LETTERS TO THE EDITOR “AT BRAMALL LANE '•'
StR,—I read Mr. Mallalieu's article, " At Bramall Lane," in The Spectator of August 8th with great interest and pleasure, but may I be allowed to point out that, quite unwittingly, I am sure, in writing of the Middlesex v. Yorkshire match, in 1920, he is not quite accurate in two respects? In the first place, the match he refers to was played at Park Avenue, Bradford, and not at Bramall Lane, and, secondly, I " did not mistake the crowd's agony for barracking and mildly protest when with only four more wanted Abe Waddington was bowled."
It is seven and twenty years ago, but I recall every ball of that terrific fight. What actually happened was this: Waddington played the first four balls of an over from C. T. S. Stevens confidently and the crowd shouted with joy. Before the fifth ball was bowled a man in the crowd lifted up his voice and shouted, " You're beat, ' Plum and Apple.' " He had hardly uttered these words when back went Waddington's middle and leg stumps, hit by a beautiful length googlie. I made no protest whatsoever— indeed, even in those tense moments I could not help smiling—and the crowd gave us a wonderful reception. Indeed one spectator came up to me as we were leaving the field and, grasping my hand, said, " Mr. Warner, I'm a Yorkshireman, but I am glad you won your last match v. Yorkshire." I hope Mr. Mallalieu will forgive me for pointing this out, but I should hate intensely to leave this world with any suggestion that I had ever protested, even mildly, against the attitude of any York- shire crowd. I have always found them the best of sportsmen, equally ready to applaud friend or foe. Indeed if there was ever a cricket match in which I delighted it was Yorkshire v. Middlesex, whether it was played in the serene and dignified atmosphere of Lord's or at " some murky stronghold of Tykedom " ; and my memory covers the years 1895 to 1920.
I well recall my first Yorkshire v. Middlesex match, at Leeds in the former year, when the great George Hirst and Bobby Peel got us out for 57 in our second innings—Hirst six for 40 and Peel four for 12- F. S. Jackson making three catches, at cover point, off Peel—and a man in the crowd falling down dead from excitement. And what an array of names on both sides—Lord Hawke, Jackson, F. Mitchell, Tunnicliffe, Brown, Denton, Peel, Hirst, Wainwright, Hunter and Mounsey ; and Webbe, Stoddart, O'Brien, MacGregor, Wells, R. S. Lucas, I. Douglas, Rawlin, J. T. Hearne and Phillips on the other. And I can say the same of the equally generous and cricket-loving crowds at Old Trafford—that beautiful ground with its long tradition of welcome and hospitality. Mr. Mallalieu writes of the great " Monkey," A. N. Hamby. I am one of the few men living who played with that great personality and cricketer. The occasion was Middlesex v. Lancashire, at Lord's, in 1897. Mr. Hornby was then at the end of his cricketing life, but he came in, bare- headed as always, and stole the most amazing short runs. And what a captain he was! I can hear now, as he stood at short slip, his " Well bowled, Cuttell," "Well pitched, Johnny " (Briggs), " Well fielded, Johnny." I thought then, and I still think, what a delightful and inspiring captain he must have been to have played under. A strict disciplinarian he not order a professional off the field who had dared to appear unshaven?—but an encouraging and enthusiastic leader who got every ounce out of his team and was admired and respected by all.
Mr. Mallalieu's delightful article brought back many happy memories, and I hope he will come to Lord's and see Middlesex play Lancashire at the end of this month, and write something about the match and the
present Middlesex XL—Yours, &c., P. F. WARNER. London.
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