Cricket 1899

A p r i l 20, 1899. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 71 side of him. When the cup reached the hard-hitting batsman, he gravely turned to the empty chairs and evidently thought he had to drink to each absentee on either side of him. Anyhow the tankard was empty when Coates was through, and he afterwards explained that he was very dry. The Mayor’s face was a study while the Belmonter was doing what he thought the etiquette of a town and council dinner de­ manded. Soon after his Mayorship explained that his presence was demanded at some other function, and then some lesser light took his place, and the fun really commenced. It was at this same dinner that Lord Harris sang that good old song about the Kentish cricketer going up to 4Lunnon,’ and he sang splendidly.” “ I always have a warm spot in my heart for a captain who will tell a bowler to ‘ pitch them up,’ ” said the man who is famed for his “ pull,” and who had been an interested listener so far. “ You all remember when Billy Bristol was captain of Tiago and Cregar was wild as a March hare. Well, I was nicely in, and the giant was put on to bowl. I never did like his bowling; you never knew where you would be hit next. He was unusually wild and the sphere lodged half way down the crease every time. Bristol couldn’t stand it any longer and in that rasp­ ing voice of his called out, ‘ Pitch ’tm u p ; he’ll cut the life out of you.’ I never was so thankful for anything in my life. Instead of having any idea of cutting the life out of him I expected every moment to have my nose cut off.” The veteran in the corner hadn’t said much so far, but it seemed to be his turn, and he remarked : “ Talking of being ‘ umpired out’ and ‘ umpired in,’ etc. I think one of the queerest things that has happened in cricket lately was the way ‘ Squeer ’ Graves got out in the play-off between Germantown and Belmont last year at Elmwood. You know that he and Reynolds Brown were well set when King sent down a terrific yorker. The ball struck something and bounced clear over the wicket-keeper’s head and was stopped by short-slip. Nobody thought anything about it and the ball was returned to the bowler, who prepared to resume the attack. All at once King asked Wooley, who was umpiring, ‘ What did the ball strike ? ’ ‘ His foot, sir.’ ‘ Well, how is i t ? ’ ‘ Out, sir,’ replied the umpire, and certainly there were ten astonished and joyful fielders at this unexpected turn of affairs.” “ Lights are going out, gentlemen,” respectfully warned the janitor. Reminis­ cences were over .— Cricket Club Life. COACHING AND YOUNGSTERS IN AMERICA. It is the opinion of many cricketers in America that the colts of the present day do not show half as much promise as those o f ten years ago. Some seasonable articles have appeared in Cricket Club L ife (Philadelphia) dealing with young cricketers and coaching, and from them the follow ing extracts are taken :— COACHING. At the risk of exposing myself to old- fogeyism by the young and thoughtless I will venture the assertion that fifteen years ago we had better material for an international team among our juniors and colts than we have to day. Our clubs are larger, our grounds are in infinitely better condition, we spend three times as much money on the game, but where can we find among our colts a George Patterson, A1 Scott or John Thayer? We have hundreds of boys who are struggling to learn the rudiments ot the game, and yet how few there are who get beyond the very first steps. They are discouraged at their apparent inability to progress, and retire to tbe more easily obtained pleasures of the cycle or tennis. This I believe to be the state of affairs to­ day, and I believe that if we look for the cause we shall find that it is mainly in our present system of coaching. Years ago, the senior player spent many an afternoon with the boys ; now it is all left to the professionals. A very ordinary cricketer can become a very competent coach if he has the ability to impart the knowledge he possesses. It is not necessary that he shall be able to bowl the ball or make the stroke like the masters in the art, if he knows what should be done, and is possessed with the love of the game together with that patience which can a hundred times make plain the first steps of the would-be cricketer. Without saying anything needlessly dis­ paraging of our professionals, I believe that with few exceptions they are unable to teach because thfy do not know the first thing in the art of teaching. It is more than absurd to lay down any law that a certain ball shall be played in a certain way by all beginners, though this being the easiest plan it is the one generally adopted by the professional. The position that a boy shall take in front of the stumps is often made a matter of such vital importance that a youth is sent away dis­ couraged because he finds that he cannot stand as he is told he must. Do we find any two of our best men take exactly the same position in front of the stumps when a ball is about to be delivered ? What a loss it would have been to English cricket if A. J. Webbe had been driven from the game when he was told that he could never play cricket if he persisted in adopting the ridiculous position he assumed when waiting for the ball. YOUNGSTERS. While I am anxious to see the junior ranks of all our local clubs augmented, my advice to a boy is, to leave cricket alone, if after a few trials, he feels none of this spirit of enthusiasm, for he will never attain any great amount of success. On the other hand (and seniors will please pay particular attention) if a youngster hangs around the net when the cracks are at practice, and shows a disposition to chase the leather around, give him aword of encourage­ ment and if occasionally you can stretch a point and let him take a turn at the bat, the concessions may make a cricketer of him. I really think that nine out of every ten youngsters who truly love the game may be made into first-class cricketers if properly handled and encouraged. Yet how few of us take more than a passing interest in them. Many of our clubs engage a professional, instruct i im to coach the boys on one or more days each week, and then think their duty to the juniors is ended. The coach may have the ability to impart his knowledge to others, and he may not. If he can, he has a fair amount of success, but how much more good seed might be sown by the amateurs, if a few of them would take enough interest in the boys to devote an hour or so each week to their instruction. How the youngsters would enjoy a hour’s practice with a Patterson, Brown, King or Thayer in the net with them. How they would flock out should a Cricket Committee name an afternoon in each week upon which they could certainly count upon being coached by one of the first eleven men. What a spirit of enthusiasm might be aroused, and what an incentive for earnest practice might thus be inspired. Surely it can only be due to lack of thought that some such plan has not been generally adopted long ago. I use the word “ generally ” advisedly, for I am well awaTe of the grand *ork done for the advancement of junior cricket by theNewhall Brothers, both at Stenton and Manheim. Give us a few more like them and the future of cricket in Philadelphia would be assured. (tforvtsponlittue. A CURIOUS BOWLING ANALYSIS. To the Editor of C r ic k e t . D e a r S ir,—An illustration of the glorious uncertainty of cricket was afforded by an incident in a match played a few years ago in Sussex. The pitch was on a village green of great extent, where every hit was run out, it being practically impossible to drive a ball to the boundary. The home side had com ­ pleted an innings of 148, and nine of the opposing batsmen had been disposed of for 87. But the sting of that team lay in its tail, for the last man in began to let out in most vigorous fashion, treating all the bow ling with equal indifference, while his partner kept up his wicket most exasperatingly. Ten members of the home team had been on to bowl, and tbe score stood at 141. As a last resort, the eleventh homester was entrusted with the ball. H e was a capital bat, but no bowler at all. Unlike Tom Emmett’s “ three wides and a w icket,” his style was more like three wides and a wider. However, he was put on as a forlorn hope. The vigorous batsman hit his first ball for a safe six, and was run out in his endeavour to iun a seventh ! Analysis: one ball, six runs, no wicket. Yours, etc., R a l p h R o d m a n . TONBRIDGE CLUB. M AY. 10. Beckenham, v. Beckenham 13. Brenchley, v. Brenchley 17. Tonbridge, v. Weald of Kent Wanderers 20. Tonbridge, v. Linden Park 24. Tonbridge, v. Mote Paik 27. Tonbridge, v. 8evenoaks Vine 29. Tonbridge, v. Brenchley 31. Tonbridge, v. Granville JUNE 3. Penshurst Causeway, v. Penshurst Causeway 5. Kent v. Sussex* 8. Kent v. Somerset'* 14. Tonbridge, v. '1unbridge Wells 17. Tonbridge, v. Penshurst Park 21. Tonbridge, v. Beckenham 24. Tonbridge, v. Weald o f Kent 28. School, v. The School .°8. School, v. The School (2) JU LY. 3. Tonbridge, v. Old Esstbournianst 8. Penshurst Park, v. Penshurst Park 12. Tonbridge, v W est Kent 15. Tonbridge, v. Penshurst Causeway 19. Tunbridge Wells, v. Linden Park 21. Tonbridge, v. The Wandererst 26. Tonbridge, v. Old Cliftonians+ *8. Maidstone, v. Mote Park 29. Bickley, v. Bickley 31. Tonbndge, v. Hadlow AUGUST. 2. Lee, v. Granville 4. Tonbridge, v. Blue Mantles+ 7. Tonbridge, v. Y.M C.A. 9. Tonbridge, v. Kichmond+ 12. Tonbridge, v. Pembury 14. Tonbridge, Marlborough Bluest 16. Tunbridge Wells, v. Tunbridge Wells 21. Kent v. Yorkshire* 26. '1onbridge, v. Bickley 28 Hadlow, v. Hadlow 30. Tonbridge, v. Band of Brothers+ * Three-day matches. + Two-day matches.