Rotters, rogues and Champagne moments

Patrick Kidd

AT AROUND 1AM ON 11 June 1921, a telegram from the England cricket selectors finally reached the Hon Lionel Tennyson, captain of Hampshire and playboy about town, who was deep into a night at the Embassy Club on Bond Street. Having been routed by Australia in the first Test of the Ashes, the selectors were shaking up the side for the next and wanted to give him a crack. Could he report to Lord’s for the start of play, just ten hours away? Tennyson rattled off a reply, explaining that he was now on his second cigar and third bottle of fizz, but “having informed you of that, I shall be delighted to play”. It is not clear how quickly — or if — he returned home, a whole 80…

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The Critic (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 2021

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