Cricket 1892

“ Together joined in cricket’s man ly toil.”— Byron . Registered^for*TraliamiaBiMAbroaa. T H U R S D A Y , A P R I L 2 8 , 1 8 9 2 .PR IOE2d. R O B E R T B A G U L E Y . T h a t the attainment of a high reputation as a cricketer is not a matter of inches, there is no lack of evidence in the persons of con­ temporary players of eminence to prove. Height and length of reach are of course advantages, the value of which can be over­ rated. On the other hand Abel, Briggs, and Peel are conspicuous illustra­ tions in English cricket of the fact that ability in the cricket field is not a mere question of stature. But it is open to doubt whether Sydney Gregory, of the last Austra­ lian team, would not out-do either of the three we have just named if it came to a point of smallness of size. As a matter of fact Gregory, we should fancy, would run Baguley closest of all for the distinction of the smallest player in first-class cricket, with just perhaps a trifle of odds on the latter. Baguley, whose name has been given in the news­ papers in turn as Baggaley andBag- f uley, was born at Ruddington on uly 10th, 1873, and is consequently now well on toward the completion of his nineteenth year. Ruddington has been from time immemorial almost a nursery for the Notts County Eleven. The Prices, the Smiths, the Sharpes, and many others who have subsequently made names for themselves as cricketers were born and reared within its boundaries. Baguley’s family has included, too, more than one player who has achieved a high local reputation. All his early surroundings must have tended to_ turn the fancy of Baguley minimus in the direction of cricket. The force of associa­ tions necessarily imbued him with a taste for, and, at the same time, a desire to attain excellence in a sport at which so many of his neighbours were proficient. Of the keenness which is the first and the greatest essential to success in any calling, too, there was no lack in his case. His diminutive size may have been against him in his earlier days, no doubt it was for a time. At all events he did not gain a place in the Notts Colts’ match till last spring, when he was nearing his eighteenth birthday. Nor was his first appearance in any way suggestive of brilliant success in the near future. On the contrary it could only be spelt failure, for in any way a success. It was the Whit Monday fixture at the Oval, between the Second Elevens of Surrey and Notts, which gave him his first real opportunity. Con­ tinuous rain on the first day had affected the ground so much that the match was very nearly played out on the second day. Though nominally drawn, the game was really a moral victory for the Notts Eleven. Such a result, too, was in a very great measure the effect of Baguley’s personal efforts. The wicket helped him materially, of course, but even then, his performance was one of great merit. His left hand medium pace bowling, indeed, proved of such infinite variety in Surrey’s second innings that the batsmen could do nothing with him. He was in fact simply unplayable, so much so that he took eight wickets at a cost of only five runs, getting the last three batsmen with suc­ cessive balls. Another good per­ formance with the ball soon after­ wards against the Yorkshire Colts, when he took six wickets for 21 runs, ensured him a place in the County Eleven. His re-appear­ ance, too, was marked with com­ plete success. This was at Brighton, against Sussex, and in the former’s first innings he bowled with great success, taking six wickets at a cost of 74 runs. On the strength of this he was installed a regular member of the County Eleven, with, as events proved, the most satisfactory results. An excellent innings of 37 against Yorkshire at Sheffield showed his possession of promise as a batsman as well as a oowler. The result of his first season proved this, for in addition to a batting average of fourteen he headed Flowers and Shack- lock in the bowling figuies. His latest performance shows that he is likely to prove an acquisition to Notts this year. His all-round cricket was the best feature of last week’s Colts’ match. He won in fact a double first, securing the prize bat for the highest score as well as the ball for the largest number of wickets on the first innings. Only four feet five inches in height, he is of course at a great disadvantage in comparison with bowlers of a bigger mould. Still, as the coachman said of the small postilion, “ What he wants in strength he makes up in artifiz.” Rarely disconcerted, his judgment is not often at fault. Varying his while he scored but ten runs in the two innings he also failed to get a wicket. Mean­ while the news that he had accepted an engagement at the Oval forced the hand of those who were interested in Notts Cricket. To procure his release from the Surrey County C.C. was, however, as easy as for the executive of Notts to secure his retention in the County. An agreement with the Nottingham Commercial C.C. ensured the use of his services as a ground bowler at Trent Bridge, and to the mutual benefit, it must be added, of the three contracting parties. Under the circumstances, it was wise policy to give him an early trial in a County match. Still the same ill-fortune attended him, and his first show for Notts against Derbyshire, at Trent Bridge, was not