Lives in Cricket No 8 - Ernest Hayes

Following Britain’s declaration of war on 4 August, the cricket season stumbled to a close. On the first day of the war, Surrey were at the head of the Championship table with 69 points from 18 matches; on 3 August, over 14,500 people had passed through The Oval’s turnstiles and saw Jack Hobbs score a double century in the traditional Bank Holiday match with Nottinghamshire. After some indecision, there was a preference for ‘business as usual’, and the professionals, including Hayes, continued to turn up to play, though spectator numbers fell. In Surrey’s case, three matches were transferred to Lord’s after The Oval was requisitioned by the army; one of these was Jack Hobbs’ benefit match. A depleted side, captained by Hayward even though it included two amateurs, went up to Edgbaston and lost. Then Gloucestershire came to The Oval, but with only ten men, the only instance in the official Championship where a county has been unable to raise a full side throughout a match. Finally in response to rising public concern about cricket continuing, the Surrey committee, with the club still at the head of the table, cancelled the county’s last two fixtures. Later, on 9 November, on a day when the newspapers were expressing concern about the failure of the recruiting effort, the MCC committee formally decided to award the title to Surrey. The Golden Age Ends on the Western Front 83 The Surrey side which took the Championship in 1914. Back row (l to r): H.Strudwick (wk), A.Ducat, G.J.W.Platt, W.C.Smith, H.S.Harrison, A.Sandham. Middle row: J.W.Hitch, E.G.Hayes, T.W.Hayward, D.J.Knight, T.Rushby. Front row: J.B.Hobbs, W.J.Abel. C.T.A.Wilkinson, the appointed captain, is missing.