Cricket 1895

“ Together joined in Cricket’ s manly toil.” — Byron. No. 3 8 9 . VOL. X IV . Registered for Transmission Abroad. THURSDAY, M AY 23, 1895. PR ICE 2d. “ W .W .” BEING A RECORD OF THE SAYINGS AND DOINGS OF SURREY’S STRONGEST READ. In the domain of literature great men are known by their surname. It is the hall-mark of distinction. To speak of Mr. William Shakespeare, except in playful irony, were to provoke ridicule. Thus we have Shake­ speare, Carlyle, Goethe, Thackeray, Dickens. Titles are not always honors. In the world of sport the chief mark of distinction is to speak habitually of a man by his init^ls. There is, for instance, only one W.G. just as there is but one W.W. It is true the familiar, but friendly, go a step farther andwhisper ‘ ‘ Walla Walla,” but we all know they have \Y. W. Read, the Surrey cricketer, in their mind. It seems a work of supererogation to offer to the readers of Cricket a sketch of the antecedents of the greatest of Surrey’s batsmen, or a resume "of his eventful career. In doing so the only apology one can offer is that one’ s memory is not fiearly big enough to carry all the wonderful works of W. W. in his 21 years of first-class cricket. When the history of cricket comes to be written a large space will necessarily be devoted to the doings of Surrey’s champion batsman. About 30 years ago there was a youth at Reigate, in Surrey, who proved himself the cricket terror of the neighbourhood. He was rarely seen without a bat in his hand, except perhaps when he held a ball. The one word writ large over his boyish brain was “ Cricket.” He thought of nothing else, dreamt of nothing else, cared for nothing else. How to excel in this game was the one desire of his heart. Nature aided and abetted him at every turn. It gave him akeen eye, a steadyhand, a cool head. In effect Nature seemed to say to him : “ There, take that weapon, go forth conquering and to conquer, and by yourprowess with apeaceful instrument you will win more cheers, earn more public gratitude than a military hero.” This boy at Reigate soon found himself too clever for his comrades. After a time a certain school in Reigate would not allow ‘‘ young Read” to play against them. He was barred because he never scored less than a hundred an innings against them, and they got weary of leather hunting. Thereupon he had to seek pastures new for his talents. By degrees his famo spread far beyond the con­ fines of his native village, and one fine day a whisper was heard at the Oval that Jupp had discovered a cricketing gem at Reigate. In order to learn something of the true inward­ ness of his career from his own lips, I called upon W. W. at the Oval the other day. To meet and talk with Mr. Read is a liberal education to a cricketer. He has already forgotten more than many men know, and he knows more than most menhave forgotten. I wonder if I could convey my impression of W. W .’s personality in black and white. A tall, solidly-built man, with athleticism writ large all over his strong frame. At his full height he would measure six feet, but a slight stoop brings him down half an inch lower. His shoulders are large and easily explain the mighty hits that often pitch over the boun­ dary from the middle of the Oval wicket. Arms and legs strongly muscular, and a wrist that works as swiftly and surely as a polar needle. His face is round, almost chubby, yet strongly cast. In repose it is severe rather, but when lit up with a smile, as it usually is, it overflows with dimples. A firm mouth, a commanding nose, and a pair of soft dark brown eyes make up a face that attracts by its bonhommie and humour. I found Mr. Read ready to answer readily all questions relating to himself, but he was not to be drawn to give his opinions of other cricketers, past or present. Confining myself, therefore, strictly to W. W.,. I said:— “ Can you remember the time and place when you first handled a bat ?” This question apparently took him far back in his career, but after a little reflection, he answered. “ Yes. It was at Reigate in the- summer of 1863. I was then eight years of age.” “ I suppose, Mr. Read, batting came easy to you from the beginning, or had you to undergo a severo apprenticeship ? ” “ Oh ! it must have come naturally to some extent, for I revelled in it from the start.” “ Are batsmen, then, like poets— born, not made F” “ Yes, I think so ; but I find it is very often the case that quite a second-rate cricketer by keenness and continual practice may make himself a really first-class batsman.” “ Did you begin as a stone-waller or a free hitter ?” “ I can hardly say. I began so young that I had not the power to indulge in very free cricket.” “ I suppose you had to find out a good deal for yourself in learning to bat ? Was it in this way you learned your favourite pulling stroke P” “ A h ! that stroke was the out­ come of experience. The idea lay dormant in my mind for some time, then I began to work it out. When I saw nearly all the fieldsmen on the ‘ off-side ’ I thought: 4What a glorious chance to the man who can safely place the ball to the on.’ One side was safeguarded everywhere, the other was the yawning gulf. So it occurred to me that it was possible to ‘ pull ’ balls pitched to the ‘ off ’ round to the ‘ on ’ side. I know it was not considered orthodox cricket, but it brought runs, and that was the main thing.” “ What are your favourite strokes, Mr. Read?” “ The one I have just mentioned, an off drive, and placing a ball to leg] These I