10 September 1930

Faulkner sat in the middle row to the right of the captain

By Brian Sanderson

  After the Eastbourne match described in my previous posting the next first class match  George Faulkner played in was the second test England v South Africa at Lord's in June 1924.He was working for Westminster Gazette as a reporter when South Africa were heavily beaten  in the first  test by an innings and eighteen runs. Surprisingly the South Africans decided to bring back George Faulkner aged 43.

South Africa batted first and were all out on the first day for 273. Faulkner struggled to score 25 and it was only Bob Catteral's 120 which made it a reasonable score

The opening pair of Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe put on stand of 268 which put England in a winning position. They went on with the help of Frank Woolley to total of 531for 2. Faulkner bowled 17 overs for 87 runs with no wickets with his googlies.

On the third day South Africa were bowled out for 240 runs with Faulkner run out  for 12 .Again beaten by innings and eighteen runs. So the selection of Faulkner did not work and that was his last match.

After this he opened up a cricket school in London. However during the First World War he had  contracted malaria several times which brought on  bouts of depression. On the 10 September 1930 whilst Wilfred Rhodes was playing his last match, George Faulkner was found ingas filled room in his cricket school.

He left a note stating  "I am off to another sphere via the small bat drying room. Better call a policeman to do the investigating". The verdict was suicide while of unsound mind.A sad end to a great cricketing life.

He is buried in North Sheen Cemetery in Richmond.