Three Tales from World War I

This was always meant to be a collection of stories which related to the Kiama Cricket Club, and obviously the journal was meant to highlight cricket stories. Sometimes though you come across a story that makes you stop in your tracks, and consider what you should do about it. When I came across the following tales during my research into the club, I was completely fascinated, and for a while it took my complete attention. So much so that I had to make sure that I had the story right, that I had the whole chronology correct, and (hopefully) that I gave the tales and the men involved the dignity and honour that they all rightly deserve. Also perhaps, at a time when we are looking back at the sacrifice and courage of young men of a long ago generation, it is an opportunity to bring to the fore of our township of Kiama some people that should be remembered for all of the right reasons.

This article ended up stretching to 25 pages, and I felt it too long to do as one blog post. So I have uploaded the whole article as a .pdf file. Please click on the link to read. I hope you think it is worthwhile. I was emotionally enraptured throughout the whole process of researching and writing, and I think these three men deserve to be remembered for their deeds.

Three Tales from World War I - Download Link

When an Australian Captain Played for the K.C.C

It is always a highlight for a Club to be able to boast that players that have given them good service have gone on to bigger and better things, and shown their talents (which were obviously honed by the senior members of the Club during their time there) on a tougher stage than the south coast of New South Wales. The Kiama Cricket Club is no different in this respect, and has been fortunate to have some very good players move to higher honours. All-rounder Trevor McDonald moved to the big smoke to play with Bankstown-Canterbury in the 1970's, where he eventually made the State squad. He eventually captained the strong 1st Grade side, being in charge when a couple of young promising players by the name of Steve and Mark Waugh were coming through the ranks. Others such as Ken McDonald, Dr Hedley Terrey, and more recently Mitch Gowland have gone on to excellent Sydney 1st Grade careers, while Will Sheridan is currently plying his trade in first class cricket for Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades.

However - how many local Clubs can claim to have had an Australian Test captain play for them? Not many, is the answer. But back in 1896, Kiama joined this small collection of teams in adding another notch to the history of the Club.

Hugh Massie. Photo from Wikipedia

Hugh Hamon Massie was the 28^th Australian to play Test cricket. He played 64 first class matches between 1878 and 1888, including nine Test matches for Australia between 1881 and 1885. His contribution to Australia's victory at The Oval in August 1882, the famous win which started the "Ashes" after the obituary for English Cricket was posted in the Sporting Times a week following the match, is somewhat forgotten behind the amazing bowling efforts of Fred "The Demon" Spofforth, who took 14 wickets in the match. After Australia had conceded a lead of 38 runs on the first innings, it was Massie's wonderful innings that gave Australia a chance at an unlikely victory. Opening the batting with Charles Bannerman, Massie scored 55 runs in just 57 minutes, off 60 deliveries and including nine boundaries. When he was dismissed Australia was 1/66, 28 runs to the good and having put the Englishmen on the back foot. Massie's 55 was by far the highest individual innings of the match, and remained his highest Test score.

In February 1885, in what turned out to be his final Test match, Massie became the fourth man to captain Australia in a Test match when he captained Australia to a famous victory in Sydney, winning by just 6 runs in a series-turning result.

Hugh Massie's Test record was 249 runs in 9 Tests at an average of 15.56; his first class record in 64 games was 2485 runs at and average of 23.00, with a highest score of 206 against Oxford University on the 1882 tour.

H. H. Massie on CricInfo 

H. H. Massie on Wikipedia 

Massie was also a banker with the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Ltd, and it was his links with this profession that brought forth his connection with the Kiama Cricket Club. It was the third match of the new season for Kiama, and the highly regarded visitor, who had been encouraged to holiday in the area by the local bank manager, was invited to make an appearance for the 'Kiama' team - I say Kiama team, because in 1896 there were three Clubs playing in the Kiama township, those being the long established Kiama Cricket Club, the recently established Brighton Cricket Club and the very newly established Claremont Cricket Club.

Massie's appearance was a fillip for the team, and was reported enthusiastically in the local newspapers:

IF Mr. H. H. Massie of brilliant batting fame in bygone days, gets going on Saturday next against the Wollongong Cricket Club, the latter will need to spread their fieldsmen out over the several points around Kiama. We hope he will - just for the sake of a revival of old-time memories in the cricket field. At practice on Tuesday last he hit one ball about 250 yards before it alighted on Mother earth. [1]

Doubtless the beautiful weather was accountable in great measure for the large gathering of spectators at the scene of the contest; but another strong inducement which was probably as powerful as the other in that direction was the inclusion in the Kiama team of the famous H. H. Massie, who in days gone by was one of Australia’s most brilliant batsmen and who, while practising with the local cricketers during the week he had been in the “City of the Blowhole”, had proved that he still retained that wonderful driving power with which in his younger days he was wont to delight the assembled thousands on many historic battle fields. [2]

And so it was that the match between the Kiama Cricket Club and the Wollongong Cricket Club took place at Church Point on Saturday 3 October, 1896.

The match on Saturday last between the above clubs provided possibly one of the most interesting games ever played on the Church Point. Kiama lost the toss (which, by the way, they have done in all three matches engaged in by them this season), and Wollongong elected to bat. [3]

The milling spectators, a larger than normal crowd having been drawn at the prospect of watching a former Australian batsman play, settled back down to watch the Wollongong innings. No doubt they were not disappointed in the batting display put on by Wollongong, though the ability of the Wollongong innings to provide a good backbone was helped along by some deplorable fielding on the part of the Kiama side. The son of the long-term servant of Wollongong cricket, John Galvin, managed to be a thorn in his opponent’s side, scoring a fine 37, a score that was equalled by his teammate Hamilton. The star of the innings however was Jack Doyle, who managed to reach 106 before finally being dismissed. Overall, the Kiama team spent a good portion of the afternoon chasing leather.

The fielding by the Kiama team was again very poor... Doyle gave two chances very early in his innings, and had either of them been accepted the total would probably have reached little more than half the 210 runs made.... Hamilton and Galvin also batted well, particularly the former, for their runs, though each of these batsmen gave chances which were not accepted. [4]

The fielding of the home team was, to use the mildest possible term, atrocious, no fewer than seven catches being missed [5]

It was, by the end of this onslaught, necessary to even call upon the wiles of the elder statesman visitor to roll his arm over. As it turns out, perhaps he could have be called upon earlier, as his one over is a wicket maiden, picking up the scalp of McLeod, bowled by his off break. Through the excellent spell of Dave Whittingham (who has been the man who has encouraged Massie to join in today's festivities) in taking four wickets for 16 runs, and Massie's wicket, Wollongong lose their final five wickets for just 12 runs, and have to be happy to reach the very defendable score of 210.

Now comes the moment that the majority of spectators have turned up for. Walking out to open the batting for Kiama are Hugh Massie, former Test captain, and Jack McCaffrey, Kiama's captain and longest serving player. Both men are aged in their forties - Massie is 42 and McCaffrey is 43 - and yet both are still formidable with the willow in hand.

Massie and McCaffrey opened Kiama's innings, and the spectators - who were very numerous - settled down in the expectation of seeing something out of the ordinary performed by the former. They were not disappointed. [6]

From the very start, Massie batted freely. Though he had been favourably compared during his career to his former teammate George Bonner, who was renowned for his fast scoring and big hitting, no one could have expected the onslaught that came here at Church Point. Though he was now 42 years old, his eye and timing did not appear to have left him, and he took on the Wollongong bowling at will. Jack McCaffrey had been the club's mainstay with the bat for many years, but here he just took a backseat to the byplay.

Massie drove handsomely at the first ball he faced from Hamilton, putting it close to the crowd with a perfect straight drive for two runs. An over-correction from the bowler saw the next ball whizzing away to the mid-wicket boundary for four, before a further brace of two came from a cut shot of exquisite precision in timing and power from the third ball of the over. The crowd rolled along with the action, cheering loudly and clapping in excitement at the show that was being put on. Massie continued forth, almost blithely ignoring where each ball was pitched, and appearing to be able to place the ball precisely where he wanted it to go, no matter where on the wicket it was aimed. The Wollongong captain was soon doing exactly as had been suggested in the newspaper article during the previous week - putting fieldsmen to the four winds in the hope of being able to intercept one of the rockets that was emanating from Massie's bat.

McLeod’s first over was moved around for six runs, but it was Hamilton who was being punished. His second over was absconded for eleven runs, and his third over punished for another dozen runs.

The field had a very merry time, the ball being continually driven by the ex-representative of Australia out of bounds and on to the rocks. [7]

What to do, what to do? Massie was proving to be a fearsome opponent, and the score was rattling along. Some relief came when McCaffrey edged the final ball of that fifth over to McLeod at slip, and was dismissed for four. The total stood at 1/43, of which Massie had scored 37.

The first two deliveries of McLeod’s third over were dispatched by Massie to the boundary as well – the first a belting off drive that left the field of TWO mid-offs floundering, the second hit straight so hard that it perfectly bisected the two fieldsmen who had been positioned on that boundary just ten metres apart. The crowd was beside itself, cheering and hollering and clapping until their hands hurt. It was some of the most exhilarating cricket that had ever been witnessed at the Church Point ground.

There is no way of telling what the bowler McLeod was thinking of, but one can only admire his bravery in deciding that the next ball was also going to be pitched up full to the batsman. On its delivery, one can only imagine that Massie’s eyes lit up once again, seeing yet another opportunity to inflict carnage upon the scoreboard. However, this ball is not like the others he has faced, and as it closes on the famous wielder of the willow, he sees too late that the ball is fuller than the other deliveries have been. He jams his bat down hard, but to no avail, and the terrifically delivered yorker has done its job, and defeated the defence of the former Test batsman, whose stumps clatter to the ground. The audible groans from the viewing public drown out the cheers of triumph - and no doubt relief - of the Wollongong players.

Massie walks off the ground to a chorus of cheers and hurrahs, having been dismissed for 45 runs out of the total of 2/51. His innings contained eight fours, many of which had to be retrieved from the rocks surrounding the Church Point ground. His entire innings been completed in only 5.3 overs, and had lasted for only eighteen minutes.

Despite an excellent partnership between Caddell and Bellette, which at one stage had Kiama at 2/123, and further good contributions from Sefton, Whittingham and Palmer, Kiama fell short in their run chase, eventually being dismissed for 199, and a loss by ten runs on the first innings.

Though he may not have been a “home grown” Australian Test representative, it is nonetheless an exciting prospect to have such a well-credentialed player making an appearance for your club, and putting on a display that does not disappoint those that come to watch. If it was anything like the excitement I felt when I discovered that the Kiama Cricket Club had within its ranks an Australian Test captain, albeit from over a hundred years ago, then it must have been an exciting day indeed upon Kiama’s Church Point ground.

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[1] "Snap-Shots". Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser. Thursday 1 October 1896.

[2] Match report. Illawarra Mercury. Tuesday 6 October 1896.

[3] Match report. Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser. Tuesday 6 October 1896.

[4] Match report. Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser. Tuesday 6 October 1896.

[5] Match report. Illawarra Mercury. Tuesday 6 October 1896.

[6] Match report. Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser. Tuesday 6 October 1896.

[7] Match report. Illawarra Mercury. Tuesday 6 October 1896.

From the K.C.C to the M.C.G vs the M.C.C.

There is nothing like the opportunity to test yourself against a tough or better opponent, either a team or an individual, to give yourself a yardstick as to how you can perform against the best of the best. Matches against visiting teams has generally become a rare event in this day and age, where structured competitions reign in regional teams to play against each other on the basis that their competition is the major beneficiary. In the years before Federation however, before the formation of the Kiama District Cricket Association, all matches had to be organised by each team, and they would often spread invitations far and wide in order to find opponents willing to travel and play. The cream of these matches would be the chance to show your wares against the best of the Sydney Clubs, and perhaps make a name for yourself.

On Saturday 23 May 1874, the Kiama United Cricket Club hosted a visit by the East Sydney Cricket Club. It was quite a coup for the district to have this team travel down to partake in a cricket match. Though there were many cricket Clubs in Sydney, the organised Sydney Grade competition did not come into being until the 1893/94 season, and so at this time in history they also played on an 'invitational' basis. This was the East Sydney club's final match of the 1873/74 season, and was by far the furthest they had travelled in the name of a game of cricket.

The game took place at the Church Point ground, though;

The game did not commence till nearly 12 o'clock, the Sydney men having arrived by steamer at a late hour. The day was fine, with a slight but cold wind from the west, which made it rather unpleasant for spectators as well as players. ^[1]

Opening the batting for the East Sydney team was its captain, Dave Gregory and Vyner. Gregory was an accomplished batsman of the time, and was coming off having just represented an Eighteen of New South Wales against W.G. Grace's touring team, and previous to that the Combined Fifteen of New South Wales and Victoria against the same opponents. Vyner did not last long, being bowled by McCaffery, and his place was taken by another of New South Wales' best, Charlie Bannerman, who had also played in the above games alongside his captain. However, he too soon fell to the wiles of McCaffery for just 4. The skipper stonewalled for some time in order to retain his wicket, while at the other end he was joined by McKern, who was much livelier in regards to his stroke play and manner at the crease.

Eventually Gregory is picked up by McCaffery, who has proved to be a nagging opponent, giving little room for freeing your arms. His 16 has been a stabilising force at the top of the order. He was replaced by his brother Charlie, who made 11 before he too became a victim of McCaffery's "straight bowls". The arrival of Burke at the crease does not slow the tempo, and the East Sydney team looked to be on the way to setting an enormous total as their score reached four wickets down and 73 runs on the board.

But wait! Here comes an interesting character to the bowling crease. Why, it's Alexander Gordon! Even though he is increasing in years by now, he is still well renowned around the South Coast districts, as he has been a prominent player in many teams throughout the area over the past twenty years. In fact, there had been some commotion about a decade earlier, when the game he was playing in had been abandoned by his team, after he had been called for jerking! It doesn't seem to have stopped him playing though, as he has still turned up in various teams to lend his abundant skill to their cause.

It's funny to remember that he has been called for jerking in that aforementioned match too, because as he begins his spell, it is obvious that he has in fact reverted back to an ancient art form. He is in fact bowling - underarm! A strange turn of events, but what has been the trigger for this? Has Gordon, since that infamous day against Wollongong, been called again for jerking? Has the doubt in his bowling action been brought to the attention of the Big City team, and thus brought scrutiny about it? Or has Gordon himself just decided that, on this occasion, on this ground, that it is the best course of action for him to take? In researching this era of the Kiama Cricket Club, I have come across no correspondence in any form that suggests that Gordon has again had his action queried, officially or not (in fact, the more that one reads, it becomes increasingly obvious that the original "no ball" call in that match back in 1864 was the result of a grudge held by the umpire than of anything positive in the nature of the bowling action). Thus we can only speculate as to what the reason was for this change. Whatever the reason was, however, it had an immediate impact on the match at hand:

At this stage of the innings a change was made in the bowling, A. Gordon going on with underarm; and the result showed that the old style must not be despised. In his first over he shivered the timbers of Burke and Bailey; and in his third over disposed of Barton; and Beard and Freeman falling to M'Caffrey, the innings ended for 94, having lasted about an hour and a half. ^[2]

In three overs, Gordon had taken 3/9, while from a position of strength at 4/73, East Sydney had lost 5 wickets for 21 runs in 5.2 overs, and the ten man visiting team had been bowled out for 94, a total significantly less than was imagined just 20 minutes earlier.

The Kiama team took heart from the swift conclusion of their opponents innings, and would have felt confident that they could put up a good chase of the target they had been set. However, it was not to be, as the opening attack of Charlie Gregory and Burke ran through them with ease.

Something good was expected of Christie, but he had a short life; Burke brought him to grief with a very deceptive ball, pitched behind and breaking between his legs. A Gordon went in next and left his wickets unprotected against a straight one from Burke. R. King was foolishly run out. S. Gordon and C. M'Caffrey were the only two who showed good batting on the Kiama side, the former making 11 and the latter 10. The innings ended about 3 o'clock for the grand total of 55. [3]

After the luncheon, which was taken on the ground, there was little time for the Kiama team to force their way back into the match. After all, The East Sydney club had had little trouble in the first innings setting themselves up for a big score, and with only a couple of hours to go until sundown, it looked an impossible task in which to force victory.

Their cause was made easier when first Charlie Bannerman, and then Dave Gregory, the club's two most experienced batsman, failed to show at the wickets, proclaiming themselves to be "retired hurt". Along with only ten men to start with, it meant that Kiama had now only to produce seven wickets falling in order to have a second precious chance at the crease with the bat. Gordon was this time called upon to open the bowling, and again he is a cut above, once again relying on his underarms to do the job. Gordon bowls ten overs, of which three are maidens, and finishes with the terrific figures of 4/13. Amazing stuff. Spinks is not left in the lurch here, his nine overs producing 2/12, while McCaffery’s single over closes out the innings with a wicket off his final ball, dismissing the undermanned city team for just 37 runs.

The Kiama men had to go in again to get 76, and only about half an hour to play, which proved too short to make the required number. S. Gordon and R. King went in and gave some leather hunting to the Sydneyites ^[4]

They did indeed! With no time to waste at all, with a maximum of half an hour likely to be left in the day, Samuel Gordon and King take on the role of enforcers. They nab six runs from the first over by Gregory, and then THIRTEEN from the next by Burke, as well as another six from Gregory’s second over. After just three overs, the Kiama team has raced away to 0/29 – an unheard-of run rate in the colonies at the time, and maybe… just maybe… the Kiama team are a chance of snatching this game!

Burke is immediately replaced by the leg spin of Bannerman, who has ‘remarkably’ recovered from whatever ailed him to stop him reaching the batting crease, and he bowls an advancing Gordon for 20, a fine innings in the circumstances. Suddenly, the going is a lot tougher for the batsmen, not the least because of the deepening dusk that is falling around them. Bannerman proves to be a much tougher proposition, bowling both McCafferty for 1 and Alexander Gordon for a duck, before stumps are drawn with Kiama at 3/34 from seven overs. Kiama’s correspondent wrote that:

Three wickets fell for 34, leaving seven wickets to fall to make 42, no very hard matter, we think. The match was decided by the first innings, and the ball handed over to the Sydney captain. ^[5]

One would suggest that perhaps a little bias could be seen in that statement. 42 in these games is still a long, long way to go.

"The first eleven of the club paid a visit to Kiama, and played a match with the Kiama Cricket Club, whom they defeated. Our team was very hospitably treated by the members of the Kiama club during their visit. A return match will be played in Sydney this year". ^[6]

Despite goodwill from both teams, it appears that a return match never eventuated. No doubt the building competitiveness amongst Sydney teams, and the East Sydney club’s growing importance and leadership role in this, meant that games against the ‘lesser lights’ of the colony were more difficult to justify. The fact that three or four of the club’s better players had not made that initial trip to Kiama may well have also been part of the reason not to fulfil the return match.

However, it was an important match in the annals of Kiama cricket history. Not only did arguably the region’s finest cricketer of the era again prove his worth and canniness against worthy opposition, and not only did an unheralded Kiama team hold their own against a superior opponent. It was also a fillip for those that played in or watched the match take place. Within three years, East Sydney’s captain Dave Gregory was appointed to captain the first all-Australian team to play the all-England team on level terms – eleven on eleven. It was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 1877, and is retrospectively considered to be the first ever cricket Test match. And Charlie Bannerman was also selected in that game, going on to score the first Test century, and eventually retiring hurt (not quite in the same manner as the Kiama game) for 165, still the highest score by an Australian on Test match debut.  It’s a long way from facing underarms at Church Point, Kiama to winning a Test match – the FIRST Test match - at the M.C.G.

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[1] Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser. Thursday 4 June, 1874

[2] Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser. Thursday 4 June, 1874

[3] Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser. Thursday 4 June, 1874

[4] Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser. Thursday 4 June, 1874

[5] Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser. Thursday 4 June, 1874

[6] The Sydney Morning Herald. Thursday 17 September, 1874.

Jerks, Umpires and Media Games

Throughout the history of the game of cricket, and the development of bowling as an art form, there have been many notable occasions where bowlers have been called out for "throwing", "chucking" or "jerking". The aboriginal paceman Eddie Gilbert, who famously dismissed Don Bradman for a third ball duck in a first class match at the ‘Gabba, Australian Ian Meckiff, whose career was ended in a Test match at the same ground when he was called four times in his only over of the match, and Muttiah Muralitharan in the Boxing Day Test of 1995 and again in an ODI in Adelaide 1999. These were by no means the only instances, but they are some of the more famous ones. In the final instances, in the ODI at the Gabba, there was a grave possibility that the match between Australia and Sri Lanka, and subsequently the tour, would be abandoned.

Even our local district has not been immune from such controversy. One of the stories retold today is the day when Jamberoo's Tony "Red" Hastings, umpiring at square leg, called Albion Park's fast bowler Paul Collard for throwing in the late 1980's. Collard’s action was certainly unusual, and had caused talk by other teams when they played against him. The extenuating circumstances had led to Collard actually having had his action tested, and had documentation to prove it had been cleared at the highest levels. This didn't stop the call being made on that particular occasion. It was an amusing tale to those of us who heard it after the event, though perhaps not quite as amusing to those playing in the game at the time.

However, what then does one make of a contest that took place back in February 1864, when the tensions of two teams over such an incident combined to throw the local cricket district into disarray.

On Wednesday February 3 1864, a team from the Illawarra Cricket Club of Wollongong, and the "Britannia" Cricket Club of Kiama, were to meet on the cricket field in battle. With the teams milling with the gathering spectators on the side of the marked boundaries, the two team captains walked onto the field for the toss;

Accordingly, a little before midday the teams respectively representing those clubs met in a paddock forming part of the estate known as Johnson’s meadows, at a distance (across the enclosure) of about half a mile from Mr Beatson’s Hotel. The Kiama men, having won the toss sent their opponents to the wickets, and then, having occupied the field and given three preliminary cheers, the game commenced [1]

Each team has brought its own umpire for the match. Illawarra’s representative, Henry Brettell, takes up his place at the non-strikers end, while Kiama’s representative, Robert Miller, is stationed at square leg. The first over is bowled by the redoubtable Alexander Gordon, a canny cricketer who has played around the districts in recent years with great success. He is a noted wicket-taker, whose fast left-arm sliding deliveries have bested some of the best batsmen around, including those from the “big smoke” in Sydney.

He is immediately on song, troubling the striker Lahiff, who manages to scramble off strike through a bye that gets past the Kiama keeper. This brings Morris on strike, who is also immediately in trouble, and from the fourth ball of the over, the ball from Gordon appears to come from the batsman’s pads, onto the bat, and is squeezed out to point, where Jack Howard takes the catch. The Kiama team has begun its appeal, when, contravening convention, the square leg umpire raised his finger and proclaimed, “that’s out!”

Upon delivery of the third or fourth ball, Morris played to it; it shot off his leg on to his bat. The point (Howard) stepped forward and caught it. Howard appealed to me, and on the impulse of the moment I said “out!”, although aware directly I had said the word, it was not my place to have spoken. Morris immediately left the ground. [2]

There was some consternation amongst the Wollongong players on the sideline, trying to comprehend why their player had seemingly been dismissed by the square leg umpire – and a Kiama umpire at that! From the bowlers end, the standing umpire Brettell no doubt felt put out also by this turn of events, and he immediately decided to call the batsman back to the wicket. This in turn caused some angst among the Kiama players, who felt they had dismissed the batsman fairly and squarely.

When he (Morris) had proceeded several paces, Brettell called him back. Gordon then asked Brettell why Morris was not out. Brettell said he (Morris) played the ball off his leg. Gordon called out to Morris – “Morris, how did you play that ball?” Morris replied “Off my leg on to my bat”. Brettell then said it was a bump-ball. After some little dispute about the matter, Morris went out [3]

So now the batsman leaves, and though Morris has admitted he is dismissed fairly, there is little doubt that Brettell is not happy with how the dismissal has been enacted, and certainly the players on the sidelines still feel that treachery has occurred in how their opener has been given out. Gordon’s over is completed, and the score sits at 1/1.

From the opposite end, the second Kiama quick Frank Fredericks comes into the attack, and four runs are taken from his initial over. Now it is time for Gordon to commence his second over, and from here the game explodes.

In the next over by Gordon, when the third or fourth ball was delivered, the Wollongong umpire called out “no ball”. The ball passed the long-stop. One of the men at the wickets said “Let us run, we’ll make two”. They ran, and it was when the ball was back in the bowler’s hands that Gordon asked Brettell what he was “no balled” for. It was then, and not before, that Gordon threw down the ball, and said he would play no more, and challenged them to put him to any test as to his having jerked the ball. [4]

So Gordon, who is so well known around the local districts that, even moments before this game had commenced, his opponents had enquired of his availability to represent them in a game they were hoping to organise against the Albert Club in Sydney in a few weeks time, has been called for “jerking”, which was the term used for what we now know as “throwing”. This is a massively serious charge, especially in an era that was still really coming around to full overarm bowling, as opposed to round arm or even underarm bowling.

The chronology of this event is only challenged in one area, that being the moment when Gordon began to vehemently disparage the decision as made by the umpire, and how that is then interpreted by those involved.

We have no intention to repeat the hard words which, on such an occasion, each side is apt, more or less, to apply to the others, but as we are sincerely desirous of seeing the noble game of cricket encouraged and cultivated, we would suggest that it may be worthwhile for each side to consider how far they might have been wrong. Our friend Gordon was, no doubt, a little too fast in throwing down the ball, and declaring he would bowl no more, as soon as the Wollongong umpire had mentioned his reason for declaring a “no ball”. [5]

You remark in your elaborate report of the match referred to, that Gordon’s bowling was objected to on the pretence that it was a “jerk”, thereby inferring that such was not the case. Now, how could your reporter tell whether the bowling was fair or otherwise? No person but the umpire stationed at the bowler’s end can tell with any degree of accuracy whether a “no ball” has been delivered, and consequently your insinuation had better have been left alone.

Your statement that Mr. Gordon waited until he understood what he was “no-balled” for before he expressed his intention of bowling no more is also untrue. Mr. Brettell had no sooner called “no ball” than Mr. Gordon, in language not the most refined, said he would not deliver another ball; he evidently knew where his fault lay, and was fully expecting it to be discovered. Mr. Gordon, you say, was a little hasty – nothing more, of course! A man possessing such an angelic temper as the individual referred to, could not depart altogether from the path of rectitude! He merely expressed himself in the choicest phraseology of Billingsgate, which is termed being a little hasty.[6]

Mr Osbourne writes in the fashion of a man who likes to see his productions in print, and I am afraid mistakes his own sallies of impertinence and flippancy for wit. He shows this plainly enough, I think, in his remarks on your assertion that I was a little too fast (which I freely admit), and he winds up by saying, with the positiveness of one who heard it, that I employed “the choicest phraseology of Billingsgate”. The allusion to Billingsgate, though I never saw that celebrated fishmarket, I quite understand; and I say, as Mr Osbourne says of another part of your report, that his assertion is utterly untrue, I may ask him, too, in his own words, “how he could know this?”[7]

As to the charge that Mr Gordon “used language not the most refined” I can only say, that I did not hear him make use of any expressions that he need be ashamed of. [8]

And so it is that the experienced Alexander Gordon has been called for “jerking”. As can be seen, the opinion from the Wollongong camp is that Gordon was fully aware that his bowling action was suspect, and reacted immediately upon being called accordingly. All of the opinion of the Kiama camp is that it was not until the ball returned to the bowler that he enquired as to the reason for the call of no ball, and reacted upon learning that he had been called for jerking, and not over stepping.

However, there is now another piece of the puzzle to put in place, and it is this. The Wollongong umpire in question, Henry Brettell, is formerly of the township of Kiama, and had indeed played cricket within the district some summers beforehand – and he is not thought of particularly fondly.

We believe, however, not only that the decision was utterly erroneous, but that the umpire was a person in whom, whatever his mates might think of him, they could not reasonably expect their opponents to have any condolence. [9]

With reference now to your liberal criticism on our umpire, Mr. Brettell. You state that we could not reasonably expect our opponents to have any confidence in him. Why, may I ask are we to entertain the same opinions of Mr. Brettell as the Kiama team? They cannot be in a position to judge of his fitness for the office of umpire. Mr. Brettell may have been a very indifferent cricketer when in Kiama several years ago, but is that any reason why he should not improve? If Mr. Brettell was disliked as an individual by the majority of the Kiama team, was it our duty to secure a man who could make it his boast that he was the personal friend of the Kiama team collectively and individually? I should say not. We chose Mr. Brettell because we considered him fit for the office, and we have had no cause to alter our opinion of him; therefore it is perfectly immaterial to us what our opponents thought of him. Again, our umpire’s decision is said by you to be erroneous; no mention is made of the party who officiated for Kiama as umpire – his decision was too just to be for a single moment doubted; he spoke when everyone acquainted with the rudiments of cricket was aware that he had no right to, and consequently one of our men had to retire, unfairly given out by a man to whom the theory of cricket was a sealed book. [10]

… and any candid person will not be surprised that I should have felt annoyed at being “no-balled” by a mere boy, who not only can have no great knowledge of the game, but was unfavourably known in Kiama in other and more important respects. Master Brettell may have improved in the knowledge of the game during the time he has lived in Wollongong; but it is doubtful if his character for integrity, or his manners, are much mended. [11]

Mr. Osbourne gives you a flattering account of Mr. Brettell’s cricketing capabilities for the post of umpire, but he omits to say anything of his qualifications as a gentleman. Our umpire, Mr. R. Miller, does not escape the criticism of your correspondent either; leaving Mr. Miller’s cricketing knowledge aside, we can rely on his decision being given in an honourable manner. I do not know whether they can say the same of Mr. Brettell or not. [12]

It was evident to me that Mr. Brettell was determined to give his own side every possible preference; but whether this was merely from his own inclination, or being only a tool in the hands of the players, and consequently entirely guided by their suggestions, I will not take upon me to say – this is best known to himself.

But it was abundantly evident to the spectators, by Mr. Brettell’s attempt to favour the player who first lost his wicket, by saying the ball bounded off his leg, and then when the player admitted it was off his bat, the umpire, to justify his first error (if it was one) said it bounded off the ground.

Moreover, it appears singular that if Mr. Gordon’s bowling is a jerk, as decided by Mr. Brettell, that it was never discovered before; for to my knowledge Mr Gordon has been bowling in matches for many years both in this and the neighbouring districts, and against some of the best players; but it would appear his bowling was never objected to before, and I suppose it was only discovered on that occasion by Mr. Brettell’s superior knowledge of cricket and remarkable perspicuity. [13]

At this point, the Kiama team walk from the field in disgust at this ruling, while Brettell and the two not out batsmen, once they realise this is not likely to be a short break in play, follow afterwards. There is much commotion on the side lines, with both sets of teams absolutely believing that they are in the right and that their opponents are making a mockery of the game.

As the Wollongong players begin to play a pick up game on the marked arena, it becomes clear that a discussion must take place. And so it is that the Kiama vice-captain walks over to meet with the Illawarra captain, to discuss the possibility of the game restarting. Although it is unclear as to what, if any, conditions are to be placed on the game recommencing, there is little doubt about the context of the outcome of this.

We regret too that when an attempt was subsequently made by Mr. John Black on behalf of the Kiama man to rearrange the matter and proceed with the game, his advances were met by the Captain of the Wollongong team in a spirit quite inappropriate with the idea of a friendly contest. The moral of the matter, in as far as cricketing is concerned, that any club had better renounce all attempts to play a match against another, if they cannot provide captains and umpires who are not only adequately acquainted with the practice of cricket, but possess sufficient judgement and temper to perceive when it is worthwhile to interrupt a game and ruin the chance of exciting unfriendly feelings for the sake of enforcing some technical point in rules which every club or every chance meeting is at liberty to observe or to disregard as it pleases. It is unfortunate that when a popular recreation has become the subject of a code of regulations conventionally acknowledged, people soon begin to regard it in much the same light as those transactions which are under the control of positive statute law. In such affairs as horseracing where large sums are frequently at stake this may be all very well; but we are very much afraid that cricket can receive no benefit from over-legislation; and a paltry dispute about a style of bowling which does not affect the essential character of the game, seems a very inadequate reason for marring a day’s friendly sport. We hope both the parties concerned will take counsel, and that we may yet see the match played out this season. We believe that, on the whole, both sides rein capital for the contest, and that there would have been an excellent match, notwithstanding the inadequate and desultory practice of the Kiama men. [14]

Reference is further made to an attempt which was made to arrange the affair, and thus continue the game. Mr. Black, the deputy from the Britannia Club, told our captain that it was the wish of the Kiama captain to continue the game if possible. Mr. Brown replied that he did not wish to be insulted again, as we considered we had all been grossly insulted by their team leaving the field, which in all probability would have been the case had the match gone on and Gordon bowled. The reply was construed by Mr. Black (who must have a remarkably thin skin) into a personal affront, and thus the negotiation was put a stop to.

Allusion is also made to our captain and umpire as not possessing tempers to suit their opponents. I would advise you to look at home before you criticise us. The captain of the Kiama team is, of course, the paragon of perfection, so far as temper is concerned; the spectators of the match can vouch for that, and they assert that Mr. Gordon is not fit, even for the ranks in the regiment of cricketers. [15]

After more disputing, the Kiama team left the ground. A number of the Wollongong players then came on the ground and began to play themselves. I then left, and shortly after met Mr. Black, who asked me to go with him and try to arrange for the match to go on. I advised him to get some other person to go, and suggested it would be best to appoint fresh umpires. He came back soon. I asked him if he had succeeded. He said, “No, I have been grossly insulted, and it is no use; they will not try to arrange”.

Such is the plain truth; and I will now leave the matter with your cricketing readers to say, who was the most to blame in bringing the match to such an unsatisfactory termination.[16]

Once again, two versions of the same story come out, and once again neither side is budging from its belief.

At this point, the Wollongong team pack up their things, and make their way north and home, with the derisive calls from some of the Kiama supporters and players following in their ears. To fill in the afternoon;

A scratch match which was got up by the Kiama team and their friends after the departure of their opponents from the  ground, exhibited some good practice and showed that excellent material exist in the district. We hope that, whether the match with Wollongong be played out or not, means may be found to get up a match with one of the Sydney clubs before the end of the season.[17]

What was most interesting in researching and reading about this incident in the history of Kiama cricket, was the correspondence that was available in the newspaper of the time. However, the media of the age doesn’t seem to be too different from the modern age, with the owner of the media able to make publishing decisions that best serve their own purposes. Joseph Weston had only started publishing the Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser some twelve months previously, but his print decisions could possibly be said to be attempting to influence his readers opinions on this matter. Having written the initial report on the match and incidents involved, he then deigned to print the Letter to the Editor by John Osbourne, who was the Honorary Secretary of the Illawarra Cricket Club. However, following that letter, Weston did feel the need to add on the following:

[We do not think the tone of the above letter very well calculated to forward the writer’s professed desire to “meet our Kiama friends again to contest for victory in the noble game”. We do not think it worth while to waste space in re-asserting the truth of the facts as narrated by us; and the Kiama umpire and others so courteously mentioned by him can, if they please, when they see Mr. Osbourne’s letter in print, vindicate their character and competency, and say whether our statement about Mr. Gordon and his bowling, and the appeal is or is not “untrue”, as Mr. Osbourne politely asserts. We can inform Mr. Osbourne that the use of the word pretence does by no means necessarily imply an accusation of falsehood, but is pretty nearly equivalent to the word “plea”.  Mr Osbourne, however, seems in other respects to misunderstand either our words or our meaning; and we cannot now take time to set him right. We are much obliged to our correspondent for his offer to forward a copy of Lillywhite’s Guide for our enlightenment. We will not give him that trouble, as we can always when requisite consult that work without his assistance – ED.IND] [18]

Then, even more interesting, was what was printed a couple of weeks later;

We have received a note signed Henry C. Brettell, and referring to the correspondence on the subject of the late cricket match, which appeared in our last. We must decline publishing the same for the reason that, as the writer himself says, he “makes no statement”; and his epistle consists merely of some attempts at sarcasm – very harmless, but not in the best taste. If H.C. B. is very desirous of seeing his letter in print, he may probably get it published in one of the Wollongong journals, which together have four times our space to fill. [19]

Cricket between these two clubs certainly did resume, though this game was never restarted or completed. The Albert Club of Sydney, which was the unofficial flamebearer of the game of cricket in New South Wales, eventually ruled that the game was a forfeit by the Kiama club, and that the match should be awarded to the Illawarra Cricket Club. However, the ball that was purchased by the Kiama club, to be awarded to the winner of the contest, was never delivered, and remained in the Kiama club’s possession until the next match between the two teams was played.

As to the claim that Alexander Gordon was indeed a “jerker” – well, there is nothing in print to say that he was ever called again in an organised match for throwing. However, his story, and the conclusion of this particular part of this story, doesn’t finish here, and maybe in the long run, the real answer to this question as to the legality of his action can be found in another match, one that was played some ten years later – a match that also adds another glorious chapter to the multilayered history of cricket in Kiama…

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[1] Match Report. The Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser – Tuesday 9 February, 1864

[2] Robert Miller, Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 1 March, 1864

[3] Robert Miller, Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 1 March, 1864

[4] Robert Miller, Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 1 March, 1864

[5] Match report. Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 9 February, 1864.

[6] John Osbourne. Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 23 February 1864.

[7] Alexander Gordon. Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 1 March, 1864

[8] Robert Miller, Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 1 March, 1864

[9] Match report. Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 9 February, 1864.

[10] John Osbourne. Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 23 February 1864.

[11] Alexander Gordon. Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 1 March, 1864

[12] John King, Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 1 March, 1864

[13] A. Spectator, Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 8 March 1864.

[14] Match report. Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 9 February, 1864.

[15] John Osbourne. Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 23 February 1864.

[16] Robert Miller, Letters to the Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 1 March, 1864

[17] Match report. Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 9 February, 1864.

[18] Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 23 February 1864.

[19] Editor, Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, Tuesday 8 March 1864.