Cricket 1894

102 CRICKET: A WEEKLY EECOED Otf THE GAME, MAT 3, 1894 1882 1883 1834 1885 G. R. Earnshaw H. Smith A. Sayle G. Comber G. L. Lyons W. Deane. R. Abel D. Pontifex W. E. Roller J. Dunn J. J. Parfitt W. Wingfield A. C. White O. Wilson J. Cafferey F. Read J. Richards K. J. Key E. O. Po well S. Colman C. E. Horner J. Haden J. Dible W. Barker A. D. Cattley R. Henderson M. P. Bowden E. J. Diver H. Bainbridge F. Matthews R. Voes W. Wood W. Green G. A. Lohmann H. Wood P. H, Morton T. Bowley 1885 3886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1893 J. Beaumont E. Mills C. T. Roller W. Brockwell A. P. Douglas T. Adams G. Ricketts T. Lowles C. Mills C. A. Trouncer Huish Boxall J. W. Sharpe F. Fielding Harris Large R. B. Brooks G. Watts W. Lockwood R, N. Douglas E. C. Streatfeild G. W. Ayres C. M. Wells A. F. Clarke C. L. Morgan A. E. Street C. B. Fry D. L. Jephson N. C. Cooper Osman r. Richardson C. Baldwin R. P. Lewis Bailey T. Hayward F. Smith C. Marshall N.B. It is astonishing how many of these cricketers played in only one season, many in but a single match. During Surrey’s spell of misfortune—from 1866 to 1882 —new players were tried galore. Thus, in 1873, Surrey played 15 matches ; in 1878, 14 ; in 1880 and 1881, 15; yet in each of those years no less than thirty different men were tried. Whilst in 1884, in 24 matches, only 17 men figured; in 1888, in 26 matches, 19 m en; in 1893, in 27 matches, 18 men. And in these latter years, many of the regular eleven were given an occasional rest in the minor matches. P.S.— Any corrections in these summaries of Surrey cricket will be highly esteemed, as a very busy life in other directions cannot hope to attain to faultless accuracy in a detailed survey of a hundred and twenty years of cricket history. BICKLEY PARK CLUB. April 28—Bickley, Opening Game May 1—Bickley, v. The Wanderers May 5—Bickley, v. Plaistow May 12—Bickley, v. Crystal Palace May 14—Bickley, v. Granville May 19—Blackheath. v. Blackheath May 19—Bickley, v. Blackheath May 23—Bickley, v. Guy’s Hospital May 26—Wormwood Scrubbs, v. Kensington Park May 26—Bickley, v. The Nondescripts June 2—Esher, v. Esher June 9—Beckenham, v. Beckenham June 9—Bicbley, v. Bromley June 16—Bickley, v. Upper Tooting June 16—Plait-tow, v. Plaistow June 20—Richmond, v. Richmond June 23—Bickley, v. Tonbridge June 30—Bickley, v. Esher June 30—Bromiey, v. Bromley July 7—The Palace, v. Crystal Palace July 7—Bickley, v. West Wickham July 14—Bickley, v. Blackheath July 16 and 17—Bickley, v. Incogniti July 18 and 19—Bickley, v. M.C.C. and Ground July 28—Tooting, v. Upper Tooting August 4—Bickley, v. Kensington Park August 6—Lee, v. Granville August 11—Tonbridge, v, Tonbridge August 18—Bickley, v. Richmond August 25—Bickley, v. Beckenham Send ljd . for Artistic Show Card of C r ic k e t with portraits of either Arthur Shrewsbury, George Lohmann, Dr. W. G. Grace (in four batting posi­ tions), or Mr. S. M. J. Woods. Suitable for hang­ ing up in Pavilions, Club, and Dressing Rooms REMINISCENCES OF CRICKET B y RICHARD DAFT. A G reat F a st B o w ler . In the famous annual match between the All England and United Elevens (always spoken of as “ the two Elevens match ”), which took place at Lord’s on May 28, 29, and 30, 1860, there figured on either side a name which was after­ wards known all over the world where cricket was played. On the side of the United, William Slinn made his first appearance at Lord’s, and on the other George Tarrant, of Cambridge, first played on this historical enclosure. Both went in to bat as eleventh man. Slinn making his first performance at head­ quarters with the bat by making a pair of spectacles, and Tarrant only just contrived to “ break his duck ” both times by scor­ ing one in each innings. Now let us look at each of their performances with the ball. In the first innings of the United Tarrant took seven wickets for 28 runs, having bowled 104 balls. This was indeed a fine performance for one making his debut at Lord’s. The wickets he took were those of Tom Hearne, George Griffith, Carpenter, John Lillywhite, Chatterton, and Mortlock. Jackson took the remaining three wickets. I myself caught two from his bowling and one from Tarrant’s. In the second innings Tarrant appears to have been unsuccessful, as he bowled 112 balls for 24 runs, but took no wickets. Turning to the bowling of Slinn we find that in the first innings of the All England he obtained three wickets at a cost of 24 runs, having bowled 112 balls and one wide. The wickets he captured were those of Diver, Alired Clarke, and Hayward. In his second attempt he took but one wicket (that of Jackson) at a cost of 32 runs. He appears notwithstanding to have done the greater part of the bowling, having sent down 144 balls. Slinn is described in “ Scores and Biographies ” as a fast and very fine round bowler with a graceful and easy delivery. As was the case with old Clarkej Carpenter, and J. C. Shaw, he did not come into prominence till comparatively late in life. Slinn was born in the same year as George Parr, and yet we find him at Lord’s for the first time fifteen years later than the “ Lion of the North." We are told that if he had been a better bat and field he would doubtless have found a place in the great matches at Lord's and the Oval oftener than he did. His batting average is, we are informed, one of the smallest on record. With the ball, how­ ever, he was first rate. Like all fast level arm bowlers, he came remarkably quick jrom the pitch, and was one of those bowlers whom a batsman has to become used to before he can score consistently from him. George Parr never liked him (as a bowler only of course), and was always glad when batting to see Slinn taken off. I often played against him myself; one of my best innings I made against him was when I was stumped off him for 80 in the Notts and Yorkshire match early in the “ sixties.” At the time of the two elevens match in 1860, Tarrant was exactly twelve years younger than Slinn, and three years younger than myself. He is described in “ Scores and Biographies ” as, besides being such a magnificent bowler, possessing an excellent free style as a batsman. This description of him I can fully endorse. Whenever he did make runs they were made in a remarkably short time, and yet like bis great fellow county player, Hayward, he was a man of slight build and weak constitution. This great cricketer died at the early age of 81, of pleurisy, at Cambridge, in 1870. He was first taken ill at the All England v. Sunderland match at Sunderland in the July of the previous year. There was a good deal of talk about this Sunderland v. England match, I remember, as it was played on the same date as the Surrey v. M.C.C. match at the Oval, and consequently the Marylebone at the latter ground was far from being representative. I myself for some reason or other was neither at the Oval nor at Sunderland. George Parr, I recollect, used to have in his house an excellent photograph of the All England which played in this match, in which Tarrant appeared amongst the rest, this, no doubt, being the last time the poor fellow ever posed before the camera. It is strange that Tarrant’s real name was George Tarrant Wood, and stranger still that I who played with and against him for so many years was never aware of this fact until four or five years ago. In the Sportsman of July, 1870, the follow­ ing verses by “ Batsman ’’ appeared after Tarrant’s death :— GEORGE TARRANT. B om Dec. 7, 1838. Died July 2, 1870. IN MEMORIAM. Gone from the battle never to return With bull-dog spirit to renew the fight, Yet shall his memory for courage burn Above the ashes of a man of might. I knew him well, and holding ready hand Engrave his image with a truthful pen, That through the length and breadth British land He may be studied by the best of men. of Though lithe of limb and east in manlv mould, His heart vibrated in a rugged shell, And if the dial beat as hard and cold, It pointed fair when it was handled well. At school the boy was never taught to oare, Nor dream in summer of a rainy d ay ; Then who can wonder that the man should wear The wreath of honour in a random way ? His comrades helped him in the hour of need, As good Samaritans with oil and w ine; And testified to many a noble deed As worthy as a soldier of the line. For grim decline the phantom bound for strife Broke in upon him with a fearful frown; His death was terrible ; no tree of life Was ever more remorselessly out down.