Cricket 1893

262 CRICKET s A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. JULY 13, 1893 himself had better go then and borrow of that “ some-one.*' In that case I should be saved the trouble of doing so, and the ultimate result would be just the same to all con­ cerned. Two very charming letters oame last week : one from Switzerland, from an old Harrovian who played against Eton in 1855 and 1856— W . M. Kingston; he misses seeing good matches, but reads all about them in this journal, the only cricketing paper seen out there; he asks me “ to persuade the editor of C r ic k e t to put in weekly the Batting and Bowling averages of the crack Players and the Australians.’ ’ This very natural request I do herewith present to my esteemed editor. The enthusiasm for the grand old game never dies out. The other letter comes all the way from Santos in the Brazils. Like every letter I have received, it speaks all too kindly of the contributions of one who shall be nameless. W . L. Murdoch writes in his admirable little treatise on cricket published last week:—“ Not that cricketers play the game for the sake of the praise they may get, but, at the same time, there is a certain amount of satisfaction in knowing that your efforts are appreciated, and I am sure this knowledge every person who plays likes to have.” And so of writers, they don’t write to please and yet they are pleased when they do please. I am glad to learn they have a thorough cricket club in Santos, and a long list of matches printed, a card of the same being enclosed in the letter. Here’s the kind of cricket they have near the “ line.” “ We are the ‘ Santos Athletic Club,* composed of all English-speaking people in Santos, numbering about 100 members, about 50 of whom are active and enthusiastic cricketers. The olub was started four years ago by a few energetic men with the object of bringing young Englishmen in Santos together. Probably you have heard of Santos as a rather hot spot in summer ;* it is so, cricket being quite out of the question then owing to the Heat and yellow fever, which visits Santos regularly. At the end of a season we never know whom we shall have with us for the eDsuing year’s play. At the commencement of May we start cricket in earnest and do a good season’s work, as you will see by our match list enclosed. Grass being unknown, we have to play on the beach, which is luckily a good wide one, and composed of very fine sand which the tide leaves nice and hard. For our pitch we have cocoa* nut matting, well- stretched and fastened down; this makes an exceedingly good pitch and plays very true. I send you full score of the match we played on the first of this month (June) against Sta. Paulo. Results of future matches we hope to send for insertion in C r i c k e t . ” Truly the sun never sets on cricket, and never will so long as there are enough Britishers to knock up a game anywhere. Last week’s cricket must be almost ignored to-day. We had some splendid batting at Bradford, and the old “ Battle of the Bowlers” was fought as keenly and as pleasantly as ever. A draw was certain after the first d ay: bad weather and perfect wickets explain it. Fancy the light so bad between 1 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. that not a ball could be bowled ; it lightened and thundered for hours all round, yet no rain fell. Tunnicliffe (54 and 40) was Yorkshire’s best man ; and a real good’un he is becoming ; he has improved more this year than any bats­ man I could name. In defence he is very strong, whilst his driving is as powerful as ever Ulyett’ s was. Twice last week, at Brad­ ford and Sheffield, he drove the ball clean out of the ground. Ulyett once did it at Bramall Lane, where he smashed a neighbouring window. Was it ever done by anybody else ? Tunnicliffe is like Gunn in built and style, though he has none of his beautiful wrist play, nor does he play all “ along the carpet,” but he hits a deal harder. His strokes may be few. but they are mighty. Peel (65 and 21 not out) for once came out of his shell and delighted us all. But Notts took the palm in batting, though Shrewsbury (21) was out from about the worst ball I ever saw take a good batsman ; he was of the same opinion. Barnes (61) was at his best, and there is no beating his best. I know no finer batting ; true it has not the style of even other Notts men, but neither Gunn nor Shrewsbury has as many strokes. On a hard wicket and against fast bowling I consider Barnes almost as grand a bat as I ever saw, Gunn (150) was Gunn, spite of the critics. “ Slow, tedious,” cried they, and just be­ cause they know nothing about it. Gunn’s perfect style makes every score from his bat attractive to me. I could watch him for a month, even though his rate of scoring might be no more than 20 runs an hour. He^maaeone stroke on Wednesday—a forward cut—all by the wrist—that reached the boundary in a flash,, a stroke the Hon. E. Lyttelton did to perfection, and to see which I would any day walk at least a couple of miles. The fielding throughout was wonderfully close and accur­ ate, only two fair chances being missed. And Hunter gave never an extra in an in­ nings of 321, so I was happy. Atte­ well told me he had been bowling since February, and was fagged o u t; a good rest is his chief need just now ; on present form he has no claim to appear in the Players’ team, and certainly not in the England ranks, worthy and admirable a fellow though he is. The Notts’ captain might do worse than utilize Daft’ s bowling more ; he nearly always comes off when tried, but is tried neither early nor often enough. Surrey had no trouble with Sussex, though two men did the business—Maurice Read (87 and 56 not out) and Lockwood (ten wickets for 17 runs apiece) were the handy men in a seven wickets victory, spite of K. J. Key and Rich­ ardson’ s absence. I hope the lattei is not seriously maimed; it seems he was taking a rest, which generally means he was playing in a club match only. Are our pros ever idle? Let a match be finished on Friday, and most of them will be found helping a local club on the Saturday; no wonder they get stale. Richardson should beall rightfor Monday next, for we want our very best eleven then. And what is our best just at present ? Take the bowlers first, whom should we choose ? Richardson and Lockwood—certainly : who else ? A contrast—then J. T. Hearne is our man, and remembering that nearly all Australian batsmen have failed before good left-handed leg-breaks, we can’ t do better than have both Peel and Briggs. For stumpers either Hunter, G. McGregor, or Lilley. Why doesn’ t the last named figure outside his County matches ? The Notts men tell me that in their judgment he is the finest stumper we have. Now for the batsmen—we want five, and there is no difficulty here ; W. G., Stod­ dart, Gunn, Shrewsbury, and W . W. Read. And our team is complete. Bean might have a chance, and one doesn’t like to exclude Flowers. The fact is for the second matoh I would choose an entirely fresh lot, and they would not disgrace the Old Country. Never such a breakdown in University bat­ ting since A. G. Steel routed Oxford batsmen in 1878 and 1879 ; and yet Cambridge had no bowler of his calibre this year. Last year this match bristled with records; last week the cricket \ roper was devoid of incidents. When the season was young, Oxford looked to be unusually strong in batting, certain Freshmen were colossal scorers. Why did only Leveson-Gower get his blue? F. S. Jackson (38 and 57), by leading the way, fitly wound up his University career, and is unques­ tionably the best of the entire batch—witness his present average of 43. Thank you, Sussex ! A great victory in every way, especially after losing the toss at Lord’s. Yorkshire breathe again. Brann (159), New­ ham, and Murdoch (57 and 34 not out), along with Bean are all in the first thirteen batsmen, and prove conclusively how strong the old county is just now. And the lobs have taken 70 wickets, for 17 runs apiece, Only get a couple of Richardsons or Lohmanns, and you will take a lot of beatiD g. I was back again at the Lord’s of 1865 last week, and sitting on the balcony of the old tavern. The “ little doctor ” had just pulled an off-ball round andlandeditthrough the window in front of which we had planted ourselves. And B. B. Cooperand R. A. H. Mitchell had given us a glorious bit of batting. And the Doc­ tor had his tall, slim young brother with him, only sixteen years old, yet with most pro­ nounced “ mutton chops ” flanking either cheek. And right bravely the youngster played, and we had dubbed him a champion. In the twenty-ninth year, in same match— Gentlemen v. Players, the same boy—a boy no more — turns up, and mirabile dictu , soores more heavily than anybody else. Oh, it is wonderful—3 and 34 in 1865; 57 and 68 in 1893. And out of all the matches played yearly between those dates, he has missed only two, both at the Oval, in 1867 and 1883. A narrow victory by eight runs recalled the tie match of 1883, when W.G. was absent. A good story. A modern fast bowler soon tires, and may be seen periodically making for the dressing room. For a drink, exclaim the knowing ones. Quite right ; but in his case it is a pint of champagne, which his captain most generously provides. When said bowler and captain come to have their biography written this story shall be inserted; I will reveal names then, but not before. LONDON SCOTTISH v. CROWHURST.—Played at Brondesbury on July 8. L ondon S cottish . E. Figgis, b R. Haylor 13 R. A. Bennett, b Brockmann ... ... 7 D. G. Anderson, b R. Haylor ...................45 J. A. H. Macnair, not out ...........................42 R. Scott M orton, b J. Haylor ................... 0 J.D.Laing, b J.Haylor 0 b J. W. G. Greig, Haylor ................... J. Shaw, run out ... R. Allison, b R. Hay­ lor ........................... G. R. Holland, c Cope, b J. Haylor H. Allison, not out B 4, l b l , w 4 ... Total ..126 C row h u rst . M arriott, b Shaw ... 6 R. Haylor, b Bennett 12 Bass, c Laing, b Ben­ nett .......................... 0 J. H. H aylor, b Shaw 0 Gray, b Shaw ........... 0 W . Cope, b Shaw ... 0 J.Anderson,b Bennett 6 J. D. Haylor, b Shaw 0 Brockmann, b Shaw 10 Barry, b Bennett , Ball, not out B ........... Total 0 0 , 10 44 SURREY C. & G. V. THE WANDERERS.— Played at the Oval on July 11. S u r r e y C. & G. , 52 F. Hill, b Jephson ... 2 Brockwell, not out...161 Ayres, not ou t.......... 158 B 13, lb 10, nb 1 21 Abel, b Jephpon.. L. de Montezuma, Bt Behrend, b Jephson 0 Hayward, o Gowan- loch, b Yearsley ... 27 A. W . F. Rutty, c Flem ing,b Yearsley 14 F. W. L, Frith, Street, Sharpe, and Marshall did not bat. Innings declared closed. Total ...438 T h e W a n d e r e rs . O. Marks, not o u t ... 21 B 10, lb 7 ...........17 ...187 A. J. Behrend, c Marshall,bHayward 37 S. Colman, c Abel, b Sharpe ......................62 Total D ,L . A. Jephson, not out ...........................50 W. T. Grant, Capt. Fleming, J. M. Gowanloch, R. B. Brooks, R. L. Leigh-Clare, J. H. Yearsley, and T. J. W heeler did not bat. W H ITGIFT W AN D ERERS v. MITCHAM.— Played at M itcham on July 8. W h it g if t W an d e r e rs . O. Marks, c Clarke, b T. Harvey.................. 14 R. Biscoe, c Lyddon, b M ontezum a ........... 4 H. L. Turner, b T. Harvey ................... 4 G. A. Bacon, b Monte­ zuma ............................ 3 L. J. Turner, b T. Harvey ......................23 G. Marks, c H. Pil- linger, b Hussey ... 22 E. G. Turner, c N. Harvey, b Hussey 34 A. E. Clarke, b T. H a r v e y ...................13 A.E.Howes.cLyddon, b T. H arvey........... 3 A. W . Cooper, c Clarke,b T. Harvey 0 E. B. Balch, not out 2 B 6, nb 1 ........... 7 Total ...129 M itch am . H. Pillinger, b L. J, Turner ........... N.A.Harvey, c Biscoe, b H. L. Turner L.D. Montezuma, lbw, b L. J. Turner A.F. Clarke, c Howes, b L. J. Turner... ... 27 T. P. Harvey, c G. Marks, b Howes... 27 J. Caifarey, not out 11 H. Lyddon, not out 1 B 3, lb 3 ........... 6 Total , 74 The rest did not bat.