Cricket 1900

THE FINEST BAT THE WOULD PRODUCES. J u l y 26, 1900. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. BUSSEY’S C O M J o fa fa & co •J •J fa £ ~(Z2 S i fa > L iJ £ Z CD JO u i u j a _ CO a s *“ M CS/ C O CO fa CO s ' p e a M o fa Q D 7 C O £ C O I H O 3 & § 33 BUSSEY’S AT TH E SIGN OF TH E W IC K E T . B y F . 8 . A s h le y -C o o p e r . It was unfortunate that the recent match at Manchester between Lancashire and Yorkshire could not be decided, owing to rain, as both teams were at the head of the championship table, neither having met with a defeat. The game was most interesting throughout, and when stumps were finally drawn on the last day neither side appeared to hold an advantage. Yorkshire held a lead of seven runs when each side had completed an innings, but this slight advantage was speedily lost when they went in a second time; in fact, so badly did they perform that for some time it seemed as though Lancashire must have won, and it was only the excellent resistance offered to the bowling by Wainwright and Haigh that saved their side from defeat. The success of the former was very welcome, as since he made his century against Kent at Catford early in the season he had been quite out of form. A note­ worthy feature of the match was the fact that in three of the four innings com­ menced, the first wicket fell before a run had been obtained, which must surely be an almost unique performance on modem wickets. Although the gamewas seriously interfered with by rain, there is every reason to believe that as a benefit to Mold it will prove highly successful, and that the popular player will receive in all close upon £2,500. It is always a pleasure to see a match between the two great northern counties, for each side is generally strong alike in batting and bowling, and one is not treated to a performance of run-getting. The bowl­ ing on both sides, too, is always ably managed. The success achieved by the Yorkshire team during recent years has been in a great measure due to the successful bowling changes made by Lord Hawke. Mr. MacLaren, too, changes his bowling frequently, as was shown in the recent match at Leicester, when he made no fewer than twenty changes in the home team’s first innings of 266. Most captains, as a rule, are too slow to change the bow ling; but of course it is possible to go to the other extreme. Whilst Lancashire and Yorkshire were playing their interesting game at Man­ chester, runs were being made by the hundred at Brighton, where Sussex and Surrey were mercilessly thrashing each other’s bowling. At Manchester, during the first three days, the first wicket three times fell before a run had been made; at Brighton, on no occasion was the first batsman on a side dismissed before 120 had been scored. The game will be remembered on account ot the perform­ ance of Mr. C. B. Fry, who, in a match of huge scoring, made 125 in his first innings and 229 in his second. Although “ Sussex” scored 300 and 417 for six wickets, it is of interest to know that Belf (42 and 6), Killick (12 and 0), and Mr. Collins (15 and 37) were the only players bom in the county who made double figures. To collectors of mementoes of noteworthy matches the score-card of the match will be of great interest. Whilst referring to score-curds may I warn col­ lectors to be careful in purchasing cards of the Worcestershire v. Hampshire match of last year, in which W. L. and B. E. Foster each obtained two separate hun­ dreds ? It has come to my knowledge that some misguided and unscrupulous person (or persons) had copies printed privately, and that these copies can occasionally be met with, when they are generally palmed off upon the unsus­ pecting purchaser as originals. To Mr. Bosanquet the Middlesex v. Leicestershire match will ever recall happy memories, for by scoring; 136 and 139 he caused his name to be added to the list of those batsmen who have sc >red two separate hundreds in a match at Lord’f. His hitting in the first innings wa< mag­ nificent; he scored 100 out of 120 obtained whilst in. The double-century performance at Lord’s has only been accomplished by (i.) W. Lambert. 107, not out, and 157, Sussex (with W. Lam­ bert and Mr. G. Osbaldeston) v. Epsom, July 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, 1817 ; (ii.) Mr. F. W. Maude, 146 and 143, M.O.C. and Ground v. Wiltshire. August 25 and 26, 1886; (iii.) Mr. A. E. Stoddart, 195, not out, and 124, Middlesex v. Nottingham­ shire, June 5, 6 and 7, 1893; (iv.) Mr. R. E. Foster, 102, not out, and 136, Gentlemen v. Players, July 16, 17 and 18, 1900 ; and (v.) Mr. B. J. T. Bosanquet, 136 and 139, Middlesex v. Leicestershire, July 19, 20 and 21, 1900. Mr. William Ward only just missed performing tbe feat when he made 108 and 95 for Mr. W. Ward’ s X I. v. Mr. Hoare’s X L , June 21 and 22,1824. Some extraordinary cricket was seen in the recent match. In the first innings of Middlesex Mr. H. J. Wyld batted twenty minutes for no runs, and during that time he never touched a ball except with his pads. It was generally considered that in being set 303 runs to win, th“ home team had too great a task before them, but, thanks to Mr, Bosanquet’s 139 and Rawlin’s patient 39, the runs were hit off for the loss of five wickets. Although R iwlia only scored 39, he helped Mr. Bjsanquet to add no less than 145 runs for the fourth wicket. A curious accident befell one of the Leices­ tershire players on the last day. Sjon after the game had been resumed, a ball delivered by Mr. H. Burgess glanced off the wicket-keeper’s toe and struck White­ head, who was fielding in the slips, so severely that he had to be assisted off the field, and could take no further part in the game. By the death of Richard Daft there has been taken from us one of the finest and most graceful batsmen, that ever played the game. He has been immortalised in W. J. Prowse’s famous “ In Memoriam ” verses on Alfred Mynn:— Bichard Daft is cool and cautious, with his safe and graceful play. As a “ Ohat ” about this most famous E layer will be found in another column, ut little about him need be said here. Although he did not play on billiard- table wicket?, he was constantly making large scores against all kinds of bowling.