Lives in Cricket No 8 - Ernest Hayes

noticed a fair-sized spider right on top of the off stump. He pointed it out to some of us, but did not disturb it and the innings began. . . . When the innings finished, those stumps had never been touched in any way, and the spider had completed its web, which stretched right across the three stumps from off to leg. So Hayes missed the Second Test which England lost by nine wickets, though he did not begrudge the South Africans their success, judging them to have the better bowling side in their own conditions referring to the ‘matting wickets which did not suit any of us too well and the Africans have some fine new bowlers. They are a splendid side on their matting.’ He had recovered sufficiently to be selected for the Third Test, also at The Wanderers, made 35 and 11 not out, but was part of a side which was to lose by 243 runs and hand South Africa an unassailable 3-0 lead in the rubber. He found a bit of form in the next match, but injury and illness continued to follow him. He remarks tersely: ‘Saying goodbye to all our Jo’burg friends we were now off to Bloemfontein and have Under New Management, Test Cricket, and a Purple Passage 54 The scoreboard at Albert Park, Durban, at the end of MCC’s first innings against Natal on 17 January, 1906. Hayes’ 35, batting at five, was his highest first-class score of the tour.