Emmot Robinson

ROBINSON, EMMOTT, who died on November 17, the day after his 86th birthday, was a noted all-round professional for Yorkshire for 13 years from 1919. In that time he scored 9,444 runs including seven centuries, for the county, average 24.53, and took 892 wickets for 21.97 runs each, a remarkable record considering that his first-class career began at the age of 36. His highest innings was 135 against Leicestershire in 1921 and his best bowling performance in the Roses match at Bradford in 1920, when he took nine Lancashire wickets for 36 runs. Set to get 188 to win, Lancashire appeared assured of success when they began the last day with 44 on the board and all wickets intact, but too great caution against capital bowling by Robinson led to the innings ending for a further 121 runs and Yorkshire snatched victory by 22.

Six times in all, Robinson dismissed six or more batsmen in an innings. Despite his lack of inches, he bowled at a surprising pace, with swerve and nip from the pitch, and he twice achieved the hat-trick--against Sussex at Hull in 1928 and Kent at Gravesend two season later. In 1928 his total of wickets reached 111 and he exceeded 1,000 runs in 1921 and 1929. No more dedicated player ever took the field and Lord Hawke called him a great trier. Besides his batting and bowling prowess, he was a first-rate fieldsman, especially at cover point.

He served as a first-class umpire for the last two seasons before the Second World War and again in 1946. At the special request of the Australians, he stood in the first Test at Trent Bridge in 1938 when his enthusiasm so far outstripped his discretion that, when C. J. Barnett completed 100 from the first ball after lunch on the opening day, he shook hands with the England batsman!

In 1944 Robinson became coach to Yorkshire for two years in succession to G. H. Hirst and in 1947 he took up a similar post with Leicestershire.

(See also Special Memoir by Sir Neville Cardus in Feature Articles.)