Lives in Cricket No 50 - Tom Emmett

26 safely brought off an extremely difficult catch. Around this time, the growth in Emmett’s reputation helped him secure short coaching engagements at two public schools, a common opportunity for professionals. In spring 1868, he was at Rossall School in Lancashire for six weeks. Although the school history, published in 1901, avoids naming him – instead referring to a ‘dashing young north country professional’ appointed that year - it is not hard to see Emmett in the description of the man whose ‘amusement at the nicknames and jokes of the boys was intense. He seemed thoroughly to enjoy his berth.’ On one occasion, Emmett watched a boy drop a high catch before twisting in uncontrollable contortions and roaring with laughter, exclaiming ‘aw thowt as ‘e’d ‘a swallered it!’. 17 The following year, he was at Stonyhurst School, near Clitheroe, for a similar engagement. Here, his low bowling action caused much interest amongst the boys, and he was rewarded - in the tradition at the school - with a pile of strawberry tarts, the number reflecting a professional’s popularity. Emmett left with ‘a huge pyramid’ of the items, with one boy suggesting he needed a furniture van to move them all. The following season – 1869 – Emmett began at Oxford, where he was one of the All-England Eleven who took on the University at the Christ Church ground. The following day, All-England were in Cambridge where Emmett was barely needed as a bowler. From Cambridge, the tourists travelled to Dewsbury for the annual contest with the United All-England Eleven, held on this occasion for the benefit of George Anderson. Emmett opened with Freeman in front of an enthusiastic crowd, dismissing George Parr for a duck, but the game and Anderson’s takings were badly affected by the weather. Yorkshire began at Trent Bridge at the end of May in depressing fashion, the side being bowled out for just 43 (with only Charlie Ullathorne managing double figures), after Emmett and Freeman had dismissed Nottinghamshire for 111. Set 272 to win, Yorkshire fell more than 100 short, with only Rawlinson reaching 50. Emmett bowled 37 overs in the first innings and 65 in the second (36 of which were maidens). After an appearance at The Oval for the North v South (who made just 39 in the first innings) Emmett returned to the county side, where he was something of a spectator against Surrey, with Freeman taking 8-29 to dismiss Surrey for 52 at Bramall Lane. The visitors kept Yorkshire to a lead of 30, but then Freeman and Emmett with five wickets each reduced Surrey to 67, and the match was over on the second day, ending in a Yorkshire victory. The fact that the game finished early gave Emmett (and others) an extra day to travel down to London for the Gentlemen v Players match, his first appearance in this famous series of matches. W.G.Grace, I.D.Walker and A.Lubbock each batted well in both innings as Emmett returned figures of 55-24-76-4 and 51.1-30-78-5. It was insufficient to secure a victory for the Players, who lost by 17 runs, but Emmett – with Summers, Rowbotham and Wootton – were singled out as having ‘contributed in their different capacities their full share towards the wonderful lesson A man in demand (1867-1871)