Cricket 1899

THB FINEST BAT THB WORLD PRODUCES. May 4 , 1899. CRICKET ; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 99 BUSSEY’S BUSSEY’S AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. B f F. S. A s h l e y -C o opeh . A few weeks ago Mr. Alfred D. Taylor, a keen student of the game, wrote to me as follow s:— “ I enclose the score of a match which may, perhaps, prove of interest to you, as it is not to be found in ‘ Scores and Biographies,’ Bentley’s book, etc. The two matches played by Sussex against Epsom in 1816 and 1817 are well known, but until recently I was not aware that the two teams had met in 1815. Unfortunately, I cannot supply the exact date. The match is the earliest in which we find J. Broadbridge partici­ pating. He walked from Duncton to witness the match, and, as Sussex were one short, was asked to fill the vacancy. Many of the opposing side were adverse to his inclusion, he being garbed in the ‘ farmer ’ attire, but the objection was withdrawn ” The match was an impor­ tant one, for in those days Epsom practi­ cally meant Surrey, nearly all the county players belonging to the club. Wishing to ascertain the exact date, I referred to the old Sporting Magazine, and with happy results, as the follow ing, taken from the August number, will show :— “ A grand match, for 1,000 guineas, be­ tween the Epsom Club and the County of Sussex, commenced on Brighton Level, on Monday, the 7th of August, and, after three fine days’ play, terminated in favour of the latter. State of the game :—Sussex, first innings, 152 ; second ditto, 54. Epsom, first innings, 75; second ditto, 110. At the com­ mencement of the game the odds were five to four in favour of the county, and during its progress they increased to ten and twenty to one, but towards the middle of the last innings these odds were considerably reduced, and some even placed confidence in the success of the Club. The field was numer­ ously attended by spectators, the assemblage each day being computed at four thousand.” The follow ing is the full score of the m atch:— ON THE LEVEL, BRIGHTON. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, August 7th, 8th, and 9th, 1815. S u ssex . Stewart, b Lambert ........... 17 st Vigne ... .. 11 F. Mellersh, c V ig n e ........... 34 c Beauclerk .. 12 Martin, c Tanner.................. 20 b L im bert.. .. 0 J. Hammond, st Vigne 29 DTanner ... .. 1 81ater, c W oodbridge........... 4 c Lambert .. .. 13 Andrews, c Borradaile G. Osbaldeston, Esq., c 39 b Tanner ... .. 4 Lambert .......................... 0 c Beauclerk .. 8 H. Morley, st Vigne ........... 4 c Lam bert... .. 1 Woodbridge, Esq., c Vigne 1 not o u t. .. 0 Cooper, run out ................... 3 c Beauclerk . 2 J. Broadbridge, not out ... 0 b Beauclerk .. 1 Bye .......................... ... 1 Bye .. 1 152 E psom . T .'rradaile, Esq., b Broad- 51 bi ,.»ge.................................. A. Schabner, Esq., b Os­ 6 run out .. 1 baldeston .......................... 4 c Hammond .. 3 Slingsby,Esq.,bOsbaldeston 0 b Osbaldeston .. 0 J.Tanner, Esq.. b Hammond 0 b Osbaldeston .. 6 W.Ward,E8q.,bBroadbridge 3 run out ... .. 0 W . Lambert, c Andrews ... 15 c Stewart ... . . 50 Lord F. Beauclerk, not out 30 b Osbaldeston .. 4 Woodbridge,Esq., st Martin F. Ladbroke, Esq., b Os­ 0 notout ... .. 14 baldeston ........................... 2 b Oslaldeston . . 6 T.Vigne,Esq.,b Broadbridge B. Aislabie, Esq., b Os­ 0 c Broadbridge .. 3 baldeston ........................... 0 b Osbaldeston .. 1 B y es.................................. 15 75 Byes ... .. 22 110 Sussex won by 21 runs. A view of the Level at Brighton can be seen in the famous Kent and Sussex picture issued by Mason in 1849. As will be seen from the score, Sussex proved victorious b y 21 runs, a very meritorious achievement considering that a few days later— on August 24th and 25th to be precise—Epsom defeated Middlesex at L ord’s by an innings and 358 runs. In those days Epsom was, with the exceptions of the County Clubs and the M .C.C., probably the strongest club in England. Their home matches were played on Stamford Green. ’Twas here that Lambert played, and Ward, Beauclerck, Budd, and Lillywhite. The Epsom matches, now-a-days, are played on a different ground (which, by- the-way, has recently been enlarged), the change probably being made when the club was re-established. The first-class season was commenced on Monday when Leicestershire opposed Surrey at the Oval. The most interest­ ing feature of the match was the fielding, which was very keen on both sides. If there is one fact upon which ancient and modern writers agree it is that good field­ ing is of the utmost importance. Yet how seldom do we see or hear of men endeavouring to make themselves pro­ ficient in that branch of the g am e ! Saving runs is as great an art as making them. The great maj ority of old cricketers assure us that in years gone by fieldiQg was better than it is now. And if fielding was better then when grounds were not nearly so smooth as they are now, it is only reasonable to suppose that there is room for great improvement. Smart fielding makes weak bow ling strong, and gives an air of keenness to an eleven which warns batsmen to be careful in attempting liberties. Every cricketer, it is true, cannot be a Lohmann, a Bards- well, or a Denton, but it is possible for everybody to try to do the best for their side. If the county elevens could only convince themselves how essential good fielding really is, scoring would rule lower and, as a consequence, there would be fewer drawn games. Several publishers have kindly for­ warded me copies of various books deal­ ing with the game. The “ New Zealand Cricketer’s Annual for 1898,” published at one shilling by Abel, Dykes and Co., of Auckland, is as interesting and as care­ fully compiled as ever. The book consists of 216 pages, and contains much matter of interest fo - cricketers in all parts of the world. There are several tables, dealing with the most noteworthy performances with bat and ball achieved during the previous season, which will be appreciated by students of the game. It is surprising to learn that the three previous issues are still on sale. The four numbers will be sent post free to any address in the world for five shillings. Mention of the New Zealand Annual reminds me that some time ago I received a letter from Mr. J. C. Davis, editor of the “ Australian Cricket Annual,” inform ing me that the book will not be published again for a year or two. It is strange that a great cricket- loving country like Australia cannot