Empire Cricket Booklet

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TWO CRICKETERS AND A WRITER

Home Gordon said in the Daily Express, 'Llewellyn batted superbly. Many a century has been made in first-class cricket of lesser merit.' Archie MacLaren added in the Daily Mail that the innings was 'the brightest and most refreshing seen during the whole match'. 104 The South Africans performed poorly in the tourna ment which was also marred by bad weather. In his third outing, Llewell yn scored a defiant 59 against Australia at Lord's: 'Thefine clean hittingof Llewell yn ,' said the Yorkshire Post, 'pleasantly illumined the afternoon's cricket and it is probably not assuming too much to say that it was enjoyed by His Majesty.' 105 Unfortunately, Llewell yn was unable to make an

the scores of a recent game [had] added a caricature of Llewellyn'. 106 A photograph was published locally of the artwork which depicted Llewellyn standing over a fire - a scene that might have had an African connotation - with an accompanying inscription stating, 'Llewellyn now warm'. He had earlier taken 6 for 49 and made top score in a lost cause. The Accrington Observer and Times reported that 'the artist, a gentleman not unaccustomed to the tracery of fanciful design . . . has succeeded fairly well in his efforts. Some colour has been introduced - an innovation.' The illus-tration does hint to an extent of a racist slant, with Llewellyn's sensitivity about his colour leading to the belief that he was being 'held up to public ridicule and obloquy'.

Graffiti on the wall at Accrington Cricket Club deeply upset their South African professional, 'Buck' Llewellyn

impression in the remaining two matches. He recorded a pair against England at The Oval to cap a period of disappointing cricket that coincided with off-the-field problems for him. In late July, the Cape Argus published a report from London to say that Llewell yn had asked to be released from his engagement with Accrington. 'His grievance is a remarkable one,' said the article which referred to a keen rivalry existing between Accrington and neighbouring club, Church. At the time, it was 'customary to record the result of games in whitewash on the bound ary wall of the two towns' but an artist 'not content merely with whitewashing

The editor of the Accrington Observer and Times further noted that Llewellyn's initial objection to the picture resulted in 'the portion which had given offence being obliterated on Saturday night last - only to be followed ere Monday dawned by still another piece designed as a sequel to the one that had been blotted out'. The editorial expressed concern over the artwork and thought that the 'personal element' would have been 'better left undone'. Llewell yn argued that he would prefer to leave the club than 'be called upon to endure the publicly exposed and as he regards it, un justifiable and ill-natured derision of any man who