Essex v Australian Imperial Forces
County Ground, Leyton
17th, 19th May 1919 (Three-day match)

Cambridge University v Australian Imperial Forces
FP Fenner’s Ground, Cambridge
21st, 22nd, 23rd May 1919 (Three-day match)

After the match against the old men Cricket, Derby Daily Telegraph (Derbyshire), Fri 25 Jul 1919, p. 2. at Attelborough, the team entered upon the serious work of the tour Essex v Australians, Gloucestershire Echo (Gloucestershire), Sat 17 May 1919, p. 6. against our first County in the form of Essex. It was not only our first important engagement, Essex v. Australians, Leicester Daily Post (Leicestershire), Tue 20 May, 1919, p.4. and Essex’s first game since 1914, it was also the first opportunity many of us had to see whether the enthusiasm for the grand old game of cricket Facts and Fancies, Star Green ‘Un (Yorkshire), Sat 12 April 1919, p.4.is returning. We need not feared, as over 4000 Australians v. Essex, Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer (Yorkshire), Mon 19 May 1919, p.10. came through the turnstiles England v. Australia, Manchester Evening News (Lancashire), Fri 13 Jun 1902, p.2. on the first day. Although Essex have a nucleus of pre-war players, they were able to bring out some sound young County Cricket, Sheffield Daily Telegraph (Yorkshire), Thu 17 Apr 1919, p.7. men I’ve changed the original quote from ‘players’ to ‘men’ because there is more in between the two parts of the quote in the original, but here it sounds odd to repeat ‘players’ in the same sentence. . The ‘Cornstalks’ Flashes and Glances, Star Green ‘Un (Yorkshire), Sat 24 May 1919, p.1., completely outplayedAustralians at Leyton, Chelmsford Chronicle (Essex), Fri 23 May 1919, p.6. the Essex men. Johnny TaylorUnknown, Australian batsman Johnny Taylor (1895 – 1971), a member of the 1921 Australian touring team, walks out to bat, 1921, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Johnny_Taylor_cricketer_1921.jpg in particular punished the bowlers freely.The Australians’ Tour, The Sportsman (London), Mon 19 May 1919, p.3. Captain Charles KellewayUnknown, A vintage cigarette card featuring cricketer Charles Kelleway of New South Wales, circa 1920, c. 1920, Cigarette Card, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Charlie_Kelleway_card_c1920.jpg defended with skill on his way to the first century of the tour, while Innings Victory for Colonials, Sheffield Independent (Yorkshire), Tue 20 May 1919, p.9. Jack MurrayHarry Downes, Informal portrait of 30710 Gunner (Gnr) John Tinline “Jack” Murray, 103rd Howitzer Battery, 1919, photograph, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1293059 gave a fine display of free, fearless cricket. Innings Victory for Colonials, Sheffield Independent (Yorkshire), Tue 20 May 1919, p.9. The fielding of Essex cricketers did not anything like approach that of the Australians. It was not bad; it was slack, for the most part without life, and never a warm source of encouragement to the bowlers. Our Weekly Gossip, West Sussex Gazette (Sussex) Thu 22 May 1919, p.6.

Following the game, in accord with “new world” ideas, there were brief speeches and sporting fraternisation Sport in Somerset, Western Daily Press (Bristol) Mon 1 Dec 1919, p. 5.. Most impressive was Reverend GillinghamLeslie Ward, Men of the Day No.1027: Caricature of The Rev Frank Hay Gillingham, 1906, painting, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Frank_Hay_Gillingham%2C_Vanity_Fair%2C_1906-08-15.jpg, as fine a specimen of muscular Christianity as anyone can wish to meet Sir Home Gordon, Rev. F. H. Gillingham and Other Cricketers, The Tatler (London), Wed 22 Jun 1919, p.32.. He is a fine preacher, but his reputation on the cricket field gives him a better chance of saving souls than all the eloquence in the world. The Rev. F. H. Gillingham, Bournemouth Graphic (Hampshire), Thu 23 Aug 1906, p.11.

Next up it was over to the historic FP Fenner’s ground University Intelligence, Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer (Yorkshire), Tue 2 May 1899, p.10. against the youngstersForest Road Parade, Nottingham Evening Post (Nottinghamshire), Wed 13 Dec 1916, p. 3. of Cambridge. Even though their first serious game of the season, Fine First Wicket Stand, Pall Mall Gazette (London), Wed 21 May 1919, p.12. the CantabsCrushing Defeat, Sheffield Independent (Yorkshire), Sat 24 May 1919, p.10 had already had a few trial matches to find their formTopics of the Hour, Referee (Sydney), Wed 23 Jul 1919, p.1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120314701–more than we had at any rate. Some put the Colonial destruction of the Light BluesCrushing Defeat, Sheffield Independent (Yorkshire), Sat 24 May 1919, p.10 down to a lack of practice on the local’s behalf. But our boysElsie G. Thompson, Our Boys, Wellington Times (NSW), Thu 10 Apr 1919, p.3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143234190 I have included the entire poem here as it is a good example of the language around sport and the military during the war. have been fighting too, and have not allowed their cricket to grow rusty; they have found time to play the game, and fight as well. International Cricket, Observer (SA), Sat 26 Jul 1919, p.20. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165894439

Although the wickets are of the English varietyThe Australians’ Success, Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer (Yorkshire), Mon 26 May 1919, p.10. , it’s been quite dry for May in England, and our ladsLong Field, Cricket, Great southern Herald (WA), Wed 28 May 1919, p.4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146192156 have adapted well to good wicketsThe Australians’ Success, Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer (Yorkshire), Mon 26 May 1919, p.10., Pelham “Plum” WarnerGeorge Beldam, P F Warner batting stance, 1905, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Warner_stance_2.jpg reckons the Australians a better lot on hard wickets thanLooker On, The Australian’s Visit to Sheffield, Sheffield Daily Telegraph (Yorkshire), Mon 16 Jun 1919, p.8. Syd. Gregory’s 1912 combinationIn Quest of the Ashes, The Sun (NSW), Thu 14 Mar 1912, p.1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222005558, but there is some concern that such surfaces cause injuries,A Chapter of Accidents, Lancashire Evening Post (Lancashire), Fri 15 Aug 1919, p.5. although it’s what Australians grow up on. Cover Point, Cricket Chatter, The Journal (Adelaide), Fri 5 Nov 1920, p.3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200890642 Although the team comes first, it was nice to see Kelleway give ‘Nip’ PellewSearcy Collection, ‘Nip’ Pellew, cricket player [PRG 280/1/25/239], 1920, photograph, https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+280/1/25/239 an opportunity to get his 100 The Australian’s Tour, The Sportsman (London), Fri 23 May 1919, p.1. in his first match of the tour at Fenner’s. Even in a team, there is sometimes need for some exceptional personal feats; something the Military CrossNAA: B2455, TRENERRY WILLIAM LEO, p.9., https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=8393993&S=9&N=36&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=8393993&T=P&S=9 on Bill Trenerry’sUnknown, Studio portrait of Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) William Leo Trenerry, 19th Battalion, 1916, photograph, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1285387 uniform can vouch for–or perhaps the men he saved, as he wielded his Lewis gun in the trenches of France like he wields his willowWielder’s of the Willow, Sydney Sportsman (NSW), Wed 10 Dec 1919, p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168473447 on the pitches of England. Gregory proved he was worthy of that name,Flashes and Glances, Star Green ‘Un (Yorkshire), Sat 21 Jun 1919, p. 1. smashingSport and Sportsmen, Smith’s Weekly (Sydney), Sat 12 Apr 1919, p.8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article234255689 17 off one Fairbairn over,Kelleway 168, Daily Herald (London), Thu 22 May 1919, p.7. including a hoist over the fence Incidents of Club Play, The Herald (Melbourne), Fri 24 Jan 1919, p.3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242661639 to send up the 500. Kelleway 168, Daily Herald (London), Thu 22 May 1919, p.7. Young Jack also provided another one of the highlights of the game, dismissing Morrison and Morris with successive balls, sending their stumps flying through the air The Australian’s Tour, The Sportsman (London), Fri 23 May 1919, p.1. like the battered great trees of Flanders. Bdr. E. G. Robertson, Flanders, 1918, Shepparton News, Mon 30 Dec 1918, p.1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129686458 Although he was unable to perform the “hat trick”, Flashes and Glances, Star Green ‘Un (Yorkshire), Sat 17 May 1919, p.1. he gave the Light Blues a fright by clean bowling five of the six wickets to fall whilst only 30 runs were added Fine Last Wicket Stand, Sheffield Daily Telegraph (Yorkshire), Fri 23 May 1919, p.7.. Thanks to a fine last wicket partnership on the part of Rotherham and Naumann, the Light Blues after all did not make a very bad response to the formidable total put together by the Australians. Fine Last Wicket Stand, Sheffield Daily Telegraph (Yorkshire), Fri 23 May 1919, p.7. It was not to be, however. The DiggersDiggers’ Cricket Team, The Sun (Sydney), Sun 2 Nov, 1919, p.2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222296807 quickly dismissed the home side and were all out before three o’clock,Cambridge University v. Australians, The Scotsman (Midlothian), Sat 24 May 1919, p.11. allowing us all to retire to the pavilionCricket Notes, Chichester Observer (Sussex), Wed 9 Jul 1919, p.4. for more merriment and good-fellowship. Turnbridge Wells Volunteer Re-Union, Kent & Sussex Courier (Kent), Fri 28 Mar 1919, p.8

Now the “Aussies”“Aussies” Bright Play, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Thu 22 May 1919, p.3. have wins against two first-class sides under their belt, they have showed they are a lot better side than some of the critics appeared to imagine. Flashes and Glances, Star Green ‘Un (Yorkshire), Sat 24 May 1919, p.1. The English were looking favourably upon a return tour later this year,First-Class Cricket, Globe (London), Fri 3 Jan 1919, p.15. but must be reconsidering it now, given that several of our best players have already returned “home”–if that is the correct term to employThe Australians’ Tour, The Sportsman (London), Tue 16 Sep 1919, p.1.–not to mention those who did their service on the home front. The matter is now under considerationThe M.C.C., Hampshire Advertiser (Hampshire), Sat 3 May 1919, p.7. with the M.C.C. committee, and we should have a decision in the next few weeks. So well have the Aussies done that a match between them and an England XI is mooted. Star Green ‘Un (Yorkshire), Sat 14 Jun 1919, p.3. In this season of reconstructive and experimental cricket,Reviving Cricket, Chelmsford Chronicle (Essex), Fri 9 May 1919, p.6. such an idea has merit, even if it is not a Test match.