Cricket 1891

Or. Or. H E A R N E , (MEMBER OP THE KENT COUNTY XI.) M A I S U F A C T U R E R O J F C R I C K E T B A T S A Cricket, Football, and Lawn Tennis Outfitter (Wholesale, Retail, and for Exportation), 140, LEWISHAM HIGH ROAD , LONDON, S.E. BeglM?r4frJ8^ 8io?*Abroaa. THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1891. PRI0E 2d. FRANCIS WILL IA M MARLOW. T he name of the young professional who made such a sensational first appearauce for Sussex against M.C.C. & G. at Lord’s, in the early part of last month, has been so closely identified with cricket on the South Coast during the last two years that it will be news, perhaps, to a few, at least, to learn that he is neither a Southerner by birth nor education. Born at Tamworth on October 8, 1867, Staffordshire could, and did, until last summer claim his services as a native of the shire. To the town of Nottingham, however, belongs the credit of his early training. In that hotbed of cricket he learned the rudiments of the game, and it would appear to anyone not con­ versant with the apathy of those who ought to have interested them­ selves in the retention of likely colts for Notts in the past, to be strange that a youngster who had in him evidently the makings of a good all­ round player should have met with such a lack of encouragement, or, at least, not have apparently felt himself sufficiently sure of it as to justify him in seeking support else­ where. Yet the fact remains that Marlow’s first performance of any account was as a boy for the Notts Commercial Club. Though only fifteen years of age at the time his steady play was one of the best features of the match against Notts Unity in 1882, and his second score of 24 was regarded by those who witnessed it as full of promise. Circumstances over which he had no control, therefore, as will be seen, compelled him to try his luck in another quarter. To their credit, too, be it said, those who were re­ sponsible for the conduct of Stafford­ shire cricket were alive to the neces­ sity of securing a young player, and, moreover, a native cricketer, one, too, with every appearance of a bright future. An engagement at Staffordshire’s head-quarters at Stoke-on-Trent, enabled the execu­ tive to realise for themselves what his worth was as an all-round performer. His first match for the County was against Liverpool and District, and for an initial effort he was certainly fairly successful with a useful score of nineteen. This was the forerunner of several good performances, the best of which, perhaps, was his 85 for Staffordshire against Worcestershire, with more than one big soora for the Staffordshire Club and Ground, notably, 115 against Tunstall, and a similar number against Audley. Though somewhat out of luck for Staffordshire in the two following years, still his reputation had already reached beyond the borders of the County for which he had been playing. Of our own knowledge we are able to state positively that he had more than one opportunity of an engagement likely to have been to his advantage. At the same time his desire seems to have been to migrate southward, and the chance came to him in the shape of a place on the giound staff of the Sussex County Club, at Biighton. In that position, too, he has during the two years required to constitute a residential qualification shown such consistently good cricket as to fully justify the belief that in him Sussex was bringing on a colt of more than ordinary capacity. His two years’ service on the Brighton ground proved to be oue of almost uninterrupted success. For Lord Sheffield in particular he has always been a consistently high scorer. On several occasions he has got into three figures for Sheffield Park, and, indeed, a list of his chief performances will show of what service he has been in the matches played under the auspices and on the lovely ground of the President of the Sus­ sex County C.C. 157 for H. Phillips’ Eleven. 96 for Lord Sheffield’s Eleven against Hurst. 122 for Lord Sheffield’s Eleven against St. Mary’ s. 100 not out for Sheffield Park against A. Shaw’s Eleven. 65 for Lord Sheffield’s Eleven v. Willingdon. In addition to the above he has scored freely in other parts of Sussex, and two of his innings at Hastings, 100 not outv. Eastbourne, and 84, the latter on the day fol­ lowing his score of 157 above men­ tioned, may be specially noticed. Perhaps, however, his most note­ worthy performance prior to this summer was for Staffordshire against Northamptonshire, at Stoke, in June of last year. On that occa­ sion Staffordshire closed their inn­ ings with only four men out for 363, and Marlow, who had helped Mr. Twemlow to add 258 for the fourth wicket, was still in when his captain declared, having contributed 133 by cricket of the best kind. The ex­ traordinary success which attended his first appearance for Sussex under the residential qualification in the early part of May will be well remembered. His 144, at Lord’s, against a fairly strong side of M.C.C. & Ground was a remarkable display of free cricket, and oue of the greater merit in that he made his runs against the bowling of Pongher, Martin, Kichardson, Mr. Hillyard, and Moorhouse, without the sem­ blance of a chance. The importance of the feat, too, can be fully estimated when we add that in only three other cases has a hundred been recorded on the occasion of. a first intro- duction to the better class of county cricket.) Though he has not vbeen particularly suc­ cessful since, still Sussex can fairly regard him as a great acquisition. As a batsman he has a free and attractive style without sacrifice of “ To ge the r jo ined in c r ick e t ’s to il.5’— Byron .