Cricket - The Philadelphia Story

The Australians last played Philadelphia after their Ashes campaign of 1912. For the third time in the seven first-class matches played in that city since 1893, they had lost to the Gentlemen of Philadelphia. All three of those defeats were due, in no small way, to the performances of their legendary swing bowler, John Barton King. King had been an ever-present in Philadelphia sides since 1893. Early in 1913, King's Club, Belmont, had folded and King had not played all season. As a result he decided that he was in no condition to face the Australians. Could Philadelphia, without their talisman, rise to the occasion once more before the Great War ended first-class cricket in the city for good?