In contrast with much of the First World War, it was realised in the 1940s that cricket had its part to play in terms of raising both public morale and funds for charity.
From the summer of 1941 onwards, teams such as the British Empire Eleven toured the country raising money for war charities.
[5] County clubs encouraged their players to join the services but at the same time pleaded with their members to continue subscriptions “as an investment for the future”.
[6] In public school cricket, a future champion in Trevor Bailey demonstrated his latterly-famous defensive skill for Dulwich College by scoring 851 runs in fifteen innings – in only seven of which was he dismissed.
[10] Edward Spooner, a son of famous Marlborough and Lancashire batsman Reggie, averaged 49.50 for Eton[11] and was tipped for a big future, but was never to play first-class cricket at all.
The British Empire XI was dominated by West Indian leg-spinner Bertie Clarke – exempt from military service because of his profession as a doctor – whose leg-breaks and googlies took 98 wickets for 11.40 runs apiece and was to better this record in 1942.
[12] In contrast, the main players for the London Counties XI were veterans, with Alf Gover their most successful bowler with 83 wickets for 9.50.
Essex veteran Jack O’Connor scored 208 – the only double-century in wartime cricket – in a two-day match on 4 and 5 July against Peterborough.
In the drawn Sir PF Warner's XI v Royal Australian Air Force match at Lord's, Keith Miller top-scored in the RAAF's first innings, with 45 out of 100, as well as taking 2/20.