Cricket 1897

466 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. Nov. 25, 1897. (&) W in s . 1882, y. Yorkshire, at Leeds, by 3 wickets. 1887, v. Gloucestershire, at Clifton, by 1 wicket. 1894, v. Lancashire, at Liverpool, by 1 wicket. 1894, v. Somersetshire, at Taunton, by 19 runs. 1895, v. Lancashire, at Manchester, by 3 wickets. (c) L o sse s . 1881, v. Yorkshire, at Huddersfield, by 15 runs. 1882, v. Surrey, at the Oval, by 25 runs. 1882, v. Yorkshire, at Sheffield, by 20 runs. 1885. v. Surrey, au Lord’s, by 12 runs. 188*, v. Australians, at Lord’s, by 1 wicket. 1888, v. Lancashire, at Lord’s, by 24 runs. 1888, v. Surrey , at the Oval, by 3 wickets. 1890, v. Kent, at Tonbridge, by 2 wickets. 1893, v. Kent, at Lord’s, by 12 runs. 1893, v. Yorkshire, at Lord’s, by 3 wickets. 1894, v. Yorkshire, at Lord’s, by 3 wickets. 1895, v. Sussex, at Lord’s, by 2 wickets, 1897, v. Surrey, at the Oval, by 9 runs. Nothing above three wickets or 25 runs is here noted. In the fie match with Somerset in 1890 Mr. Dauglish, the last man, came in when two runs were still wanted. He scored a single, and in trying a second run lost his wicket. T a b l e No. 17.— (a ) M IDDLESEX HAVE WON BOTH MATCHES IN A SEASON 17 TIMES. Australians none. Derbyshire none. Essex none. Gloucestershire in 1882, 1886. Kent in 1883,1884, 1895. Lancashire in 1891, 1896. Nottinghamshire in 1893, 1895. Oxford University none. Philadelphians none. Somersetshire in 1894. Surrey in 1879, 1881, 1893, 1894. Sussex in 1892. Yorkshire in 1878, 1888. (t) M IDDLESEX HAVE LOST BOTH MATCHES IN A SEASON 21 TIMES. Australians none. Derbyshire none. Essex none. Gloucestershire in 1885. Kent in 1888,1890, 1891. Lancashire in 1882, 1888. Nottinghamshire in 1880, 1884, 1892. Oxford University none. Philadelphians none. Somersetshire none. Surrey in 1885, 1886, 1888,1889, 1890, 1892, 1897. Sussex none. Yorkshire in 1879, 1881,1893,1894, 1895. (c) M IDDLESEX HAVE D R AW N BOTH MATCHES IN A SEASON 9 TIMES. Gloucestershire in 1879,1897. Nottinghamshire in 1878.1879, 1883. Somersetshire in 1895. 1897. Yorkshire in 1884, 1897. N.B.—It must be remembered that only one match has been played against Derbyshire and the Philadelphians, two against Essex, and that when the Austra­ lians and Oxford University have been met only one match in each season has been played. BENEFIT MATCHES. R. Thoms, v. Nottinghamshire, 1878. G.Burton, v. Surrey, 1892. J. T. Rawlin, v. Somersetshire, 1896. All these matches were played at Lord’s. Middlesex Cantains :—I. D. Walker until 1885, and A. J. W ebbe from 1885 up to date. Champion C o u n ty O n e year only, 1878. II.—THE BATSMEN. In batting Middlesex have always been strong, and at the present time the county is stronger in that department than ever before. A. E. Stoddart, T. C. O’Brien, and A. J. Webbe are probably the three best batsmen who have played for the club during the period under notice, the first-named being the best the county ever possessed. Against Nottinghamshire, at Lord’s, in 1893, he scored two separate centuries, whilst in the very next county match on the same ground, he, in conjunction with T. C. O’Brien, scored 228 for the first wicket when Middlesex followed on against Surrey, 179 runs in arrears. Mr. Norman Gale was probably thinking of this match, when he wrote— When Stoddart makes her hum Up at Lord’8! And the Surrey skipper’s glum Up at Lord’s, Oh ! all my odds are even, And (I hope to be forgiven) ’ Tis a truly Cricket Heaven Up at Lord’s. Mr. O’Brien’ s best performance was against Yorkshire, at Lord’s, in 1889, when, after a great deal of heavy scoring, Middlesex were set 280 runs to get to win, with only three hours and thirty-five minutes left for play. At half-past five, the score was only 129, and there were four of the best men out. It was at this point that Mr. O’Brien commenced his innings. Until now, nobody had dreamt of a win being possible for Middlesex, whilst Yorkshire had a chance of getting their opponents out in time to win the match. But alas! for the hopes of Yorkshire. O’Brien lashed the ball all over the ground ; at one time, three men were actually placed in the long field to fast bowling. When G. F. Vernon partnered Mr. O’ Brien, the hitting became terrific, the last 83 runs being scored in 35 minutes. Mr. O’Brien carried out his bat for 100 (made in eighty minutes), and Middlesex won by four wickets, ten minutes before time. Mr. A. J. Webbe is the only player who took part in Middlesex matches both in 1878 and 1897. He is the connecting link between two generations of cricketers. The season of 1897 was his twenty-third of county cricket, and his thirteenth of captaincy. His most successful season was that of 1887, when he twice scored centuries—192 and 243, on each occasion going in first and carrying out his bat. Other batsmen who have rendered good service to Middlesex cricket are J. Douglas, F. G. J. Ford, W. H. Hadow, H. B. Hayman, C. F. H. Leslie, R. S. Lucas, the brothers Lyttelton. J. T. Rawlin, S. W. Scott, the brothers Studd, Dr. G. Thornton, G. F. Yernon, I. D. Walker, and P. F. Warner. But to statistics : — CENTURIES B Y MIDDLE8EXJBATSMEN. J. D ouglas . 110, v. Sussex, at Lord’s ................................ 102®, v._Yorkshire, at Sheffield .................. ... 1897 ... 1897 F. G. J. F ord . 108, v. Gloucestershire, at Cheltenham 150, v. Gloucestershire, at Lord’s ................. 112, v. Philadelphians, at Lord’s.................. ... 1889 ... 1897 ... 1897 W . H. H adow . 140, v. Nottinghamshire, at Lord’s ........... ... 1878 H . B. H ayman . 152, v. Yorkshire, at Lord’s .......................... ... 1896 C. F. H. L eslie . 141, v, Nottinghamshire, at Nottingham ... ... 1882 R. S. L ucas . 185, v. Sussex, at Brighton .......................... ... 1895 H on . A . L yttelton . 102, v. Nottinghamshire, at Nottingham ... 181, v. Gloucestershire, at Clifton ........... 1879 ... 1883 H on . E._L yttelton . 113, v. Australians, at Lord’s .................. ... 1878 G. M c G regor . 141, v. Sussex, at Lord’s......... ........................ ... 1897 T. C. O’B rien . 119, v. Gloucestershire, at Lord’s................... ... 1884 110. v. Gloucestershire, at Cheltenham ... 1884 100*, v. Yorkshire, at Lord’s........................... ... 1889 I ll, v. Gloucestershire, at Lord’s................... ... 1891 113, v. Somersetshire, at Taunton ........... ... 1891 113. v. Surrey, at Lord’s.................................. ... 1893 HO*, v. Somersetshire, at Taunton ........... ... 1894 202, v. Sussex, at Brighton ... ........... ... 1895 123*, v. Nottinghamshire, at Nottingham ... 1895 137, v. Surrey, at the Oval .......................... ... 1896 A . W . R idley . 136, v. Surrey, at Lord’s .................................. ... 1883 S. W . S cott . 126, v. Surrey, at the Oval .......................... ... 1882 135*, v. Gloucestershire, at Lord’s ........... ... 1885 121*, v. Kent, at Lord’s .................................. ... 1888 224, v. Gloucestershire, at Lord’s.................. ... 1892 A. E. S toddart . 116, v. Kent, at Gravesend .......................... ... 1886 215*+, v. Lancashire, at M anchester........... ... 1891 130. v. Nottinghamshire, at Lord’s ........... ... 1892 124 +’ |v# Nottinghamshire, at Lord’s ... 1893 125, v. Surrey, at Lord’s .................................. ... 1893 131, v. Kent, at Lord’s .................................. ... 1895 150, v. Somersetshire, at Lord’s ................... ... 1895 100, v. Yorkshire, at Lord’s .......................... ... 1896 121, v. Somersetshire, at Lord’s ................... ... 1896 109, v. Lancashire, at Manchester ........... ... 1896 127, v. Kent, at Lord’s .................................. ... 1896 109, v. Somersetshire, at Taunton ........... ... 1897 'C. T. S tudd . 105*, v. Kent, at Canterbnry.......................... ... 1883 G. B. S tudd . 104, v. Kent, at Lord’s .................................. ... 1885 D r . G. T hornton . 161, v. Gloucestershire, at Lord’s................... ... 1896 G. F. V ernon . 106, v. Surrey, at the Oval .......................... ... 1880 I. D. W alker . 128, v. Oxford University, at Lord’s ........... ... 1881 145, v. Gloucestershire, at Clifton................. ... 1883 P. F. W arner . 176, y. Nottinghamshire, at Lord’s ........... ... 1897 A . J. W ebbe . 122, v. Gloucestershire, at Clifton................. ... 1879 142, v. Gloucestershire, at Clifton................. ... 1880 103. v. Kent, at Gravesend .......................... ... 1886 192*+, v. Kent, at Canterbury .................. ... 1887 243*+, v. Yorkshire, at Huddersfield........... ... 1887 134, v. Lancashire, at Lord’s.......................... ... 189) * Signifies not out. + Carried bat through innings. N.B.—No professional cricketer has scored a three-Bgure innings for Middle­ sex during the period under notice— 1878-97, the county relying upon its amateurs to make the runs, and its pro­ fessionals to take the wickets. Fifty- four centuries have been scored, of which A. E. Stoddart claims 13, and T. C. O’Brien 10. CENTURIES AGAINST M IDDLESEX. (Arranged chronologically. 106, C. F. H. Leslie, Oxford University ........... 1881 131, A. N. Hornby. Lancashire .......................... 1882 101, Lord Harris, Kent .......................................... 1882 107, Barnes, W ., Nottinghamshire ................. 1882 101, Robinson, W ., Lancashire .......................... J882 1('4*, Scotton, W . H ., Nottinghamshire .......... 1884 138, Gunn, W , Nottinghamshire.......................... 1884 107, Ulyett, G., Yorkshire .................................. 1884 135, Hall, L., Y orkshire......................................... 1884 161, W . W . F. Pullen, Gloucestershire .......... 1884 224*+, Shrewsbury, A., Nottinghamshire.......... 1885 221*+. W . G Grace, Gloucestershire ... .......... 1885 142, Hearne, F., Kent .......................................... 1886 126, Hearne, G. G., Kent.......................................... 1886 123. H. J. H. Scott, Australians.......................... 1886 104*+. O. G. Radcliffe, Gloucestershire .......... 1886 118, W . E. Roller, Surrey ............................... 1887 113, W . G. Grace, Gloucestershire ................ 1887 119, Shrewsbury, A ., Nottinghamshire .......... 1887 281, K. J. Key, Oxford University .................. 1S87 150, H. Philipson, Oxford University.................. 1887 100, J. Shuter, Surrey .................................. 1887 267, Shrewsbury, A ., Nottinghamshire .......... 1887 115, Barnes, W ., Nottinghamshire .................. 1887 150, Painter, J., Gloucestershire.......................... 1888 101, W . G. Grace, Gloucestershire ................ 1889 121*, K. J. Key, S u rrey........................................ 1889 15^, Peel, R., Y orksh ire.......................................... 1889 114*, Ward, A., Lancashire.................................. 1889 115, W . W . Read, Surrey .................................. 1889 127*+, W . G. Grace, Gloucestershire.................. 1889 151*+, Abel, R ., Surrey .......................................... 1890 N E X T ISSUE, THUR SDAY , DECEMBER 30.