Story Time 267 – When Mr Cricket passed The Don
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In this richly detailed episode of The Final Word Cricket Podcast, Jeff Lennon and Daniel Millcross dive into the lesser-known but remarkable legacies of three cricketing figures: Arthur Wellard, the 'dusty old bastard' of Somerset and Gaieties Cricket Club who scored 3,000 runs in sixes and famously refused to run the winning single at age 72; the Hearns, a sprawling family of 13 first-class cricketers whose careers spanned over 77 years with no standout brilliance but immense consistency; and Michael Hussey, whose triple centuries in England during the early 2000s—particularly the 329 not out that secured a dramatic win—highlighted a player of quiet excellence overlooked by Australian selectors. The episode blends archival research, personal anecdotes, and deep dives into obscure rules and traditions, including the now-banned double bouncer and the quirky history of sports music. From the comedic absurdity of a father watching a bizarre dismissal live to the melancholy of a dynasty of dependable, uncelebrated professionals, the show celebrates cricket’s quiet heroes and the beauty of the game’s forgotten stories.
Arthur Wellard’s 3,000 runs in sixes and refusal to run the winning single at 72 exemplify cricketing defiance and humor.
The Hearns family produced 13 first-class cricketers over 77 years, yet their legacy is one of quiet consistency, not fame.
Michael Hussey’s 329 not out in 2003 was a career-defining innings that helped Northants win, yet he was still overlooked for the Australian team.
Cricket’s rules evolve—like the double bouncer, once legal but now banned—showing how the game’s culture changes over time.
The podcast celebrates 'good people' in cricket: dependable, unglamorous, but essential to the fabric of the sport.
The 267th Storytime: A Tribute to Zach Crawley and the Art of Cricket Humor
The episode opens with a nostalgic and humorous reflection on Zach Crawley’s underwhelming test career, framed through the lens of cricket fandom’s love for gallows humor. The hosts discuss the irony of a player being too good for second division cricket yet underperforming at the highest level, drawing parallels to the absurdity of long streaks of LBW dismissals.
The Musical Legacy of Brian Bennett and the Golden Age of Sports Themes
“It's the introduction to a whole piece, which DJ Manchild did send through, which I've had a listen to. He says, enjoy the jaunty middle section that you didn't know you needed.”
Arthur Wellard: The Man Who Refused to Run the Winning Run
“He played his last game for the Gaieties in 1975 by which stage apparently his arm had kind of bent and he was, you know, whatever. But I did kind of like think the dog sort of... Should have been named after him, but I don't think it is.”
The Hearns: A Dynasty of Dependable, Uncelebrated Cricketers
“They're just very good solid yeomen hanging around Middlesex a lot. JT Hearn when that guy Charles Alcott used to do those portraits of the players and used to sign them he wrote Yours respectfully on it. He didn't say, you know, I'm JT Hearn. I've taken 3,061 wickets. You should be grateful to have my photograph. He says yours respectfully.”
Michael Hussey’s Triple Centuries and the Missed Opportunity for Australia
“He probably let Mel Moy get the winning single. Oh, go on, mate. No, he said Mel was very decent about it and very complimentary and said nice things. So of course he did.”
“They're just very good solid yeomen hanging around Middlesex a lot. JT Hearn when that guy Charles Alcott used to do those portraits of the players and used to sign them he wrote Yours respectfully on it. He didn't say, you know, I'm JT Hearn. I've taken 3,061 wickets. You should be grateful to have my photograph. He says yours respectfully.”
“I'm not running. I don't run. My rheumatism is playing up, my knee's buggered. I'm not running.”
“He played his last game for the Gaieties in 1975 by which stage apparently his arm had kind of bent and he was, you know, whatever. But I did kind of like think the dog sort of... Should have been named after him, but I don't think it is.”
Hosts
Daniel Millcross
person
Jeff Lennon
person
Arthur Wellard
person
The Hearns
other
Michael Hussey
person
Brian Bennett
person
Gaieties Cricket Club
organization
Harold Pinter
person
Zach Crawley
person
NordVPN
brand
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