagine how today’s coaches would have regarded this as preparation for a match on the following day, however interesting the conversation Back to County Cricket 94 86 Herbert Sutcliffe, For England and Yorkshire , Edward Arnold, 1935, p.76. 87 Sidney Rogerson, Wilfred Rhodes , Hollis and Carter, 1960, p.19. 88 Ibid., p.21. It should be added that Rhodes also said at this later time that he wished he had gone for the runs. 89 Yorkshire Evening Post , 15 August, 1936.