Cricket 1898

258 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J uly 7, 1898. I n connection with the Cambridge- Liverpool match, it is curious that Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Druce, who played instead of the two other Blues, each made a duck, so that the big score of 400 was put up entirely by this year’s Blues. It is also curious that Mr. Hawkins, who, in the ’Varsity match was an abso­ lute failure with the ball, was in splendid form at Aigburth, taking ten wickets for 72 in the two innings of Liverpool. A d m ir e r s of the peculiar genius of Craig, “ the Surrey poet,” may be inter­ ested to hear that during the winter he left the heights of Olympus and descended to the flit country of statistics. The result is a little book, published at two­ pence by the All-England Athletic Pub­ lishing Company, Paternoster Square. The title of the book, which is a sufficient explanation of its contents, is “ Craig on the Cricket Champions of 1897.” F e w things wouldgive greater pleasure to cricketers than a return to form by Mr. de Trafford, and, if one may judge from his fine innings of 43 against Middle­ sex on Monday, he is likely to be a thorn in the side of a good many bowlers this season. To see him at the wickets when he is in form, and when his side requires runs badly, is a wholly satisfying experi­ ence. I t is becoming quite a regular thing for the first Essex wicket to put on a big score. Last year there was a time when it seemed likely that Carpenter would be left out of the team, but at present he is in better form than he has ever been. Mr. Owen, too, has batted on the queer wickets of this season in a style which was quite brilliant, and now that he has had a chance of playing on hard wickets he shows no signs of falling off—but rather seems to be determined to make splendid use of them. The last perfor­ mance of the two men was the best they have ever done in partnership; they put on 194 against Derbyshire in three hours and a-quarter. Y o r k s h i r e , the all-conquering team of 1898, has only one representative in the first ten names in the batting average tables of Monday; his name is moreover the tenth. The next name is 17th, and the next 20th. After this there is a very big break, and the fourth name does riot appear until 50th ! But a refer­ ence to the bowling averages shows that the first four names on the list belong to Yorkshire, which explains a good deal. “ W.G.” is to be the guest of the com­ mittee and the members of the Sports Club at a dinner at the club on the second night of his jubilee match (July 19) at Lord’s. The presidents of the leading county dubs, or at least some of them, have received invitations to assist at the banquet to “ the Grand Old Man.” . D r . W h a r t o n H o o d , the guide, philosopher, and friend of cricketers of every degree, has exercised his good offices to such effect on W. H. Lockwood that the Surrey player has already recovered f om the injury to his side, and will take his place in the county eleven at Portsmouth to-day. Richardson’s hurt at Chesterfield last week was happily only slight, so that Surrey should be able to put its full side into the field this morning. M e m b e r s of the Surrey County C.C., or at least those who have not had a chance of visiting the Oval this season, will be interested to know that the seats in front of the members’ luncheon room are now reserved for ladies introduced by members. Smoking is prohibited in this portion of the enclosure, which I may add is to be covered with an awning. Ladies introduced by members are now admitted to the pavilion without restriction. I n the course of his chat with Mr. Bettesworth, Dr. Pavri was kind enough to write down a list of the best Parsi players, with a short note upon each man. It is as follows :— B. D. G a g r a t (champion).—Best bat. Fast under­ hand bowler. Best all-round field. Never seen to miss a catch. N. C. B a p a s o l a . —All-round man. Splendid out­ field. Free bat. Useful slow over-arm bowler. K . M . M istry .—Best bat o f the Parsis at present. Fast left-hand bowler. D. D. K a n g a . —Wicket-keeper. A free 'run-getting bat. D. N. W r it e r . —Best Parsi left-handed bowler, compared by Lord Harris to Wootton; but out of form at present. A slogger. N. K . B h e r u c h a .— The oldest player in the team. Best slow left-hand bowler. Played for Parsis after being left out for six years. D . C. D aruw alla .—A very steady and patient bat. Good field. D. E. M o d y . -A reliable bat. Good cover-point. R. E. M o d y .— Once the fastest bowler, but pro­ nounced doubtful. Bats in a splendid style, but lacks defence. Good field. One of the most popular men in the team. E. D. C o o pe r . — Once the best bat of the Parsis. Occasionally captained the Parsi team. The safest wicket-keeper. Played for Forest Hill Cricket Club in 1889-90. At present is private secretary to Mahraja of Bikaneer. D. M. R a j a .— Asafebat. Brilliant field. Left-hand bowler. M. D. K a n g a .— Best all-round player. W i l f r e d R h o d e s , the new star among Yorkshire bowlers, a good friend from Galashiels writes, was born and brought up at Kirkheaton, near Huddersfield, the birthplace, by the way, of another great Yorkshire trundler, Allan Hill. Rhodes played with the Kirkheaton Club, having as one of his club mates, Hirst, of the Yorkshire Eleven. He went, as a pro­ fessional, to Galashiels in 1896, and was retained there also for the following summer. According to my correspondent Rhodes, who is a total abstainer, was a great favourite at Galashiels. His depar­ ture was, indeed, regretted by all, and the canny folk up there are naturally highly pleased with his success in York­ shire cricket. He was a “ surface man ” by trade, but in the winter of 1896-97 was engaged in signalling on the Lanca­ shire and Yorkshire Railway. T h e value of the Badminton book on cricket has had a practical testimony in the fact that, since its first appearance ten years ago, it has been reprinted five times, including two new editions, thoroughly revised. The second of the revised editions, which has just appeared, brings the Badminton cricket—forthepro- duction of which, as everyone knows, A. G. Steel and the Hon. R. H. Lyttelton are jointly responsible—absolutely up to date. To say that no cricket library can possibly be complete without it is some­ thing more than a phrase. It is quite the best book of its kind, without a doubt. On Monday the stand between Mr. Fry and Mr. Newham in the Sussex v. York­ shire match produced 111 runs, which was at the time the best of the season against Yorkshire. On Tuesday, Mr. Brann and Mr. Murdoch went three runs better than this. Before the Sussex match the best stand against Yorkshire this year was the 107 by Mr. Warner and Mr. Ford for Middlesex. F e w things in connection with the University match are more remarkable than the success of some of the men who were last to receive their “ blues.” In 1887, Lord George Scott made 100 and 66 for Oxford. In the same year, Mr. E. Crawley made 35 and 103, not out, for Cambridge. In 1895, Mr. G. O. Smith made 51, not out, and 2 for Oxford. In 1898, Mr. E. C. Lee took seven wickets for 57 runs for Oxford. No doubt other instances of similar successes could be found. A f t e r having much the worst of the game against Yorkshire on Monday, Sussex had so far improved their position on Tuesday that a short time before stumps were drawn they had knocked off the 93 runs by which Yorkshire led in the first innings, and with only one wicket down were 71 runs to the good. Then Brown with lobs took three wickets in a few overs, and at the end of the day Sussex were only 85 runs on with five wickets down ! It was a startling change. One would like to know what Walter Humphreys tninks about the lob bowlers of the present day, and their ability to get Sussex men out. N e x t Monday Streatham begin their Week by playing the Oxford University Authentics. The remainder of the matches, one for each day, are against Old Paulines, Surrey Club and Ground, M.C.C. and Ground, Mr. Wagener’s X I. and Richmond. J u s t as Cricket is going to press the sad news reaches me that Mr. I.D . Walker, the famous Middlesex and Harrow cricketer, died this morning (Wednesday), at the age of 54. It was only a very short time ago that he was to be seen at Harrow apparently in his usual health. The news of his death will be received with great grief by a very numerous body of cricketers, more especially by Harrow boys of all ages, who have always regarded him with the greatest affection and respect. Mr. Walker was such a great player in his time that a more