Cricket 1897

132 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M a y 13, 1897. BUSSEY’S BATS. H IGHEST GRADE . BUSSEY’S "■ r\ •*. ” BALLS. H IGHEST GRADE. BUSSEY’S GUARDS. H IGHEST GRADE . BUSSEY’S GLOVES. H IGHEST GRADE . BUSSEY’S BAGS. H IGHEST GRADE . C ITY D EPO T- 36 & 38, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON. ACENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. MANUFACTORY— PECKHAM, LONDON. TIMBER MILLS— ELMSWELL , SUFFOLK. BETWEEN THE INNINGS. In the very latest of Miss Braddon’s “ many inventions,” she speaks of her hero going to the Oval to watch “ the heroic struggle of a weak Sussex against a strong Surrey,” or words to that effect. The passage came back to my mind as a tram jogged me along towards the same classic ground at the beginning of last week. Leicestershire so often makes a rare good fight against Surrey, that, though the encounter lacked the zest it would have had, bad the opposing side been Yorkshire or Middlesex, one looked forward to it as to something worth see­ ing. Yet, with the Midland county, weak at any time, crippled still further by the loss of its one great player, what could one anticipate for it but a decisive beating ? Nevertheless, we scarcely looked to see so tremendous aninniugsby Surrey; 560 is undoubtedly a record for the opening first-class match of an Eng­ lish season. It was simply wondeiful to see the way in which Abel and Hayward played; while Brockwell, Baldwin, Leve­ son-Gower, Key, Read, and Wood, all showed capital form. Granted that the bowling was weak— and, remember, for the greater part of the time, though weak, it was not loose, for Rudd, Woodcock, Geeson, Brown, Coe, and Wood, stuck to their work like men— and the wicket good, the fact still remains astonishing. Abel, too, is said to have come into the field absolutely without practice. Well, Guv’nor, that’s a thing of which in itself you shouldbe ashamed rather than proud; but I think even your captain would find it in his heart to excuse you, if your score may fairly be taken as the result of your lack of practice. But of that one cannot help feeling grave doubts. Up to the end of their first innings, Leicestershire made a most creditable fight. During the long Surrey innings, the Midland fielding never became what could fairly be called loose ; and, though only Tomlin made a big score, the batting shown in the first innings was full of promise. Young Mr. Joyce may yet do great things for his county. A mere schoolboy, who, going in in such a re­ sponsible position as first wicket down, can play the game he did against such fine bowling as Richardson’s and Hay­ ward’s, has a lot of cricket in him. Coe is also distinctly promising; while Lei­ cestershire people may fairly entertain hopes of Mr. C. J. Wood and Brown. Joyce is decidedly the pick of the quartet, though he is the only one of them who does not appear to be looked upon as a bowler. It was rather too bad of the crowd— - or a certain section of it— to indulge in jeering laughter when young Wood got two nasty blows in succession from “ Long Tom’s ” fast deliveries. Ithought it inconsistent, too, that they should applaud Richardson for walking up to the unlucky batsman and apologising. Of course, we all know that Tom did not want to hurt his opponents; but if he deserved applause for apologising for doing so, surely his victim at least merited sympathy. It was a very unfamiliar side, to my eyes, that Leicestershire put into the field. De Trafford, Tomlin, Woodcock, Geeson, and Whiteside were all familiar figures, of course, and Knight was no stranger; but one missed Pougher, Holland, and Mr. Hillyard. I was delighted to see Tomlin come off. He was not by any means in his best form last season, but much greater things may be expected of him this. It is dispiriting for any batsman to be continually playing on a beaten side; but I don’t think Tomlin is greatly troubled by such things. He is rather a staid looking individual, but there is nothing staid about his batting. He knows the right ball to hit, and he hits it hard. Of late years Tomlin has generally done well against Surrey. Hero are some of his scores:— Oval. Leicester. 1896 ........ 1and 1 ......... 38*and 38 1895 14and 106*........ 33*and 31 1894 4 ........ 9 and 67 1893 65and 8 ........ 0 and 13 A total of 418 runs in 12 completed innings is no bad record for four season’s batting against Surrey; while his 70 and 12 the other day give him a further leg up— 500 exactly, in 14 innings. The value of the performances will perhaps be better gauged if Richardson’s bowling in the same matches is given. The other day Tom had 12 for 105. Here are his other figures:— Oval. Leicester. 1896 ... ... 15for 113 ......... 6for 102 1895 4for 144 ........ 12for 165 1894 ......... 4for 11 ... Did not play 1893 7for 87 ........ 11for 35 But, of course, Tomlin played against Surrey earlier than 1893, as he has been a member of the Leicestershire feam since 1887, and was at the head of the averages as far backas1889. Previousto 1893, how­ ever, he had met with no success what­ ever against the men of the Oval, his highest score not exceeding two dozen, while in 1890 he actually had four innings for a solitary single ! Tomlin, like Abel, Alec Hearne, Brown, and Gunn, is a batsman who has, by dint of sheer perse­ verance, played himself into a far higher position than one would have anticipated fromhis earlierefforts. In 1887hisaverage for his countywas 14; in 1888,10; in 1889, 22; in 1890, 10; in 1891,10; in 1892, 19; since 1892 he has always performed at least fairly well; but I should not be surprised if, after this fine start, he should eclipse all his former records this year. He is not too old for one to hope for that, as he was born in 1867, and should have many more years’ cricket before him yet. There was one little contrast at the Oval on Tuesday that tickled me a good deal, though it appeared to pass un­ noticed by the crowd. After lunch, the first players to return to the field were the Surrey captain and W.W., who strolled out together in earnest confab.