Cricket 1893

JUNE 8, 1898 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME, 189 in the match between Sixteen of Reigate an d Mr. W .W . Read’ s eleven on the Reigate Priory ground last September. The Sixteen scored 230 runs in 160 minutes, and at one period Brann made 58(22, 18, and 18) in three success­ ive overs. What made the performance more meritorious was the bowling talent arrayed against him. W ith Lohmann, Abel} Henderson, Sharpe, Richardson, Brockwell, and W. W . Read, and such outfields as M. Read and Ayres, it was practically bar L ock­ wood a Surrey eleven. M y recent allusions to some notable cases of oricketers who have been equally adept with both hands have brought me more than one curious incident in this connection, G H. Proctor Street, of the Kensington Park Club, bears testimony to my reference to L. A. Shuter’s special skill in a way which I had hardly expected. But I had better give the communication in its entirety. Referring to your paragraph in this week’s C ricket alluding to L. A. Shuter’s “ ambi­ dexterity ” [writes G. H. P. S.] I may mention that some years back he bowled me out in a match, Kensington Park v. Bexley, with a left-hand ball which he put in unexpectedly. He had been bowling with his right hand previously, and I was stupid enough to take the ball instead cf asking for fresh guard. T h e wicket at the Oval at all events has certainly not ceased to trouble, to judge by the manner in wbiohthe critics have been exercised during the last fortnight or so. Still, there is evidently just one piece of the centre pitch where the ball comes along easily enough. At least it would seem so to judge by the fact that in the match between Surrey Club and Ground and Guy’s Hospital on Monday last no less than 726 runs were scored in the day. It mayinterest the lovers of statistics, too, to know that the time of the actual play was six hours and twenty-five minutes, so that runs were got at the rate of over a hundred and twelve an hour. Moreover, as only twelve wickets fell during the day, the average for each batsman was over sixty. The character of the game for sensation, too, was maintained by the fact of three scores of a hundred (Abel 102, Ayres 117, and D. L. A. Jephson 163) in the Surrey Club’ s innings, which was closed at 591 for nine wickets. O ne of the most gratifying features of County cricket up to date this year to the general publio will assuredly have been the great improvement in the all round cricket o* the Sussexseleven. Sussex has for the last few years given such opportunity to those who would welcome a redistribution of seats in the matter of the first-class counties, that the marked revival this summer will be doubly welcome to all who remember the brave part Sussex played in the early history of the game. One of the most important factors to my mind jn this restoration seems hardly to have re­ ceived the credit he deserves. How much the general improvement may be attributable to the judgment and experience of the new cap­ tain it is not easy to say. In the case of W. L. Murdoch, Australia’s loss has been em­ phatically the gain of the Sussex Club. A young cricketer was the central figure in a very imposing ceremony on Saturday last. The occasion was a full dress parade of the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, at which the opportunity was taken to present the Humane Society’ s medal to one of the Regiment. The recipient of the distinction was Lieut. G. E. W. Money, and the presentation was to com­ memorate his gallant rescue of a drowning lady at Aldeburgh last September. The gallant young officer in question is, as I re­ marked at the time of the rescue, a son of the Rev. W. B. Money, who graduated with high honours as a cricketer at Harrow and Cam­ bridge, and also represented Surrey as well as the Gentlemen before he took orders. Gran­ ville Money, who is himself a keen cricketer, is an active member of the Incogniti and some other clubs. “ A C hat about Cricket by the First Free Forester ” in the English Illustrated of this month, wil b f ditional interest to MR. A. E. STO ju DART C r icket readers, if only for the fact that the author, the Rev. W . K. R . Bedford, has been an occasional contributor to this paper. As a wet, as well as a dry bob, the founder of the Free Foresters has been equally enthusias­ tic. On cricket, archery, and rowing, he can write with all the weight of an expert. But besides his praotical knowledge of the subject, he wields a facile as well as graceful pen, and his views on cricket are bound to meet with respect, as the result of a long and active experience. What is of most import­ ance to my constituency will be his kind promise to contribute to C ricket during next winter. --------- U n less something should have happened on the eve of his departure from the Cape to alter his plans, George Lohmann ought to be in England again in the next few days. The latest communication from him was to the effect that he intended to leave by an earlier steamer than was originally intended. There is every reason, indeed, to believe that he is on board the “ Trojan,” in which case he should be very near home at the present time. As that steamer is due at Plymouth on Satur­ day, we shall soon be in a position to know what the prospects are of his participation in important matches this year. A satisfactory assurance on this point would be the source of great relief to everyone who has the best interests of the game at heart. F o u r wickets with successive balls is an event of the rarest occurrence in a match of importance. As a matter of fact, I cannot recall any incident of the kind during the last ten years in a contest which could be placed in the category of first class. Shack- lock’s performance for Notts at the close of the Somersetshire match, on Saturday, is therefore entitled to the distinction of a very exceptional recorl. That curl in the air has caused the downfall of many a good batsman in the part as it will in the future. Shacklock’s four victims at Trent Bridge last week were Messrs. Spurway, Trask. Newton, and Gibbs. S ince the remarks supra respecting George Lohmann were penned, a communication has reached me from a good friend at the Cape, which is particularly reassuring. It contains a report of a match at Matjesfontein on the .5th of May, and as this was Lohmann’ sonly appearance on a South African cricket field, at least as a player, the particulars will be of interest. The match was between the Rail­ way Department and Matjesfontein, which included Frank Hearne as well as Lohmann. The great Surrey cricketer, too, was in good all-round form, for besides making 32 out of 146, he had a hand in the dismissal of all the ten Railway wickets. Nine of these were from his bowling, and the tenth was run out with his help. My correspondent adds “ Lohmann is looking exceedingly well, and says himself that he feels quite restored to health and very keen on playing again.” So mote it be ! ------ A. B. S to d d a r t, cricketer, footballer,and all­ round athlete, has this week run into a place among the batsmen who have the rare record of two hundreds in a really important match. Until August last, when G.Brann got into three figures twice at Brighton for Sussex against Kent, only one cricketer had performed the feat. That crioketer, of course, was f‘ W .G.,” the noblest Roman of them all. As a mere matter of history it may be as well to give the various records of the kind, up to date, 1868 W. G. Grace, South of Thames v. North, Canterbury................. 130—102* 1887 W. G. Grace, Gloucestershire v. Kent, Canterbury........................ 101—103* 1888 W. G. Grace, Gloucestershire v. Yorkshire, Clifton........................ 148—153 1892 G. Brann, Sussex v. Kent, Brigh­ ton ............................................. 105—101 1893 A. E. Stoddart, Middlesex v. Notts, Lord’s ...............................195*—124 It may be as well to add that the double score of W . Lambert at Lord’s in 1817, is not taken into account in this table. PRINCIPAL MATCHES FOR NEXT WEEK. June 8—Cambridge, AUSTRALIANS v CAM­ BRIDGE UNIVERSITY. June 8—Lord’s, M.C.C. & G. v. Kent. June 8—Oval, Surrey (2) v. Lancashire (2). June 8—Brighton, Surrey v. Notts June 8—Leyton—Essex v. Yorkshire. June 8—Manchester, Surrey v. Lancashire. J u n e l2 -L o r d ’s.AUSTRALIANS v. M.C.C. & G. June 12—Oval, Surrey (2) v. Yorkshire >2). June 12—Derby, Derbyshire v. Lancashire. Junfe 12—Leicester, Leicestershire v. Notts. June 12-Sheffieid, Surrey v,Yorkshire.