Cricket 1891

G . G-. H E A E N E , (M EM B E R OF TH E K E N T COUN TY X I.) m a i n u f a c t u r e r o f c r i c k e t h a t s a n d b a l l s Cricket, Football, and Lawn Tennis Outfitter (Wholesale, Retail, and for Exportation), 140, LEWISHAM 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. EegMered 2 fo?Transn& 8 Bion'Abroaa. THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1891. PR ICE 2 d. M R . L E V I G E O R G E W R IG H T . S in g u l a r ly unfortunate as it has been in the loss of more than one player who has done good service for other shires, Derbyshire has none the less, by sheer pluck, triumphed so thoroughly over a series of difficulties as to be able to hold its own with the best. Among those who have enabled it to make such a good show during the last year or so. Mr. L. G. Wright can fairly claim to deserve a conspicuous place. And though his connection with Derbyshire only dates back for a period of eleven years, still his development has been in a great measure the work of Derbyshire cricketers. Born at Oxford on January 15, 1862, he spent the early part of his life in that city. As a junior member of the St. Barnabas C.C. he had the advan­ tage of the coaching of the Eev. H. C. Shuttleworth, the present Rector of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, as a boy himself a good athlete. A keen cricketer as well as football player, Mr. Shuttleworth took great interest in the youngster’s training, so much indeed, that Mr. Wright attributes his progress in the game to that popular cleric’s example in the field, as well as to the practical advice he received in shaping his style as a batsman. The ground of the St. Barnabas C.C. was at Port Meadow, and there for some years he spent most of his leisure lime mastering the technicalities of the game. His first record of any importance was in the summer of 1878. It was, too, one quite out of the common. Going in first for St. Barnabas, against the Church of England Young Men’s Society, he was not out when the innings closed, having in the attainment of his score of 63 seen the whole side out. Two years later he performed the same feat and against the same side. This was, too, the occasion of his first century, and his bat was the means of contributing no less than 101 out of a total of 145. Nor was this the only match of the season in which he carried his bat through the innings. On the contrary, in two other games he was equally successful, against St. Frideswide’s, oh July 26, when he obtained 41 out of 79, and against Mr. Wells’ workmen, on August 21, when his share was 24 out of 49. Early in the same year, too, he was invited to play for the Colts of Oxford v. Oxford City. Here, too, he performed creditably, so much so indeed that he was one of a few who obtained free membership of the Oxford City Club for the rest of the summer. As it happened this was Mr. Wright’s last season at Oxford. An appointment as an assistant Master in a National School in Derby, in 1881, caused his transfer to the headquarters of Derbyshire cricket. Though he had meanwhile joined the Midland Club, still the season of 1881 was almost a blank to him. In 1882, however, he did good service for the second eleven, and again on two occasions(against Holloway and Ockbrook School)he proved his steadiness as a batsman by going right through the innings, in the second instance for 152. The summer of 1883 saw him promoted to the first eleven of the Mid­ land Club, a step which he fully justified by a fine innings of 129 not out against eleven Colts of Derbyshire. With the Derbyshire Gentlemen he also acquitted himself creditably, and against the Harrow Wanderers as well as the Uppingham Rovers he did well, scoring 42 and 24 against the former, and 54 and 11 in the latter. It was in the summer of 1883, too, that Mr. Wright made his first appearance for Derbyshire. Sussex at that time though was not so weak as it became subsequently, and the young amateur had to be content with scores of two and nought. August of that year saw his translation to other work, in the shape of a clerkship on the Midland Railway. Though in one respect an advantage, the requirements of the new office have prevented him getting much practice except in Saturday matches after May, and under such difficulties the develop­ ment of his cricket during the last few years has been the more sur­ prising. Little or no success in the two matches in which he took part in 1884 caused him to be left out of the County eleven in the two fol­ lowing seasons. Anothei trial in 1887 found him more fortunate, but not to any great extent, as his ten innings only showed an average of thirteen. A moderately successful summer in 1888 was followed by one of consistent good fortune. Two high scores (144 against Smethwick and 181 against Pittsmoor), for the Midland, proved that he was full of runs in 1889. This promise, too, was maintained in County cricket, and two good performances within afortnight deserve conspicuousmen- tion. Though against Notts he carried his bat through for 54 out of 97 , actually his highest score of the year was against Yorkshire, when he got 159 by excellent cricket. Last year he scored so consistently as to have an average of over twenty-three for the same number of completed innings. Against Leicestershire he made 77 and 24 not out, against Yorkshire 80, and his success culminated in an ex­ ceptionally fine innings of 122 against Surrey at the Oval. This year Mr. Wright was not able to play so much County cricket, and lack of practice in the early part of the season handicapped him for a time. Still, though he enjoyed the doubtful honour of a pair of