Lives in Cricket No 50 - Tom Emmett

18 A man in demand (1867-1871) Although Emmett was clearly seen as a capable and highly promising player, he did little to prepare anyone for his next performance. In the return game against Surrey, his 18 not out helped Yorkshire reach a modest 114. Although Greenwood and Freeman opened the bowling, with the latter taking 7-29, Emmett took a couple of the later wickets. When he came on, he quickly had an effect, and in his third over Pooley gave the finest of edges. Emmett then held a catch at slip off Freeman, before taking another wicket as Surrey ended on 96. The following morning, he opened and made 41, being greeted by an ovation as he returned to the pavilion. His contribution helped Yorkshire to set a target of 261. Surrey started well, reaching 70-1 with Humphrey and Stephenson apparently in little trouble. Emmett then came on as first change, and the scoring continued until he hit Stephenson a blow on his leg. In Emmett’s fifth over, he had Humphrey caught and Surrey quickly collapsed to 76 all out, losing their final nine wickets for just six runs in 20 minutes, a feat the Yorkshire Post suggested was ‘quite unparalleled in the annals of cricket’. Emmett’s figures were 12-8-7-6, no batsman being able to cope with his pace and accuracy, or in the case of Mortlock, with one of Emmett’s ‘peculiars’. The York Herald commented that ‘The bowling of Emmett and Freeman was A1; in fact, none of the batsmen could live against it.’ A subscription was taken on the ground, although Emmett only secured 33 shillings as there were few people present, but the county committee added a further £1. He had made his mark on Yorkshire cricket. Emmett himself remembered it as his ‘first great performance with the ball in first-class cricket’ and one which ‘set the seal upon my fame as a county cricketer.’ 14 A young Tom Emmett. (Mick Pope).