Cricket 1891

Gr: & . H B A E N B , (M EM B E R OF TH E K E N T COUN TY X I.) M A N U F A C T U R E R O F C R I C K E T B A T S A N D H A L L S Cricket, Football, and Lawn Tennis Outfitter (Wholesale, Retail, and for Exportation), HAM HIGH ROAD , LONDON, S.E. “ To ge th e r jo ined in c r ick e t ’s m a n ly to il.”— Byron . Registered^!or Transmission Abroad. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1891. P R IC E 2d. G E O R G E R O B E R T B A K E R . T hough not one of the most widely known members of the Lancashire eleven, the County Executive has had good reason to speak in appreciative terms of the service the excellent all-round cricketer, who forms the latest addition to our gallery of prominent players, has rendered to the County, off and on for several years. It is, too, his misfortune, certainly, rather than his fault, that his connection with Lancashire cricket did not com­ mence until his form had been fairlv shaped. It was not, indeed, until the summer of 1885, when he was in his twenty-third year, that he came into touch with the cricketers of Lancashire. A York- shireman by birth, Baker’s early training in addition was conducted under the watchful supervision of Yorkshire players. Malton, which can claim to have produced more than one lion of Yorkshire Cricket of the past, as well as helped to train others, notably George Freeman, was a quarter of a cen­ tury [ago famous as a nursery for Yorkshire cricketers. Just at the time George Freeman was at the height of . his fame Baker was securing his first lessons in the practice of the game. Born at Malton on April 18, 1862, he found in W. E . Bosomworth a mentor at once sympathetic and untiring. Though he only figured in the County eleven on a few occasions, Bosomworth enjoyed a very high local reputation, and moreover as an all-round cricketer would with more encouragement have won for himself a position among the ohief piayers of the day. Under his care Baker’ s cricket developed consider­ ably, as the records of the Malton and Welham Clubs will testify. Still, though he had been for some­ time well-known as a youngster of more than ordinary promise, he does not seem to have been brought prominently to the notice of the Yorkshire authorities until he had long passed out of his teens. His first appearance for the Yorkshire Colts was in the early part of the summer of 1884. A capital score of 40 in that match not only justified his selec­ tion but impressed the committee so much that he was chosen to represent the County against Kent, in the first match of the season. It was not altogether an unsuccessful debutant the twenty-one runs he made on that occasion proved to be exactly one half of his aggregate for six matches, and a total of 42 for eleven innings was not, it must be admitted, suffi­ ciently eucouraging to warrant his retention in the Yorkshire team. An engagement with the Bury Club in 1885, however, gave him better opportunities of displaying his un­ doubted abilities as an all round player. One of his performances in 1836, too, was just of a kind to attract the notice of the Lancashire authorities, whose inclinations lead them not infrequently in favour of fast run-getters. Going in first with the old International Rugby full-back, S. Roberts, for Bury against Sheffield Wednesday, 215 were scored for the first wicket. A boundary hit only counted three, but the rate of scoring was so rapid that when Baker was out 195, of which his share was 101 , had been made in the hour. Several good performances with ball as well as bat kept him well before the notice of the Lancashire executive, and the completion of the two years’ probation to give a residential qualification did not pass unnoticed. “ Bowled Bean 0,” was the result of his first innings for Lancashire (against Sussex) in 1887, but on the whole he did fairly well, having an average of over thirteen for his eleven innings. A useful second score of 36, the highest on the side, on a bowler’s wicket against Yorkshire at Manchester was his best record in 1888. Still, though his aggregate was much the same, his figures were not so good as in the previous year, a decrease due to the fact that he had a less number of not outs to his credit. The two following summers found him rarely absent from a Lancashire match. His all round cricket, too, caused him to be, more than once, of great use, and last year in particular, he made a marked advance, bowling on occasions with no small success So far, this year, he has taken part in every fixture arranged by Lan­ cashire. In the earlier matches he was not very successful, in fact, with the exception of one inniugs of twenty against Sussex, his record for May was by no means satisfactory. In the middle of tho summer, however, he proved to be in much better form, and in the latter part ol June tie was much in evidence, scoring 19 and 40 against Notts at Nottingham, and 93 against Oxford University at Man­ chester. In the Surrey match at Manchester, again, though he did little with the bat, ha was of some service as a bowler, taking five wickets in Surrey’s second mnmgs at a cost of 93 runs. As an all-round cricketer, Baker is much above the average. In addition to his qualifications as a good, free-hitting bat, he can also save, as well as make runs, being a sure field. More­ over, as a medium-pace bowler, he is often successful, and on certain wickets his high delivery makes him particularly effective Tinleer's claims to distinction as an athlete do not rest on his cricket alone. Though he has now retired he played Rugby football for twelve seasons, and in Amateur Athletics he