Lives in Cricket No 50 - Tom Emmett

86 ‘Owd Evergreen’ 1884-1888 affected match. At Bradford against Middlesex, he dismissed the visitors for 82, taking 7-46. Such performances reminded some of the oddity of Emmett being considered close to retirement. After the Kent display, one reporter noted that, given his 6-6, ‘Yorkshire could not possibly have dispensed with the veteran’s services hardly in any match this season.’ Later, the Leeds Times too suggested ‘the achievements of the ever-green Tom Emmett speak eloquently on behalf of the old hands. If all the elder members were like him, Yorkshire would have held a much higher place in the ranks of county cricket clubs than she does this season.’ Such performances provoked some to press for a testimonial to mark his achievements, and it was also reported that local clubs wanted to recognise his ‘coming of age’ (21 years) as a member of the county side. Others were even inspired to write verse in dialect, with an actor, J.S.Haydon, in celebratory mood: TOM EMMET (sic). Tom Emmet, tha’rt a champion lad, Of all owd cricketers ah’ve seen! Men shaht when tha puts on thi pad, Exclaimin’, ‘Here’s owd Evergreen!’ Moar fun tha’s caused than mony clahns, Moar wickets taen nor younger men; Eh, t’stumps has seean some ups and dahns, Tha bahled’em, Tom, and can agean. In reviewing the summer of 1886, there was widespread praise for Emmett, who bowled the most overs of all the Yorkshire bowlers – 1,143 in all matches – although he also conceded 51 wides. In contrast, Edmund Peate bowled one wide in 828 overs. The Yorkshire Post talked of ‘the rejuvenescence of Tom Emmett’ and said it was one of ‘the most pleasing features’ of the Yorkshire season. Despite the praise for his efforts in the county game, he showed no signs of resting on his laurels, ending the season with games against the Australian tourists, playing for a Sixteen of Skegness side, and then captaining a far from representative Eleven of England at Harrogate. Even then, Athletic News noted he subsequently took a side to Liversedge to play a team of 18 Spen Valley players later in September, where his bowling figures were 10-42. The following season, 1887, the Yorkshire Post reported that the ‘versatile and evergreen veteran, Tom Emmett, is again eager and ready for the fray’, starting the season with what was described as a private coaching expedition in Wales. He was listed in the anticipated Yorkshire team for the season, along with Hawke, Hall, Ulyett, Bates, Preston, Peel, Grimshaw, Wade, Harris and Oldfield. The Leeds Mercury called him simply ‘the most popular professional in England’. By now, he had played first-class cricket longer than anyone else still active, with E.M.Grace closest in longevity. His age might have been a factor in some people’s minds, but Emmett had an opportunity to make light of it once the season started. That year, the MCC celebrated its centenary, and a match was played between eleven