Dimming of the Day

56 previous match at Brighton had produced 1198 runs and only 16 wickets). 40 of the 68 came from Len Braund and A.E.Relf took 6-27: the six amateur batsmen in the side managed 17 between them. By the close Sussex were 269-8. The Household Brigade, who seemed to have nothing much to do but play cricket, were playing the Eton Ramblers. The Times swimming club held an 88-yard handicap at the Lambeth Baths: obviously swimming pools were then built to the length of a cricket pitch. On the following day (in the papers on 8 July) it was reported that two Russian tramps had been arrested near Beaumont sur Oise: they spoke no French, carried no money, but were apparently carrying home-made bombs and said that they were anarchists and intended to assassinate the Tsar on his forthcoming visit to France. It seemed at least possible that they were actually members of the Tsar’s secret police. The Woolwich Arsenal strike had ended with an agreement to set up a court of enquiry into the cause. In the University Match Cambridge were out for 225 despite many dropped catches and The Times was critical of batsmen stepping in front of the wicket and padding the ball away, which was not quite the thing in such distinguished company. At the second attempt Oxford were 168-5. The Times suggested that Mr Bristowe ‘is the only class bowler on either side’. Surrey beat Lancashire by an innings with five more wickets for “Razor” Smith. Sussex beat Somerset without much difficulty and Warwickshire only failed to beat Hampshire because it rained. Philip Mead had made 115 but, as so often, had little support. Worcestershire’s later batsmen scored heavily against Gloucestershire to take their total to 406 and a lead of 235. R.D.Burrows, batting at No.10, made 107 not out: he was 43 years old and did reappear in 1919, but not beyond that. In a low–scoring match Kent beat Yorkshire at Bramall Lane, with Colin Blythe taking eight for 55 and Kent then making heavy weather of getting 77, losing five wickets for 40 and relying on the batting of “Punter” Humphreys who made 40 not out. The Times reported on a British naval visit to Kiel at which a good time was had by all. The paper was taking a relaxed view of Germany’s increasing naval strength. There was some mention of Sarajevo, mostly concerning the extent to which it was sheer bad luck. The University Match ended on 8 July in a victory for Oxford by 194 runs, Cambridge collapsing for 73 after it rained. The Times produced the University averages for the season. Oxford’s batting was topped by Donald Knight (enough to make him one of Wisden’s five for 1915) who played for some years after the war for Surrey though mainly in the school holidays. He later wrote two books on cricket, The Compleat Cricketer and The More Compleat Cricketer . Amongst those who also batted is R.T.Stanyforth who played two innings in the season for eight runs (he played the one match against MCC). He July 1914