Derbyshire v Australian Imperial Forces
County Ground, Derbyshire
14th, 15th July 1919 (Two-day match)
Scorecard

HK Foster’s XI v Australian Imperial Forces
Racecourse Ground, Hereford
16th, 17th July 1919 (Two-day match)
Scorecard

Worcestershire v Australian Imperial Forces
County Ground, New Road, Worcestser
18th, 19th July 1919 (Two-day match)

Despite registering a second loss, the A.I.F. men have enjoyed one of the busiest playing weeks of the tourCricket, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Wed 11 Sep 1912, p. 10. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15331173 with three two-day games against Derbyshire, H.K. Foster’s XI, and Worcestershire.

Cricket enthusiasts naturally anticipated that on the form shown against SomersetRambler,Local Sporting Notes, Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal (Derbyshire), Fri 18 Jul 1919, p. 8., where Derbyshire gave a deplorable display of battingDerbyshire v. Somerset, Derbyshire Courier (Derbyshire), Sat 12 Jul 1919, p. 4., the home side were in for a very sound trouncing at the hands of the AustraliansRambler,Local Sporting Notes, Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal (Derbyshire), Fri 18 Jul 1919, p. 8.. If you read the scorecardRecreated Scorecard. https://anthonycondoncom.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/derbyshire.pdf , you might expect that the pitch at the County Ground was a rabbit warrenAn Orange Hero, Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent (NSW), Sat 31 Dec 1910, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228241806 . But there was nothing in the state of the wicket to account for the low scoring that prevailed, the unanimous opinion of both sides being that it was plumb to the end. The real explanation is the excellence of the bowling on both sidesDerby v. Australians, Belfast News-Letter (Antrim), Wed 16 July 1919, p. 8. For the PeakitesAustralians At Derby, Nottingham Evening Post (Nottinghamshire), Mon 14 Jul 1919, p. 2., it was Horsley and Morton. But for two and a fraction of an over the pair bowled throughout the match unchanged, and between them took 19 wicketsThe error ’29’ has been changed, as it is, of course, impossible for one side to take 29 wickets in a match. A Great Win, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Wed 16 Jul 1919, p. 7.. Horsley made havoc of the AustraliansHorsley’s “Hat”, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Tue 15 Jul 1919, p. 6., performing the “hat-trick”Horsley’s “Hat”, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Tue 15 Jul 1919, p. 6. in the first innings, and was quite unplayable up to the tea intervalA Great Win, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Wed 16 Jul 1919, p. 7. in the second. One man at the ground said he was making the Australians look like a bunch of coltsHorsley And Notts, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Tue 15 Jul 1919, p. 6.–a statement that is hard to argue with.

When Derbyshire went in a second time visions of defeat rose before the eyes of a record crowd. Gregory and Collins emulated the Derbyshire attack in an effort to dismiss their opponents cheaplyA Great Win, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Wed 16 Jul 1919, p. 7.. The former proved a most destructive agent in attack, his six wickets for a fraction under 11 runs each being a fine performanceDerby Sensations, Nottingham Evening Post (Nottinghamshire), Tue 15 Jul 1919, p. 2.. Lampard brought a few back from the off with the “bosie” action, bafflingNot Out, Cricket Season In Sydney, Referee (NSW), Wed 13 Oct 1915, p. 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129345617 Morton with a perfect “googly” round his legs, which he made no effort to playDerbyshire Do Well, Sheffield Daily Telegraph (Yorkshire), Tue 15 Jul 1919, p. 8.. However, the extraordinary faculty for pulling a game out of the fire which has frequently been displayed by the Australians seemed to desert them entirely, and they suffered defeat for the second timeDerbyshire v. Australian Imperial Forces, The Field (London), Sat 19 Jul 1919, p. 76..

The loss makes us reflect onDoctor And Patient, The Catholic Press (NSW), Thu 12 Jan 1911, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105014109 why we are here. The visit of the Australians to Derby aroused considerable interestAussies’ Tour, Sheffield Evening Telegraph (Yorkshire), Mon 14 Jul 1919, p. 5., and it is to the credit of Derbyshire, never one of the strongest sides in County cricket, that they are the first County to lower the unbeaten record of the Australian Imperial Forces elevenNotes On Sport, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Wed 16 Jul 1919, p. 6.. After many years of struggle, Derbyshire cricket looks to be coming finally into its ownNotes On Sport, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Wed 16 Jul 1919, p. 6.. The boost givenStrike One, Baseball, Sydney Sportsman (NSW), Wed 25 Feb 1919, p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168584792 by the largest crowd of the seasonHorsley’s “Hat”, Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Tue 15 Jul 1919, p. 6. at the County ground, both financially and as regards greater interest of the gameInsult To Our County, Arbroath Herald and Advertiser for the Montrose Burghs (Angus), Fri 12 Jun 1914, p. 7. , cannot be underestimated. As Arnaud MassyUnknown, French Golf Professional Arnaud Massy, c.1909, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/ArnaudMassy.JPG –the French golfer and winner of the 1907 openGolf Notes, Referee (NSW), Wed 8 Nov 1916, p. 11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121173643 –was reported as saying ‘I do not mind being beaten by either an Englishman or a Scotsman, but I am glad we were not beaten by the dirty Germans’Verdicts, Star Green ‘Un (Yorkshire), Sat 26 Jul 1919, p. 1..

The matches against the scratch elevensYesterday’s Matches, Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette (Durham), Wed 16 Jul 1919, p. 6.–like the one played at Hereford against H.K. Foster’s XI–are always an exciting opportunity to meet and play against some of the greatest exponents of the gameR. J. Mitchell, The Trumper Benefit, Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Fri 17 Jan 1913, p. 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15391266 . Besides Foster–himself one of the famous cricketing familyTriangular Tests, The Ballarat Star (Vic), Fri 3 May 1912, p. 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218545072 –also taking the field againstCricket, Woodend Star (Vic), Sat 20 Feb 1915, p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154397169 the Aussies were Willie QuaifeGeorge Beldam, William George Quaife, Warwickshire, c. 1905, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Willie_Quaife_c1905.jpg , a veteran of two dozen matches against Australia, including visiting the Commonwealth in 1901/02 with Mr. MacLaren’s teamMr. Maclaren’s Team, The Argus (Vic), Tue 23 Jul 1901, p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10562677 , and Frank Phillips, who first met Australia whilst at Oxford in 1893Cricket In England, The Telegraph (QLD), Fri 2 Jun 1893, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174079749 . The friendly nature of the match can be seen in the home team’s declaration at 224Cricket, The Mercury (Tas), Fri 18 Jul 1919, p. 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12391541 , and that Murray, Willis and Bull had a bowlRecreated Scorecard, while Gregory was rested. Not to mention that “extras” was the second highest scorer in Australia’s sole innings, after Taylor’s wonderful display of superb battingCricket, Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (QLD), Sat 21 Mar 1914, p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189450025 . Whilst the previous game proved a great boost to local cricket, this showed another role we are playingFirst Year Of The War, The Express and Telegraph (SA), Mon 6 Sep 1915, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210108446 here in renewing old friendshipsEnglish Cricketers, The Brisbane Courier (QLD), Fri 26 Nov 1920, p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20460007 .

The next day up the road at Worcester, the opposition comprised much the same personnelThe Next Test, Examiner (Tas), Thu 30 Dec 1920, p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51184401 –5 of H. K. Foster’s men also appearing for WorcestershireThese were A.N. Jewell, M.F.S. Jewell, H.K. Foster, W.H. Taylor, and A.J. Conway. . Worcestershire were outplayed in all departments by the AustraliansWorcestershire v. Australians, The Scotsman (Midlothian), Mon 21 Jul 1919, p. 9.. Gregory bowled magnificently, his seven wickets being taken at a cost of eight runs apieceWorcestershire v. Australian Imperial Force, Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer (Yorkshire), Sat 19 Jul 1919, p. 18., and he also caught two. Only Lampard’s “c&b” spoiled Gregory’s involvement in all ten wicketsWorcestershire v. Australians, The Scotsman (Midlothian), Mon 21 Jul 1919, p. 9.. Gregory’s four wickets and two catches in Warwickshire’s second digCricket Chips, The St George Call (NSW), Sat 5 Dec 1914, p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163233186 meant he had a handMid On, Cricket, Western Mail (WA), Sat 3 Dec 1919, p. 37. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38366859 in 15 of the 20 wickets taken by the Australians. Pellew’s (not out 195) is the highest score of the season, the previous best being his 187 against LeicestershireAustralians Add To Their Victories, Western Daily Pres (Bristol), Mon 21 Jul 1919, p. 6.. Although he pushed before the lunchtime declaration, he missed out on the double ton actPeople Say, The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW), Fri 21 Feb 1919, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article99444881 , Collins declaring early in order to take the opportunity of trying to dispose of their opponents and secure a win before stumps were drawnCricket, Daily Herald (SA), Mon 6 Dec 1920, p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106591254 . In contrast to Kelleway, Collins’ attacking captaincy is delivering the brighter cricket the public wantBrighter Cricket, Toowoomba Chronicle (QLD), Fri 30 Jul 1920, p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article253163617 .