Lives in Cricket No 51 - Rev ES Carter

Ealing 37 the result of Carter’s fast bowling and the slippery state of the ground [it had been drizzling] which made the longstop’s duty more than usually difficult’. Not for the first time in these reports, there was no mention of a wicketkeeper. Cuckoo were out for 98 and when Ealing batted, Carter came in first wicket down. “Mr Carter helped to keep the game alive, and did not return to his friends at the pavilion till a very good catch at mid on, off a hard drive disposed off him. His 86 [perhaps his highest score for Ealing] was made up principally by hard hitting for which the ground was favourable.” There is then a nice reference to the groundsman Thomas Hearne junior who regularly played for Ealing Village. “In justice to Thos. Hearne jnr it should be mentioned that the wicket was perfect, as indeed all the wickets have been so far during the season, and the village of Ealing is fortunate in having secured such a good ground, in such a lovely situation.” Carter seemed this summer to be available to play on most Saturdays – perhaps he was let off the task of officiating at weddings, and matches in which he played included games against Ravenscourt Park, Meteors, Willesden and Uxbridge, now clubs which would all be in west London suburbs, the season becoming familiar in its fixture list. He usually batted at number four or five though he occasionally opened, and with all these generally low scoring matches he would have been content with a 20 or 30. His fast bowling remained his primary asset at this stage in his life and he achieved great success in the match against Meteors: “The Meteors in their first innings were disposed of for the small total of 19. Out of these eleven were extras. This was owing to the destructive bowling of the Rev. E. S. Carter, who took seven wickets, beside being entitled to a ‘white hat’.” Four batsmen each scored two. Carter bowled the opening