Warwickshire v Australian Imperial Forces
Edgbaston, Birmingham
21st, 22nd July 1919 (two-day match)

Nottinghamshire v Australian Imperial Forces
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
24th, 25th, 26th July 1919 (three-day match)

We began this week with a two-day game against Warwickshire at EdgbastonUnknown, The Pavilion and East Stand in 1895, 1895, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Edgbaston_Cricket_Ground_in_1895.jpg . The Warwickshire team was a combination of old players and fresh onesNot Out, Cricket Chips, Arrow (NSW), Fri 2 Jul 1920, p. 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103427925 . Given our recent captaincy controversy, it is of note that the Rev. E. F. WaddyRev. E. F. Waddy, The Sunday Sun (NSW), Sun 16 Feb 1908, p. 13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227132190 , former New South Wales player and selector took the field for Warwickshire, having been for some time on the teaching staff at Rugby SchoolCricket In England, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Sat 1 Mar 1919, p. 13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15827622 . Waddy made headlines back in 1906 as one of the players who remained loyal to the newly formed Board of Control, in opposition to the group led by Monty Noble, in the dispute between the Board and the Melbourne Cricket Club over the control of cricketThe Cricket Crisis, Singleton Argus (NSW), Thu 24 May 1906, p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79558206 . He again found himself opposed to Monty Noble in 1910 when Noble publically stated his disgust at Waddy’s election as state selector ahead of himCricket Control, The Advertiser (SA), Wed 17 Aug 1910, p. 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5278571 . The news was repeated in 1912 when Waddy was again made selector ahead of NobleNoble Not Wanted, Geelong Advertiser (Vic), Tue 20 Aug 1912, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150108178 . You will recall that 1910 is notable in New South Wales cricket as the year the process of appointing a captain was ratifiedCricket Captains, The Daily Telegraph (NSW), Wed 26 Oct 1910, p. 11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238667827 , and 1912 will forever be remembered for the “Big Six” controversy. Waddy was amongst those who voted in favour for the appointment of captainsNot Out, Board of Control’s Vindication, Referee (NSW), Wed 20 Mar 1912, p. 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122763491 .

The Reverend is well known amongst the team, having played with several, including Docker and Collins, for New South WalesIn New South Wales, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Tue 17 Oct 1911, p. 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15281904 . He also led the N.S.W. tour to Ceylon in 1913, which included Docker and LongFor Ceylon, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Mon 24 Nov 1913, p. 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15490622 . Waddy gave quite his best display for his adopted County against his fellow countrymenRev. E. F. Waddy In Form In England, The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (NSW), Wed 22 Oct 1919, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86110339 . His 73 in the first inningsAustralians Win, Daily Herald (London), Wed 23 Jul 1919, p. 7. was the only bright spot in an otherwise inglorious displayCricket, The Port Augusta Dispatch, Newcastle and Flinders Chronicle (SA), Fri 16 Jan 1914, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196797916 by the MidlandersClergyman Cricketer Saves Warwickshire, Sheffield Daily Telegraph (Yorkshire), Tue 22 Jul 1919, p. 9. . When asked of his plans for the future he replied: “I do not know exactly when I shall see Australia again, but I hope it will not be long. ‘Old Aussie’ is good enough for me, as all the A.I.F. soldiers say”Cricket In England, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Sat 1 Mar 1919, p. 13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15827622 . Hear Hear.

Carl Willis passed 1000 runs for the season in the second innings at WarwickshireThere is no direct reference to these records as I have compiled them using scorecards. to join Herbie Collins, who achieved the featEnglish Cricket, The Albany Advertiser (WA), Wed 17 Jun 1914, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70113556 in the first innings at Durham, and Nip Pellew who did the same with his 195 last week against Worcestershire.

Next it was off to Nottinghamshire. The Trent Bridge GroundUnknown, Trent Bridge c. 1890, c. 1890, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Trent_Bridge_1890.jpg is a place of many memories. It was there, on May 20, 21, 22, 1878, that the first team from the land of the Southern Cross played their first match on English soilDr. L. O. S. Poidevin, Trent Bridge Ground, Queensland Times (QLD), Tue 7 May 1912, p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113074373 . Australians will well know the names of the brothers GunnPoint, Cricket, Evening Journal (SA), Fri 7 Jul 1911, p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203456725 – George and JohnUnknown (photo studio of Charles and Eliza Hawkins in Brighton), John, Billy, and George Gunn, c. 1904, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/John%2C_Billy_and_George_Gunn_c1904.jpg , who have both made trips to the CommonwealthEnglish Notes, The Sun (NSW), Tue 7 Jul 1914, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229855381 for AshesGeorge Gunn Invited, Geelong Advertiser (Vic), Wed 28 Aug 1907, p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147635308 seriesJohn Gunn Coming, The Week (QLD), Fri 23 Aug 1901, p. 31. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192512304 . Also in the side was John FirthUnknown, J. D. E. Firth, unknown, photograph, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/23/John_D%27Ewes_Evelyn_Firth.jpg , one of last year’s Wisden Cricketers of the YearCricket, The Journal (SA), Fri 3 May 1918, p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20805718 2, which due to the war and no first-class cricket, was chosen from the best of the schoolboysBaseball, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Wed 6 Sep 1911, p. 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15271919 . However, so completely did the bat again hold the mastery over the ball at Nottingham that there was never chance of arriving at a finishNotts v. Australians, The Scotsman (Midlothian), Mon 28 Jul 1919, p.4. .