harvey adapted his style and improved his performance. he scored 36 and 76 not out against lancashire at manchester and an unbeaten 100 at hove against sussex in only 115 minutes in the last match before the first test. former australian test batsman jack fingleton described harvey's innings as "a superb century, rich in youthful daring and stroke production". however, this was not enough for selection and reserve opener bill brown batted out of position in the middle-order, as he had done against worcestershire and the mcc. harvey was the 12th man because of his fielding abilities, and spent a large proportion of time on the field due to an injury to pace spearhead ray lindwall.