Cricket 1898

“ Together joined in Cricket’s maniy toil.” — Byron. no. 4 9 4 . v o l . x v i i . THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1898. p b i c e aa. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. A. A. L ILLEY . One of the very few men who have appeared in county cri ket before they have previously taken part in anything like a good match, Lilley soon justified his choice, and in the course of a year or two became known as one of the best wicket-keepers of the day. In course of time he developed powers as a batsman, which speedily placed him in the front rank, so that he was quite invalu­ able to the Warwickshire team. So well was his all­ round excellence recognised, that in 1896 he was chosen to play for Lord Sheffield’s team against the Australians, for the Players against the Gen­ tlemen at Lord’s, and above all, for England in the three matches against Australia, and few, indeed, were the cricketers who cavilled at the choice. Business has kept him at home in England during the winter; other­ wise he would have accepted with great pleasure Lord Hawke’s invitation to g o to South Africa, and Mr. Stod­ dart’s to go to Australia last year. As a wicket-keeper he has gained golden opinions from friends and opponents alike, for he has never been known to try to “ bounce ” an umpire; if he has reason­ able ground for appealing he appeals—if not he remains silent. Lilley is the pro­ prietor of the Oak Hotel at Selly Oak, near Birmingham, on the main road from Bir­ mingham to Worcester. For some years after Lilley had been chosen for Warwickshire he did very little in the way of scoring, and so little was it suspected that he had in him the makings of a fine batsman, that he was almost invariably put in last. His opportunity came in a match between the North v. South of England at Birmingham. When he went to the wickets, last as usual, Gunn was at the other end with about 70 to his credit. When the partnership was broken, Gunn had raised his score to 124 not out, while Lilley had made 48. After this he was put in a little earlier, and presently, on a sticky wicket, he made 28 against Derbyshire, which was the top score of the side. In addition to this he made several other useful scores, and finished up the season by putting up 133 against Essex. In this match he not only made his first hundred in county cricket, but his first fifty as well. He began the following season by scoring 124 at the Oval against Surrey, and from that time he has never looked backwards, but has rather gone on improving. This year, with the little finger of his right hand in splints, he finished up the season by making 57 in the second innings of Warwickshire against Surrey, in a hope­ lessly up-hill fight. The score which came next to him was only 12 ! His highest innings in county cricket was 158 not out against Leicestershire, and in club cricket, 214. As a bowler, Lilley often proves to be a useful change, and occasion­ ally he has done a remarkable performance with the ball, although he says of his bow l­ ing: “ I really can’t bow l a bit, but I try to make the batsmen believe I can.” The year before last he took six wickets for 48 against Derby­ shire, and as he also scored 132 runs in the same match, and caught out the firstDerby­ shire batsman and ran out the second, he had a record which was highly satisfactory. It is always interesting to know what are the ideas of a great wicket-keeper with regard to the question of standing up to very fast bowling. On this point Lilley says: “ I don’t think that there is anything to be gained by standing up. In my opinion you get more catches when you stand back, and it is very seldom that you can stump a man off a very fast bowler. If the batsman turns the ball ever so little it may be quite out of your reach if you are close to the wicket, whereas if it is within a couple of feet of you when you are further back you are very likely to catch it.” “ Y ou have kept wicket to most fast bowlers p ’ ’ “ I think that I have taken them all except Mr. K ort­ right, who, as far as I can judge, is faster than anybody else. In the Warwickshire team we have not had many very fast bowlers, but Leek, who played during the early part of my cricket career, was very fast indeed, and young Field, who is now in the team, has plenty of pace; if he takes pains he may develop into a really good bowler. It would be impossible to say A . A. LILLEY. (From a Photo by II. J. Whitlock. Birmingham.)