Lives in Cricket No 8 - Ernest Hayes

splendid judgment.’ Wisden later reported this innings as ‘a superb display.’ He was invited to play for W.G.Grace’s London County against Leicestershire. He made a modest 30, but over the season his form had been such that he was a serious candidate for the 1903/04 tour of Australia. However, despite his own aspirations and support from the media, he was not eventually selected. Immediately after the Hampshire match at Portsmouth in late July, he writes in his scrapbook, ‘Just about this time a team was being picked for Australia by the MCC. I had not been asked and although well in the running was not asked at the finish.’ Even after the announcement of the team there was still some uncertainty about whether some of those invited would accept and the press continued to make the case for Hayes’ inclusion: In the official statement the MCC announced that they had a list of reserves for the Australian trip in case any or all of the players already invited but who had not replied, should decline to go. It is to be hoped that Hayes is one of those on the reserve list. On present form the young Surrey player has no superior among professional batsmen while for dash he has few equals. A batsman with his driving powers should be a great success on the fast Australian wickets. Hayes has already proved his ability to make runs against Australian bowling. He made his first big score (62) for Surrey v Australians, while his first century for Surrey was also made against the Australians. He is a fine field, and has made more catches this season not only than any other slip but than any other fieldsman. He and Braund would be a splendid combination in the slips. Hayes is also a useful change bowler of the leg break type. Warner has publicly expressed such a high opinion of his abilities that, in the event of Tyldesley declining, Hayes is pretty certain of an invitation. As it turned out, Tyldesley did not decline, but had a reasonably successful tour, playing in all five Tests and making a few good runs at No.3 in a five-match series which England won 3-1. So, Hayes was not invited and was left to contemplate other options for the winter. Before that, however, there was a round of charity matches to raise funds for various hospitals at which the Surrey players had the Coaching in South Africa and then a County Stalwart 37