by Arunabha Sengupta
1938. The tour opener against Worcestershire at New Road. Don Bradman got his usual double hundred, extending it to a mammoth 258. Then the home side batted.
And umpire Herbert Baldwin no-balled the Australian speedster Ernie McCormick 19 times in the first three overs.
Supposedly McCormick told his teammates that he would be fine after lunch … because the umpires would be pretty hoarse by then.
There is another story, perhaps apocryphal, of his sister calling him long distance from Australia and saying: “Come back, you’re embarrassing us.” McCormick even apologised to the umpires for overstepping repeatedly.
However, the fast bowler got his act together soon enough and did rather okay in the three Tests he played in that series.
Unfortunately, because of Hitler, those would be his final three Tests.
A pity really. McCormick’s classical fast bowler’s high-arm action and release at tremendous speed led Richmond teammate Doug Ring to say that he was faster than both Lindwall and Miller.
When England visited in 19376-37, McCormick sensationally removed Stan Worthington with the first ball of the series. Within the next few minutes he dismissed Arthur Fagg and gave Wally Hammond his first ever Ashes duck. And after having the visitors struggling at 20 for 3, he had to withdraw due to an attack of lumbago.
He did get 36 wickets in 12 Tests at an average of 29.97, but deserved a much longer career.
After his cricketing days he earned his living as a jeweller.
Years later, on 15 February 1961, the great series between Australia and West Indies drew to its exciting climax. Australia 2 West Indies 1, one match drawn, one tied.
There were emotional scenes on the balcony of the MCG Members’ Stand. The presentation ceremony was orchestrated by Bradman with the journalist and broadcaster Michael Charlton. Frank Worrell offered Richie Benaud his cap, tie and blazer, saying, “I give Richie my scalp, my neck and my body—the legs are not worth having.” The spontaneous chorus of ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’ allowed Benaud to think of an appropriate response. “Frank has given me, so to speak, his scalp, neck and body—but he is in every Australian’s cricket heart for evermore.”
Following this, Worrell handed over the handsome artefact known as the Frank Worrell Trophy.
One of the balls used in the Tied Test had been incorporated in the design. It became the perpetual trophy in future Australia-West Indies contests.
The trophy was commissioned personally by Bradman and the Australian Cricket Board. It had been masterfully crafted by Ernie McCormick the jeweller.
Ernie McCormick was born on 16 May 1906.