Lives in Cricket No 50 - Tom Emmett

80 ‘Owd Evergreen’ 1884-1888 Affronted at suggestions he was passed his best, Emmett was offered a few matches in which to prove himself and he bowled ‘like a demon’, taking six wickets against both Cambridge University and the Australians. Hawke had also stated that Emmett would be on the staff at Lord’s during the summer (something also reported in Cricket in May), suggesting he would be absent for a time, but this then appeared to be delayed until 1885. In the meantime, he was engaged at the Leys School in Cambridge.’ In June, Emmett and Peate dismissed the Australians for 60, the former taking 6-27 in 27 overs. The same month, he was on top form with 8-32 against Sussex, who lost their last seven wickets in fifty minutes for the addition of 23 runs. One reporter commented that ‘Emmett had previously proved himself to be in fine form this season; but it is doubtful whether he ever bowled better than he did yesterday.’ After lunch, his figures were 11.3-9-6-6, and another commentator observed that ‘he has distinctly proved that, despite his many years’ cricket, he is still one of the most dangerous bowlers in England.’ As a result, his place in the team ‘should now be a certainty for the whole series of matches.’ Despite his efforts for Yorkshire, Emmett still managed to turn out for Keighley the following weekend, taking four wickets and scoring 40 before being run out. As well as being a wicket-taker, Emmett also demonstrated against Nottinghamshire how tight his bowling could be, his figures in the first innings being 43-33-18-4, and in the second, 12-9-10-0. Yorkshire were dismissed for 40 – Emmett being the only batsman to reach double figures - and lost by three wickets amidst noisy crowd protests about the umpire’s failure to give a catch which was a close call. The press continued to marvel The Yorkshire County Cricket Club team 1884.