top of the bowling averages and was nominated as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. Decline Because it was clear that their bowling would be ineffective on rock-hard Australian pitches (and their bodies would not withstand the hard work under such conditions), Hallam and Wass were never considered for the winter's Ashes tour. However, it was still a surprise how Hallam declined the following year. Affected by rheumatism in the right shoulder, his haul of wickets in county cricket fell from 153 to 72 and his average more than doubled. 1909, a summer equally as wet as 1907, was little better even if Hallam was twice unplayable against weak opponents on dreadful pitches. Already forty years of age, it was clear Hallam was not going to recover his form as he had done at least twice before, and after bowling with very moderate success in the early games of 1910 he was left out of the Nottinghamshire eleven for James Iremonger to develop as a bowler. He played in Lancashire League cricket until World War I and returned to Leicestershire after that, dying there in 1940 at the age of seventy. References English cricketers Lancashire cricketers Nottinghamshire cricketers Wisden Cricketers of the Year 1869 births 1940 deaths People from East Leake Cricketers from Nottinghamshire Players cricketers North v South cricketers C. I. Thornton's XI cricketers Non-international England cricketers