Cricket 1885

THUBSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1885. f b k » u . M R . JAM E S S T E W A R T CARR ICK . Until the year 1868 no batsman had been credited with a score of 400 runs or more, Mr. E. F. S. Tylecote’s 404 not out for the Classical against the Modern side of Clifton College in that season was the first instance of the kind in the history of cricket. Eight years lati r Mr. W. G. Grace, though he just failed to reach this total, did even a more extraordinary performance, going in first for the United South of England Eleven against Twenty-two of Wors­ ley Club at Grimsby, and carrying out his bat for 400 out of a total of 676. In achieving this truly remarkable score he was in two days and a part of a third, aud some of those who witnessed the game go so far as to assert that had all the runs he made been correotly entered his total should have exceeded that of Mr. Tylecote. Five years sub­ sequently though (in 1881), Mr. W. N. Roe, in a match at Cambridge between the Long Vacation Clubs of Caius and Emmanuel Colleges, was successful in establishing a new record. Though, in point of quality, his cricket could not compare with that of Mr. W . G. Grace, his innings was of a sensational char­ acter, for he was only at the wickets four hours and fifty-five minutes in the attainment of his 415 not out. Until some two months ago Mr. Roe’s claims to the distinction of the highest score recorded in cricket remained unchal­ lenged. So far since the introduction of the game only three batsmen, be it noted, had been fortunate enough to reach a total of 400 runs in an innings in a game of any sort. And if for no other reason than that Mr. Carrick’s score of 419 not out for West of Scot­ land Club against the Priory Park, at Chichester, on July 13 and 14, is with­ out a parallel in the records of the game,his claim to a place in our gallery of promi­ nent players has been fully established. It is creditable,too,to Scotch cricket that it can boast the entire credit of his training. He comes indeed of a Scotch cricketing family,his brothers being well known in connection with the game youngster, delivering 27 overs for 30 runs and three wickets. For some years,as abowler,he con­ tinued to do good service for the Caledonian,and it was not until 1878 that he became connected with the West of Scotland Club. Though he had played little cricket from 1876 to 1881 he took to the game again regularly in 1882, and with marked success, having the best average for th.e West that year both in batting and bowling. Although more fortunate with the ball in 1883, the following year witnessed a great improvement in his batting, and again he had the highest averages in both departments. In the English tour of the West in 1884, on more than one occasion he showed capital cricket. His principal scores in England were 70 and 31 not out against the Gentlemen of Sussex, and 88 against Horsham, but throughout the summer he did good service all round, averaging 27 for 24 completed innings, and eleven runs for 45wickets. His wonderful performance against the Priory Park at Chichester, in July, has of course put all his pre­ vious records into the shade, though it is worthy of remark that he followed up his big score with a very creditable innings of 130 in a match at Glasgow the week after on his return home. Anent this same best on record, the following remaiks from the pen of that most reliable of umpires, R. Thoms, who “ stood” in tbe match, will be read with interest: “ Although, during my career, I have watched batsmen stop for tbe day—day-and-a-half, and just in the two days, they have been right-handed ones. In this instance, however, wherein Mr. J. S. Carrick was not got ou; for the whole of the two- days’ play, I have more reason to re­ collect his unprecedented performance from the fact that he is a left-handed batsman, which caused an incessant crossing over, and consequently a considerable amount of walking, when continued for two days. Considering the length of the innings Mr. Carrick’s painstaking play was remarkable, and, indeed, he only gave two palpable #hances, one at the wicket and the other at deep mid-on, in Scotland at different times. Born at Glasgow on September 6, 1855, his whole life too has been spent within the immediate neighbourhood of that city. While at Glasgow Academy,where he received his education, he joined the Cale­ donian Club, then the leading cricket club in the West of Scotland, Though barely sixteen years of age at the time, he was chosen to repre­ sent the Twenty-two of his club against the All England Eleven in May, 1871. His election was mainly due to his bowling, and in this department he acquitted himself right well for a Next Issue October 29