Cricket 1892

80 2 CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. JULY 21, 1892 sional score in this match since its inaugura­ tion in 1806. I saw Tom Hayward get his 132 somewhere about 1861. W. G. has several times topped even Shrewsbury’s ; his 215 in 1871 is the highest ever scored. And Walter Read a few years back scored 158, whilst some twenty-five years since I. D. Walker notched 165. Lancashire’s work of last week against Kent and Middlesex promises well for future engagements. Kent got a terrible castigation —an innings and as many as 330 runs. Lancashire on a perfect wicket piled the runs on at the rate of 90 an hour for some five and ahalf hours. Good business that. Kent on the same wicket, ruined by rain, managed to accumulate 154 in the two hours. Baker (109) got his first County century at the rate of more than a run a minute; and Sugg (68), Smith (62), Yates (74) were also at their best. But perhaps the most gratifying feature of this and the Middlesex match, was the com­ plete return to form of both Mold and Briggs. Mold’s health thi3 year has been none too vigorous, and for a fast bowler, health is a sine qua non, as indeed it is for every descrip­ tion of bowler. Whilst Briggs, who for some weeks couldn’t get his old length, came home time after time very short-handed in the matter of runs. “ We have changed all that.” Mold twice in a week had thirteen wickets at an average cost of just 8 runs. Briggs nipped in handy with the ball, and finished what Mold left undone; and he in two efforts, knocked up as many as 54 and 98 runs. I am delighted, if only because he was dropped out of the two representative matches, for what reason some of us could not possibly discover. In the judgment of many old hands, the little Lancastrian is still quite good enough fora place in any English Team. What a swindle for Lancashire—that rain on Saturday. On Friday night they had the softest thing on. And when the stumps were finally drawn Middlesex still wanted 119 runs, and only Phillips and Hearne to depend on. But these same men had for more than half an hour kept the “ Red Rose ” at bay in the pluckiest manner possible, when it was all over bar shouting. And what shall we say of the return York­ shire and Notts fight? If Middlesex, as above, were lucky, Yorkshire was a deal luckier. Four of the best wickets gone in the second innings and still 229 behind Notts’ only venture. That draw may cost the Mid­ landers the county premiership for 1892. I never saw a better exhibition of all-round cricket than that of Notts. After the very even draw at Bramall Lane three weeks ago, one was expecting a stiff tussle at Trent Bridge. From start to finish Yorkshire never had a ten to one chance. Per­ haps winning the toss was the beginning of troubles. Anyhow, Shacklock and Attewell turned to the best account any help the ground gave them. Shrewsbury very wisely kept up his end till close of day on Thursday, for on Friday the wicket was in perfect order for run-getting. And the runs did come—369 in all. Sandford Robinson (71) played a beautiful innings, barring one hard chance to Hirst; hiswrist-play was nearly perfect. Atte­ well (51) just earned the coveted coin by sound oricket, whilst Harry Daft and old Mordecai added 51 for the last wicket. But Shrews­ bury’s 116 takes all the honours. Ah ! it was a fine effort; I never want to see a finer, provided he will go for those off-balls now and again. And on the Friday the runs came quite quickly enough for my liking. It will be a long time before I witness more perfect batting. In the presence of genius let us all reverently doff our hats. Never sneer at, but admire, what you are certainly lacking in— that’s my rule of life, and not a bad rule either. I commend it to the noble army of critics of all sizes. As Shrewsbury smashed the blade of his bat clean in twain he must have opened his shoulders a bit. By-the-bye, I hope that bat was not his own manufacture. I didn’t like to ask him. Perhaps he is like the patent medicine man, who never is known to experiment either on himself or any member of his own household. What a glorious turf they have at Trent Bridge. The ground-keeper assured me it was second to none in all England. I am almost disposed to endorse his remark. It was like walking on velvet pile. I was glad to note that the telegrams from other grounds were printed on the cards both at 2 p.m. and at 4.30. One likes the seats to be on the turf ; those backless seats—only a single row—did remind me of the Oval when I first saw it in 1862. It was my fir3t visit to the Notts County Ground, and one never to be for­ gotten. May I just state that I had the distinguished pleasure of passing the night under the hospitable roof of Richard Daft. What a glorious talk we had far on into the small hours, and on cricket to the exclusion of every other topic. The next morning we “ did” the delightful village, Radcliffe-on- Trent, just six miles out of town. The place is redolent of dear old George Parr. There’s the Manor House, where he was born, and where his ancestors had lived for some 200 years. A delightful house, covered with ivy on all sides. And then the homely, comfortable house where he died. And lastly, there’s his grave in the prettiest of cemeteries. No stone adorns it as yet, but the old sexton of 83 years points it out with pathetic pride. There can only be one George Parr to him. I heard alot about the old “ Lion of the North ” that was peculiarly refreshing. Faults he may have had, but it will be long before we see a truer man or a more thorough sports­ man. Lightly lie the turf above him. The Kent v. Surrey match, played for the benefit of the Kent stumper, Pentecost, whose failing sight prematurely stopped his cricket, was a bowler’s match throughout. Runs won’t come on spongy wickets. In the four innings no batsman scored 50. Lohmann (9 wickets), Lockwood (7), Walter Hearne (6) were to the front. And Richardson (3 for 18), Wright (4for 43) also did well. As Richardson only bowled in the second innings, and as Lockwood got but one wicket in that innings and at the cost of 47 runs, it would seem as if the Mitcham six-footer should have been tried earlier. But our English Captains were never as handy in changing their bowlers as the Australians have been. I have often wondered we did not adopt this wrinkle, as we certainly did sundry others. If a big bowler can’t get wicket, even if he is not being knocked about, give him a rest, however short. Glo’stershire without W.G. went down before their Western rivals. Last two per­ formances stand out in bold relief. The dark blue captain hit up a splendid century. And the “ Coroner” just notched it in his double effort. What a stayer he is. Nearly fifty-one years old and a youngster still: scarcely- any slower than ho was thirty years ago, when the whole country rang with the name of E.M. Grace. It’s just twenty-nine years since, playing as a given man for M.C.C. v. Kent at Canterbury, he not only took all the wickets in the second innings, but scoredone hundred and ninety-two (not out) for the premier club. Men may come, and may go, but E.M. goes on for ever. We are all grieved at the absence of W.G. Is it the old sprain ? If so, one fears his cricket days may be numbered. At his age (forty-four this week; our heartiest wishes, friend W.G.), his heavy weight will render him increasingly liable to sprains. Let’s not croak, however, but hope for the best. We cannot spare our veteran champion for many a year yet. COLVESTON v. SOUTH SAXONS.—Played at St. Loonards on July 13. C o l v e st o n . W.;P. Rusell, c Leigh- Smith, b Pigg ... 10 H. Clementson, b Tindall .................40 F. D. Kershaw, c Hardy, b Pigg ... 14 G. H. Gadsdon, c Papillon, bTindall 0 E. Bliss, c Sharpe, b Leigh-Smith..........41 E. H. Heasman, c Leigh - Smith, fc Tindall ................. 9 W, W. Hayworth, c Tindall, b Papillon A. Gadsdon, c and b Tindall ................. W. B. Trick, c Coles, b Tindall................. F. Austen, c and b Tindall ................ R. H. Sutton, not out B 6, lb 1................. Total ..........1 S outh S axons . A. C. Coles, b Hay­ worth .....................34 W. Leigh-Smith, c Kershaw, b A. Gadsdon....................18 P. H. Papillon, not out ..........................100 A. E. Kinaban, c Kershaw, b A. Gadsdon.................. 8 Rev. H. C. L. Tindall, b Clementson ... 13 J. H. Smith and F. H. Pigg, c Heasman, b Cleraentson F. G. Chichester, c Austen,b Heasman G. W. Hardy, c Ker­ shaw, b A.Gadsdon 59 C. C. Sharpe, not out 2 B 2, lb 1 ................. 3 Total Sutton did not bat, ...244 BARNES v. SPENCER—Played at Wandsworth Common on July 16. S p e n c e r . R. Castle, b Frith ... 6 B. Cox, c Mossop, b Frith........................10 R. W. Larkin, b Frith 50 S. Bradford, b Frith 2 C. W. Richardson, b Frith........................ 9 E. Elkington, b Hunt 2 W. Johnson, .b Frith 0 C.Anderson,b Earn­ shaw 22 J. C. Larkin,b Earn­ shaw ................. 3 H. Mogg, not out ... 7 L. Wood, c Hunt, b Frith B ... ... 17 Total 136 B a b n e s . W. F. L, Frith, lbw, b V. H .£ Stevens, Castle ... ..... 86 G. B. Hunt, b Brad­ ford .................................8 G. R. [Mossep, b Castle ... ... ... 0 E. W. Waterer, c and bW ood .............22 P. R. Earnshaw, b W ood ................. 9 C. J. Stevens, c Johnson, b Wood... 1 Castle J. J. Franco,b Cast’e 6 G. N. Levy, b Wood 2 A. P. Mansfield, c Wood, b Castle ... 9 D. E. Ratcliff, not o u t ........................ 0 B 8, lb 2, w 2 ... 12 Total ...162 At the top of “ his court ” in the gloaming he bats, This gutter-bred batsman, whose wicket Consists of a coat and a couple of hats, And who plays the most primitive cricket. And the merry young midget is happy enough As he “ drives ” down the water-worn channels— Though the pitch, sooth to say, is a little bit rough, While ha scometh the orthodox flannels. For he plays the great game when he rests for awhile From tending the family “ barrow ” — Though he shapeth of course in a different style To the youngsters at Eton and Harrow. But in Willow his Kingdom there’ s no pride of place (As in “ the Republic of Letters ”) Save that won by worth, so each gutter-born Grace May aspire yet to rank with his betters. C.P.