Almanac Cricket: Cricketus Interruptus

 

 

 

I am sure that, during many Saturday cricket matches, an extended drinks break or interruption in play because of ‘equipment malfunction’ has coincidentally occurred at the time of the running of the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate races of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

 

Maybe even with the connivance of the umpires.

 

Umpire: “Come on Clacker, tell that drinks bloke to get off the field. It’s time to get on with the game”.
Bowler: “Hang on a minute Max (or Tony). I’ve got a bit of trouble with one of my boots”.
Umpire: “Oh, well …”.

 

The Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Queensland in Brisbane in 1955 was a memorable match between two teams brimming with Test players.

 

The final day of the match was Tuesday 1 November. Melbourne Cup Day.

 

NSW had batted first and made 440. Queensland would rue dropped chances: Keith Miller who made 164 was dropped when 8, Jim Burke (85) at six, Bob Simpson (40) at six and Pat Crawford (86) five times. Ray Lindwall took 5/80.

 

In reply, Queensland made 313. Wally Grout opened and made 76. Top score was Ron Archer (84). A ninth wicket partnership of 55 between Archer and Ray Lindwall included Richie Benaud being hit for 16 in each of two consecutive overs. Alan Davidson bowled brilliantly in taking 6/74 from 19 overs. His scalps included Grout, Peter Burge (50), Ken Mackay (0), Ken Archer (45) and Ray Lindwall (33).

 

 

Batting a second time NSW made a painstakingly slow 6/147. Captain Keith Miller delayed his declaration and Queensland were required to score 275  in two hours to win.

 

Queensland were 1/8 when play was suspended for 13 minutes for the running of the Melbourne Cup.

 

The delay in play could well have cost NSW outright victory.

 

After the break, Ken Mackay was promptly bowled by Pat Crawford’s first ball, giving Slasher a pair for the match. The Queensland score limped to 3/70 as the match dawdled towards a close. Then in a sudden flurry of wickets, the score became 6/74. With the chance of victory, the NSW effort immediately became more concentrated. A wicket fell at 86 and the whole fielding team crowded around the bat as Richie Benaud bowled his last two overs to Ray Lindwall. Queensland hung on to finish at 7/87.

 

Miller may have been concerned that his tactics had cost victory. Or he may have had a vested interest in the result of the Cup or a sense of the camaraderie of the occasion.

 

NSW twelfth man Brian Booth probably would have had more interest in the cricket.

 

For the record, the winner of the 1955 Cup was Toparoa (N. Sellwood) with Rising Fast second and Sir William third. Subsequently, the winning jockey Neville Sellwood was suspended for interference. A similar penalty was not exacted by Cricket Board officials at the Gabba.

 

This season, three Sheffield Shield matches are scheduled to be in progress at the time of the running of the Cup on 1 November.
I wonder if Cricketus Interruptus will feature.

 

Note: The term Cricketus Interruptus does not, in this instance, refer to the incessant delays caused by Steve Smith replacing his batting gloves nor to his departure from the field without umpire consultation at the merest suggestion of rain.

 

References
Brisbane Courier Mail, 1 and 2 November, 1955
Sydney Morning Herald, 2 November, 1955
Roland Perry, Miller’s Luck, p 376-377

 

 

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