Cricket 1889

“ Toge ther joined in cricket’s m an ly toil.”— B y ro n , No. 203. v o l . v i i i . T H U R S D A Y APRTTi I S 1880 p r i c e 2d. Registered for Transmission Abroad. X XX U XVQ X ^ll X , i l l X\»XXJ X , , lO O O . za- MR. FRANCIS G. JUSTICE FORD. The history of cricket during the last quarter of a century has furnished more than one notable instance of a brotherhood, each of whose members has displayed exceptional ability as an all-round exponent of our national summer game. The Walkers and Lytteltons are the most recent, as they are unquestionably the most remark­ able, illustrations of a similar kind to that of the Fords, who supply, perhaps, the most interest­ ing example of physique combined With a high development of cricket in one fraternity. Our gallery of distinguished cricketers has already included two of the elder represen­ tatives of the Ford brotherhood, W. J. and A. F. J., who both in their time did good service in turn for Repton School, Cambridge University, and Middlesex County. And if, so; far, he has hardly com­ pletely fulfilled the expectations formed by his unusually brilliant record at Repton, it may with equal confidence be claimed that the family name has in no way suffered by the performances of the youngest of the six brothers, the excellent all-round player who this year occupies the responsible position of Captain of the Cam­ bridge University Eleven. Few cricketers have, indeed, been able to claim a more distinguished School record than Mr. F. G. J. Ford. Born, like most of his brothers, in Sussex Square, London, 011 Dec. 14,1866, he is the youngest of seven sods, all of whom have, as already remarked, shown more or less proficiency in cricket. Edu­ cated first at Eagle House, Wimble­ don, under the Rev. A. N. Malan, he was in the School Eleven all the three years of his stay there. The cares of captaincy were early thrust upon him, for he had charge of the cricket team during his last summer, signalising the close of his career by the highest score ever made at Eagle House—an innings of 67. The Christmas term of 1880 saw Mr. Ford duly located at Repton School, but it was not until three years later that he became a regular member of the Repton cricket eleven. Meanwhile, though, his name had more than once been brought prominently before the notice of the ruling powers. When only fifteen years old, he took part in an extra­ for eight runs in each innings, Mr. Ford and his partner dividing equally the twenty wickets. Mr. Ford’s 202 is, so far, the highest score ever made at Repton, though, we may add, he ran his own record very close in 1885, when he retired after reaching 201 in an upper house match. Though tried once for the School in 1882 on the strength of a good bowling performance, in taking eight wickets for thirty-seven runs against the Eleven in a trial game, he did not actually obtain his colours until the following summer. Signalising his first year in the School Eleven by a good scare of 54 against Uppingham, his play steadily developed until he became not only the foremost figure at Repton, but also one of the most prominent of the Public School cricketers of his time. His career at Repton, as we have had occasion before to remark, was one of un­ exampled success. Mention has been made of one School record, his 202 not out in a Junior match, and to this in 1885 he added another, his 145 against the Derbyshire Friars, representing the highest score, so far, registered in a foreign match by a Reptonian. As a bowler, as well as a batsman, his performances at School were note­ worthy. His most fortunate season, though, was in 1885, and his figures that year were very much above the average. His best score was one of 73 against Malvern, but with both bat and ball he was con­ tinuously successful, and while his batting average reached forty-five runs per innings, he was credited with sixty-nine wickets at a cost of just under eleven runs a-piece. Captain of the Repton Eleven for the second year in 1886, he was lucky in both School matches against Uppingham and Malvern. In three innings he had an aggre­ gate of 122 runs, and again his all­ round cricket conduced greatly to the success of the Repton Eleven, his batting average showing 37 runs, and his bowling eleven for thirty-six wickets. Though invited to represent Middlesex in the previous year he was unable to appear in County cricket until the latter part of the season of 1886, when he took part in the out fixtures which usually close the Middlesex season. His first appearance was in the return match with Gloucestershire at Clifton, and his score of ordinary Junior House match, the particulars of which will, no doubt, still be remembered by some C ricket readers. Mr. Ford was playing for The Priory, and going in first with Mr. J. H. Kelsey, helped to make 312 without the loss of a wicket. Mr. Ford was not out 202, his partner 101 not out, and with the score in this state the innings came to an end, the two batsmen named retiring with all the remaining members of the team. Nor did the remarkable character of the game end there. Messrs. Ford and Kelsey were not content, indeed, with monopolising the batting, but they also shared between them the whole of the bowling, as the other side were dismissed