Lives in Cricket No 50 - Tom Emmett

84 ‘Owd Evergreen’ 1884-1888 manner and he continues to be a tower of strength to his county - indeed he can invariably be depended upon in cases of emergency.’ That season Emmett bowled the most balls in a first-class season – 4,402 – that he had ever done, securing 80 wickets. Despite this success, the debate and speculation about whether Emmett would retire returned in early 1886, but again he was named in the list of players upon whom Yorkshire would rely for the coming summer. Shortly afterwards, it was also reported that Tom Emmett’s eye is ‘still undimmed’ when he took 4-14 in a game against Cleckheaton, although it was also noted in the Yorkshire trial match at Rotherham that ‘Of course “Owd Tom” bowled the inevitable wide.’ In another trial match at Barnsley, Emmett showed good form, taking 6-3 in one innings and 10-20 overall. 58 This led the Sheffield Independent to marvel at his vigour. ‘Time has dealt very gently with “Old Tom,” and many will be very sorry when he has to retire from the county team…After all these years he sets a bright example to the young ones by the sprightly manner in which he goes about his work.’ While there was no doubting he could outwit junior players, Emmett also dispelled any suggestion that he was not up to the demands of county cricket by having in 1886, at over 44 years old, his best-ever season with the ball, and bowling 5,000 balls in a season for the only time in his first- class career. Holmes commented that his bowling for a man of his age ‘was almost unique’ – 107 wickets in 12 Yorkshire matches. Some of his Tom Emmett in the 1880s. (Mick Pope)