Cricket 1896

“ Together joined in Cricket’ s manly toil.” — Byron. No. 432. VOL. XV. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1896. PRICE 2d. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. TOM HAYWARD. Although it is only a very few years since Hayward first appeared in important cricket, he has worked his way to tho front in a manner which can only be described as won­ derful. In 1892 he was known to a few cricketers as a rising young Surrey co lt; in 1896 he has twice been chosen to represent England against Australia, and on each occasion justified his selection. When he once began to rise he rose very rapidly, and there has never been any sign of falling off in his play, lie immediately attracted atten­ tion by his graceful style and the ease with which he seemed to play all sorts of bowling, and very soon he came to be known as one of the safest bats in the Surrey team. Later he began to bowl, and although bowling is not his strongest point, he has very frequently been of great use to his county, for lie always keeps a good, length and bowls with his head. Last winter he was one of the team which went with Lord Hawke to South Africa, and while there h*) did some remarkable per­ formances both with bat and ball. Against Twenty-Two of King William’s Town he went on last and took seven wickets for 25, and against Johannes­ burg, again going on last, four for 6. His batting average was 31*46, with a highest innings of 122. As a field he may have equals, but no superiors. He may be said to have learned his cricket almost entirely since he first attracted the attention of the Surrey County Club, when he made his debut at the Oval. “ Of course,” he said, “ I could play cricketafter a fashion before I came to London, for when I was tried here I was engaged on the spot, but to all intents and purposes I have learned my cricket here. My father, Dan Hayward, used to play a good deal of cricket, and, naturally, he taught me a good many things when I was a boy, but I don’t remember ever to have seen my uncle, the All-England cricketer. Like everybody else I played on Parker’s Piece, when I was at Cambridge, for local clubs—chiefly for the Y.M.C.A., for whom I made 93 against the TOM HAYWARD. a Photograph bj R. IV. Tnomas , Cheapsi l>‘, London , United College Servants in a cup tie match. They presented me with a bat and medal for this. When I was at school I was in the eleven, but as far as I can remember I did not do anything brilliant.” “ How long were you at the Oval before you played your first county match ? ” u I was tried in October, 1890, and began my engagement in 1891, and as soon as I had qualified for two years I was tried for the county. Tho first time I played after my engagement was for Surrey Colts against Honor Oak, and I made 71 and 12 not out.” “ What was your first county match ? ” “ The first time I played for tho county was against Warwickshire. I made a balloon in the fiist innings, and didn’t bat in the second. Against Leicestershire —my next match —I made a hundred, but after that I did badly, and was left out of the team for four or five matches. I was out of form, and also had a little bad luck. Since then I have played regularly. To Mr. John Shuter I owe a very great deal, for he has always spoken up for me.” ‘ ‘ Have you any favourite places in the field ? ’ ’ “ I prefer to field in my usual places, third man and long field. When I first began to play county matches I missel many very easy catches through sheer nervousness, but when I began to get a little more confidence I did not do so badly. It makes a vast amount of difference, especially in the lm g field, whether you have plenty of con­ fidence or not. Since then I have, of course, dropped a good many catches, but I have been fortunate, so far, in not dropping men who have made a big score afterwards. There is nothing more trying to a fieldsman’s peace of mind than to drop a man at the beginning of a long innings; but it can’t be helped ,G’ sometimes.” “ Could you always bowl ? ” “ No. I really only came out lately as a bowler. I was very keen on the game, and wanted to do as well as I could all round, but I soon found that there was a very great deal in bowling beyond keeping a ball straight. Still, by constant practice and patience, and by noticing other bowlers, one picks up things, but it is very seldom that a man who