Cricket 1899

Sept. t, 1899. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 393 THE COUNTY SEASON. Whatever may be thought of the benefits to cricket which follow from an Australian tour, there is no reason for doubt that it interferes very considerably with the county championship. It is indeed an open question whether the counties really profit much from the increased receipts which are obtained in a match against the Australians, for it is pretty certain that the working-man who spends his shilling, instead of sixpence, stops away from a county match to make up for it. But, after all, this is looking at the counties from a mercantile point of view, although perhaps this is pardon­ able in these days when it costs so much to keep a strong county team going. There are colts to be looked after and encouraged, employment given to pro­ fessionals who are temporarily out of the team, winter wages, and an increased number of out matches to be considered. This year the number of first-class counties, already large, was increased by the inclusion of Worcestershire, whose team in the early part of the seasoi stirred up the older counties in a most un expected manner. The season willbemem­ orable for the retirement of Dr. Grace from the captaincy of the Gloucestershire team, in June, and his decision not to assist the county in any of its subsequent matches. This action of the famous old cricketer, regrettable as it was, gave Mr. Troup an opportunity of coming to the front as the Gloucestershire captain, and on all sides it was admitted that he was admirably fitted for the office. Another well-known captain, Mr. W . L . Murdoch, after meet­ ing with little success with the bat, gave up the captaincy of the Sussex team. For a match or two Mr. Brann undertook the duties of captain, but the county was soon fortunate enough to find in Ranjit­ sinhji a born leader. Under his cap taincy the team did wonders, in spite of the weakness of the bowling, for Ranjit- sinhji studied his team, and with the happiest results turned on men who would never have had a chance of dis tinguishing themselves if old-established lines had been carefully followed. Never in modern times has Sussex had such successful season. In some mysterious way the tail learned to bat, and it was very long odds indeed that either Mr. Brann, Mr. Fry, or Ranjitsinhji himself would make a big score. The revival of Sussex cricket was one of the features of the season Another feature of the season, which was not quite so satisfactory to many people: was the way in which the Australian importations of Middlesex frequently won matches for the county. They were often quite irresistible with the ball, and it is well known that the other counties regarded with disfavour the innovation of engaging a couple of Australians to do the hard work in the bowling by a county which had hitherto been considered as somewhat exclusive. So far the example of Middlesex has not been followed by any other county. It may be said that the same thing was to all intents and purposes done by Gloucestershire years ago when Ferris played as an amateur, but the fact remains that it did not strike people in the same way. The unfortunate counties of the year were Derbyshire, Somerset, and Leicestershire. The former has been the sport of fortune for a long time, and the death of Davidson, and the partial retirement of Mr. Evershed, were paralysing calamities. Somersetshire could never command the services of its best team, for neither of the Palairets could play on account of accidents. Some young blood was introduced into the team with the happiest results, Mr. Bernard and Mr. Daniell especially dis­ tinguishing themselves. Far removed from these counties were Yorkshire and Surrey. Yorkshire had a lot of bowling which on paper was extremely powerful, while Surrey on paper had next to none. But somehow or other the Surrey bowlers, despised as they were on the whole, managed to give a fair account of them­ selves on the hard wickets, while the Yorkshiremen, irresistible on soft wickets, could make very little impression on batsmen when the weather changed. Ever a good-wicket team Surrey were seen to very great advantage in batting, and bowlers looked askance upon the Oral But for a number of dra\Vn games, in which victory was snatched from them at the last moment, Surrey would have easily have been in front of all competitors, in­ stead of having to wait until the very last match of the season before they could win the championship. Abel and Hayward made big scores in match after match, but Brockwell was unlucky to be out time after time when he seemed certain to play a very long innings. An accident to Lockwood was a serious blow to Surrey, for he was in good form. He recovered his skill to some extent long before the end of the season, but his leg was never quite strong, and it is remarkable that he should bring off so many fine performances. Surrey were also unlucky in losing the services of Mr. Crawford when he was in such form that there were hopes that he would have a brilliant season. Hampshire, when all its officers were playing, was a dangerous county to meet, although Captain Wynyard did not begin to make his big scores until late in the season. But Major Poore played wonderfully good cricket all through the season, being as consistent as Ranjitsinhji, and even more likely to score a hundred. Unfortu­ nately his military duties called him away in August, and his career was cut short when he was at the very height of his success. A t the end of the season Kent was at least as strong as any other county, Mr. Burnup almost invariably making fine scores. Lancashire was disappointing. Mr. MacLaren did not join the team until late, and was not in his best form, while the sad illness of Briggs handicapped the county very severely. Mold was in wonderful form at times. Of the other counties, Essex found a most useful bowler in Young, but the absence of Mr. Kortright throughout the season on account of an accident was a lamentable misfortune. The bowlers were few in number, and it is surprising that they should have done so well. The batting was not to be depended on. At times there were inexplicable collapses; at other times there were brilliant perform­ ances when they could hardly have been looked for. Warwickshire and Notts suffered greatly from weakness in bowling. In batting they were both able to take care of themselves. CRYSTAL PALACE v. EPSOM.—Played at the Crystal Palace on September 2. E psom . F. W. Ledger, c sub., b Cosens .................11 A. J. Boardman, b Cosens .......... ... 30 A. J. Green, c Cosens, b E .W . Dillon 1 F.L. Rawson,c Clarke, b Wells .................10 H. T. Bull, c and b Cjsens . .......... 0 S. Neil, e Grace, b W ells........................ 0 A. C. Rarton, c Clarke, b Wells ... F. W. Potter, c Brooks, b Wells ... H. W. Edwards, c Grace, b Wells E. J. Davies, not out E. E. Barwell, c Grace, b Wells Extras................. C rysta l P a la c e . W . G. Grace, not out ... . Extras ... . L. S. Wells, b Boll .. A. Cosens, b Board- m^n ................ E. W. Dillon, not out Total ("2wkts) 26 E. H. 1,’ilham. W. J. Parry, W . F. L. Frith, li. H. Dillon, Rev. K. Clarke, R. B. Brooks, and H. W. Dillon did not bat. PANTHER V. GRANVILLE (Lee).—Played at Lee on September 2. G r a n v ille . T.Passmore,eStandish, b N. Prior................18 C. E Lee, c Mantle, b Lewis ......................36 G. Helder, c Hodgson, b Lewis ... ... ... 25 W. Edwards, not out 21 J. A. Johnston, c Standish, b Lewis .. 32 B 18, lb 2 ......... 20 Total (4 wkts. j*154 H. W. Gill, S. V. Windett, A. N. Missie, C. Absolom O. G. Ferry and A. Helder did not bat. * Innings declared closed. P a n th e r . A. E. D. Lewis, not out 39 W. L. Goldby, c Win- W.L.Bayley,bAbsolom S.Silverthorne,c Ferry, b W iodett............... W. A. Standbh, c and b Ferry ................. N. H. Prior, c Lee, b Ferry........................ G.W.Hodgson, W.Standish and S.F.Prior did not bat. ARKLEY v. RADLETT.—Played at Arkley, Herts on September 2. R a d l e t t . dett, b F erry.......... 0 B W. Green, b Ferry 3 E. W. Mantle, not out 0 B 13,1b 1, w 1 ... 15 Total (6 wkts.) 61 F. Watson,b Hammond 4 A. Waite, b Booth ... 0 W. P. Westell, b Ham­ mond ........................ 5 W. T. Long, not out... 27 J. Gilbert, b Booth C. O’Dell, c Wynn, b B ooth....................... J.E.Briggs.c J. Robson b Booth ................. A. T. Andrews, b Hammond .......... 1 B.C. Willi*ms,cj. Rob­ son, b Almond ... 19 C.C. Taylor,c Farmer, b Almond .......... 4 H. B. Jupp, b Ham­ mond ....................... 0 B 1, lb 2, nb 1 ... 4 ... 64 G. W . Hammond, c Andrews, b O’Dell... 19 A. S. Farmer, b O’Dell 0 Capt. Wallace, b Westell ................. 8 Total . A rk le y . Howard Williams, not out .................24 Capt. Wynn, not out 37 B 1,1b 2 .......... 3 W . H. Robson, F. J. H. Robson, H. Booth, bat. Total (3wkts) 91 C. Almond, G. G. Dumbleton, and W. Chaplow did not BRIXTON WANDERERS v. MERTON.—Played at East Dulwich on September 2. B rix to n W anderers . J.Faulkner,bGodward 14 F.Odell, c Williamson, son, b Godward ... 10 G. Stubbs, c A. Beck, b Jephson ..........25 A.V.Storey, c D. Beck, b Jephson .......... 5 F. P. Rider, c D. Beck, b Gjdward .......... 0 H. Mason, c Moor- house, b Jephson C. G. Smith, c Moor- house, b J. Stedman 55 R. J. Burlington, c Smith, b Godward... 5 W.A.Gilligan, b Smith 28 E. A. Brymer, not out 5 C. F. Jones, b J. Sted­ man ........................ 0 B 10, w 2, nb 1 ... 13 Total ...160 M ebton . M.Moorhouse,cSmith, b Stubbs.................27 H.W.Stedman, c Bur­ lington, b Stubbs ... 5 D. L. A. Jephson, not out ........................76 , E. Williamson, J. E. Stedman, A. J. Beck, J. W Smith, J. Beck and 8. Waller did not bat. E. Golward, c Odell, b Stubbs ................. 5 F. De la Cour, not out 6 Byes ................. 7 Total (3 wkts) 126