Lives in Cricket No 8 - Ernest Hayes

flights into nearby Heathrow Airport, survive from the period, but Whitcomb Lodge is not one of them, unless it has changed its name or had it removed. A national newspaper drew a flattering comparison with Ranjitsinhji, under the heading ‘Ranji and Hayes’: Another batsman who is essentially a natural as opposed to a self-constructed cricketer is Hayes who for nearly ten years past has been one of the most under-rated men in England. Hayes never has played, and never could play, to the gallery, and the last complaint in the world from which he will suffer is the swollen head. Yet there is practically nothing he cannot do. I have seen Hayes play cricket in England, South Africa and Australia with varying success, yet with only a modicum of failure. He can keep wicket when necessary, bowl in two ways and field anywhere. If I had to have half a dozen men, who were certain not to be passengers in a side, Hayes, Llewellyn and Tarrant would, I think, head my list. Hayes, now in his thirty-sixth year and aware perhaps that there would be no more international opportunities, reflects ruefully: It was at this time the Selectors at last put me among the team to represent England. It was the match against the Australians at Manchester but to everyone’s surprise on a very wet wicket they played Hitch a fast bowler and made me reserve. The match was spoiled by rain, play only lasting a little over one day. I was again picked to represent England v Africa unfortunately on a sticky wicket and this time played but in a match we won easily I only scored 4. The next representative match, v Australians at the Oval, I was again picked but had the hard luck to catch a real bad cold and was laid up for 3 days with influenza. The fact that Hayes was down on his own luck did not prevent him making notes on the prowess of his fellow professionals. History has shared his judgment of the two he mentions as doing particularly well in this match: ‘In the African match Barnes bowled magnificently and Jack Hobbs was grand with the bat.’ Hobbs had 68 out of a total of 176 and Barnes bowled unchanged The Golden Age Ends on the Western Front 78