Cricket 1899

A ug . 17, 1899. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 343 BUSSEY’S GO O P Q o Q & O C 8 m GQ £ as CO _ CO CO CO CM D ® * O S BUSSEY’S AT TH E SIGN OF TH E W IC K E T . B y F. S. A sh le y -C ooper . Never, in the entire history of the game, has such wonderful scoring taken place as in the recent Surrey v. Yorkshire match. It was an exceedingly fine per­ formance on the part of Surrey to effect an even draw after going in against a total of 704; as a matter of fact the Sur­ rey wickets averaged over eight runs a wicket more than those of Yorkshire. On the first day the northern county scored nearly five hundred runs for the loss of only four men, and it was clear that in the ordinary course of things the match would end in a draw, but not even the most enthusiastic supporters of Surrey could have anticipated their county making such a gallant fight. In thematch 1,255 runs were scored for the loss of but 17 wickets, giving an average of 73'82 runs per wicket, which is a record in first-class matches, the previous best being 65'61 in the Sussex v. Australia match at Brighton in the last week of July. Two performances in the match stand out prominently— the partnership of Wainwright and Hirst, which realised 340 for the fourth wicket, and that of Hayward and Abel, which added 448 to the score after the fall of the fourth wicket. As both of those are records there is no need to apologise for the publication of the following table :— RECORD PARTNERSHIPS FOR EACH W ICKET IN FIRST-CLASS MATCHES. 1st—554, Brown, J. T. (300), and Tunnicliffe, J. W . (243), Yorkshire v. Derbyshire, at Chester­ field, August 18,19 and 20, 1898. 2nd—398, Shrewsbury, A. (267), and Gunn W . (196), Nottinghamshire v. Sussex, at Nottingham, May 15,16 and 17, 1890. 3rd—321*, J. R. Mason (181 not out) and Hearne, A. (162 not out), Kent v. Nottinghamshire, at Nottingham, June 26, 27 and 28,1889. 4th—44S, Hayward, T. (273), and Abel, R. (193), Surrey y. Yorkshire, at the Oval, August 10, 11 and 12, 1899. 5th—340, Wainwright, E. (22g) and Hirst, G. H. (186), Yorkshire v. Surrey, at the Oval, August 10, 11 and 12,1899. 6th—411, Major R. M, Poore (304) and Capt. E. G. Wynyard (225), Hampshire v. Somersetshire, at Taunton, June 20, 21 and 22,1899. 7th—340, K . J. Key (281) and H. Phillipson (150), Oxford University v. Middlesex, at Chiswick Park, June 23, 24 and 25, 1887. 8th—292, Peel, R. (210 not out), and Lord Hawke (166), Yorkshire v. Warwickshire, at Edg- baston, May 7, 8 and 9, 1896. 9th-193, W . G. Grace (301) and S. A. P. Kitcat (77), Gloucestershire v. Sussex, at Bristol. August 3, 4 and 5, 1896. 10th—230, R. W . Nicholls (154) and Roche, W . (74 not out), Middlesex v. Kent, at Lord’s, June 12, 13 and 14, 1899. * Signifies that neither batsman was dismissed. C. E. de Trafford and Knight made 194 without the loss of a wicket for Leicester­ shire v. Derbyshire, at Leicester, May 25, 26, 27, 1899. It is rather curious that the previous record for the fourth wicket was also made by Abel and Hayward, viz., 334, Abel (357, not out) and Hayward (158), Surrey v. Somersetshire, at the Oval, May 29, 30, 31, 1899. In a recent number of Cricket I asked whether anybody could inform me how many runs K. M. Mistri (255) and K . S. Ranjitsinhji (257, not out) added whilst together for Patiala v. Umballa, at Um­ balla, November 2 and 3,1898. According to one newspaper the number was “ over 450.” Mr. D. J. Wadia, of Bombay, kindly writes to me as follows:— “ In reply to your request for information as to the number of runs put up by Mistri and Kanjitsinhji whilst together in the memorable match Patiala v. Umballa, I may state that the number was 376. I may add that the number, if not the world’s record for the third wicket,* is assuredly the Indian one, not only for the third wicket, but for any wicket.” The two batsmen came together with the score 101 for two, and were not separated until Mistri was dismissed at 477. I beg to thank Mr. Wadia for sending me parti­ culars of the performance. May I also take this opportunity of inquiring whether there is any truth in the report that T. B. Sellar scored two separate centuries in one match in India in the early part of the present year ? From Mr. A. D. Taylor, of Brighton, I have received a copy of “ Sussex County Cricket Club : Its Diamond Jubilee, 1839- 99.” As the book is printed for private circulation, only a few enthusiasts will possess copies. The publication, which consists of ninety-two pages, is by far the best yet issued in connection with Sussex cricket. It is apparent, judging from the wonderful accuracy of the compilation, that the author made his task a labour of love. The book will possess a great charm for all those who take an interest in the “ king of games.” The meeting between Kent and the Australians at Canterbury always proves a great attraction, for the county generally manages to do well against its redoubtable opponents, and the match last week proved no exception to the rule. The low scoring which took place was in welcome contrast to the huge scores which were being compiled in other parts of the country. It is a curious fact that whereas thirty-eight batsmen were disposed of at Canterbury for but six hundred and forty-six runs, 1,255 runs were made at the Oval on the same days for the loss of only seventeen wickets. The success with the ball which attended the efforts of McLeod and Bumup was very gratifying. The former, who has achieved success in Australia both with bat and ball, has yet to show his true form in this country. Mr. Burnup’s record of eight wickets for fifty-one runs puts into the shade all his former performances with the ball. To Mr. Burnup’s bowling and Mr. Stewart’s scores of 71 and 15 not out the Kentish victory was almost entirely due. The fifth and last match between England and Australia has been played, and haa resulted in a draw. Of the five games, only one— at Lord’s—was brought to a definite conclusion, viz., a victory for the Australians by ten -wickets. An enthusiastic cricketer in New South Wales has been good enough to forward me an interesting letter concerning the team now in England. He says:— “ At the present time out here the success of the present Australian X I. is a matter of much jubilation, so much so that anyone with English sympathies gets a very bad time of it. The anti-English feeling in •The world’s record is 454, Barnes, W . (266), and Midwinter, W . (187), M.C.C. and Ground v. Leices­ tershire, at Lora’s, June 1 and 2,1882.