Cricket 1893

MAt 13, 1813 CRICKET: A WEEKL1 RECORD OP SHE GAME, 187 hit ye w ith this b a t; eo ye can set yorsel gan n in g .’' They evidently understand the argumen - turn ad hominem in the far North. I f it had not been that the news of the occurrence was already well on the way to England at the time, I should almost have been inclined to think that some of the cricketers “ down under ” had been taking my remarks last week with regard to the advantage of ambidexterity in the case of bowlers witha viewtovariety in theout-cricket of a side too seriously. At all events, the Aus­ tralian mail just to hand has brought an account of just such an incident as I ventured topicture among the possibilities of the future. It took place out Sydney way. The bowler in question, after bowling through a part of the innings with his right hand, finished up with a left-handed delivery. T iie mention of this incident reminds me of several English crioketers who are able to use both hands with almost equal facility. A. N. Hornby will readily occur to anyone as the most striking example of this school. L. A. Shuter,too,can bowlboth right and left handed. Indeed, unless I am mistaken, I have seenhim bowl slow left in a by no means unimportant match, though his usual delivery is fast right. Nor does any one who has seenmuch of Middle­ sex cricket need to be reminded that T. C. O’Brien is able to use both hands, and fairly deftly. The Irishman’s imitations of popular bowlers, between thedeparture of the outgoing and the appearance of the incoming batsman, have not infrequently tended to relieve the monotony of some uninteresting cricket. These are, I had better perhaps add, only a trio of instances which bring themselves prominently before me at the moment. L eicestershire Beems to have a likely young cricketer in F. W. Stooks, who made his first appearance for the County against Surrey, at the Oval, last week. Considering that he was thought to be above the aver­ age, it was curious that he was not tried as a bowler till Surrey had made over two- hundred runs. As it was, he troubled the bats" men more than any other bowler on the side, and they certainly paid him the compliment of watching him very carefully. For a youngster of 18, trying his hand for the first time against a good batting side, his per­ formance was one of no small promise. He bowls left-hand medium pace with an easy delivery, and as he has all the advantage o height, standing dose on, if not quite, six feet, he has all the materials for the making o a good bowler. He is, in fact, a likely looking young player all round. I have seen it stated that he hails from Rossall School. My own information, though, is to the effect that he is at Denstone College. “ A c u r io u s problem was left to m e,” so writes an old Parliamentary hand who is thoroughly up to date in all matters cricketal, “ to decide the other day, and I am not sure even now that I have done so correctly. A ball was bowled which the_ batsman in reaching far forward just touched, and at the same time lifted his foot. The wicket keeper whipped off the bails and appealed to his umpire ‘ for a stump.’ The bowler at the same moment appealed to his umpire for a catch at the wickets, and the scorer appealed to me as to how he was to put it down in the score sheet. Both umpires gave it out, and I decided that it was a catch at the wicket, but why ‘ I can’t exactly say.’ ” No doubt it was a case of unconscious cerebriation on the part of my friend the O.P.H. In any case I cannot see where the doubt came in. The batsman was clearly caught at the wicket and properly given out so. It was the firtt offence, and the first penalty should apply. P ougher had an experience in the recent match between Leicestershire and Surrey, at the Oval, which does not often fall to the lot of a cricketer in any match. It is not a very common occurrence for a batsman to be run out twice, more particularly in a contest of any importance. But Pougher’s case was of the rarest, the hardest, perhaps, of hard lines. In each innings he was thrown out. And what makes the incident the more note­ worthy is that in both cases he was thrown out by a Thames Ditton, in the first by Ayres, in the second by Sharpe. T he Hon. C. G. Bruce, one of the six Europeans to share with Mr. W. M. Conway the credit of the expedition to the Himalayas, which has attracted so much attention of late, will no doubt be the first to recognise the cricket training he had at school, as one of the best equipments for any mission requiring pluck and readiness of resource. The Rev. A. F. E. Forman can claim him as one of his own particular pupils. Mr. Bruce was in the Ilepton Elevens of 1883 and 1884, and owed his development as a cricketer mostly to that eminent representative of Muscular Christianity. Even in his school days he always kept himself in good training. Of the art of self-defence, too, he was a worthy ex­ ponent, and as far as my memory serves me, one year took part in the Amateur Boxing Championship. After leaving Repton, Mr Bruce went into the Sen ice, and is at present attached to the 5th Ghoorkas. C r ic k e t readers everywhere will be glad to learn that “ The Guv'nor,’ ’ having received permission from the eminent oculist, Mr. IJ. W. Critcbett, of whose kindness at all times to cricketers it would be impossible to speak too gratefully, will take his plaoe in the Surrey Eleven for the first time this season against Derbyshire, at Derby to-day. He has been having a little practice at the nets on the Surrey Ground this week, and is hopeful that he will soon be in fettle for the hard work of the season. The hope, it goes without saying, will be shared by every one who knows whata really keen, as well as deserving cricketer he is. A nother to the already long list of honours of different kinds secured by C. B. Fry, has just been added in the shape of the presidency of the. Oxford University Athletic Club. A triple blue himself, the newPresident is bound to add lustre to an office filled by a long suc­ cession of distinguished athletes. As an all round cricketer, it would seem as if he was in better form than ever this season. Indeed, I am inclined to think that Surrey might profit materially by his inclusion in the eleven. At all events he is a born Surrey man, which ought, in any case, to have some weight. M. E. P avri , who showed such promising all-round cricket over here with the last Parsee team a few years ago, and proved so successful against Lord Hawke’s team in India last winter, is now, I learn, in London, going through a part of the ourriculum neceEsary for qualification as a doctor. He is studying, I hear, at University College Hospital. It is to be hoped we shall have an opportunity of judging for ourselves of the development of Parsee cricket in his person during this summer. Mu. LocKwooD-thu Q.C., that is, and not the fast bowler of the same name-is a jokist, as every one knows, of the most pronounced type. Cricket, too, is not outside his scope, as the following story credited to him by the Junior Bar, which caught my eye in a recent number of the Evening News and Post, will show. There is a young barrister whose father is a Q.C. Both father and son are of very ample proportions, and the young man has acquired the soubriquet of “ Baby-----He was at the wicket one day batting when the bowler complained that though the batsman’s legs were not in the way it was impossible to see the stumps owing to his large corporation, A discussion ensued. Ihe umpire said there was no rule on the subject, but if the captains agreed some understanding could be come to. After a long debate the two following rules were agreed to : If the ball struck the batsman’s stomach it wras to be considernd leg before wicket; if the ball struck the other part it was to be a wide The experience of the last week, even admitting that the bowling to which they were opposed was only of moderate calibre, seems to give substantial confirmation to the estimate from the first expressed in C ricket that the Australian team,when they reallygot used to the different conditions of light and pitch which obtain on English grounds,would prove themselves to be a very formidable side as rungetters. Not the least satisfactory feature of the tour’ so far, too, has been the fact that the three new players of whom most was expected have fulfilled their promise, at all events in the earlier matches. Coningham, Graham and McLeod have all, in fact, as yet at least, proved themselves worthy represen- tativt s of Aintrali.in cricket. Why, cert’nly !