Lives in Cricket No 8 - Ernest Hayes

work of three men at short slip, or wherever else the fortune of the game may place him. Popular among amateur and professional alike, he would today have been among the first six certainties voted for by a selection committee at Lord’s, or in the Players dressing room anywhere. Hayes is a good bowler, but whenever he gets wickets there is certain to be surprise expressed. If Hayes goes to Australia in September, 1907, he will not be the worst batting average when the statistical pencils get to work in March 1908. Though not unreasonable at the time, the forecast in the last sentence was regrettably over-optimistic. He had 50 catches for Surrey that year (54 in all) which remained a county record until surpassed by Stuart Surridge in 1952. Off the field his charity work continued and along with Walter Lees, he was elected an Honorary Life Governor of Richmond Hospital, recognising them as ‘two of England’s best cricketers who have most kindly for many years played in the hospital cricket match.’ Under New Management, Test Cricket, and a Purple Passage 59 Rip’s cartoon of 1906 recognised the same skills which were emphasised by Wisden.