Cricket 1900

“ T o g e th e r jo ined In C r ic k e t ’ d m a n l y t o ll .” — Byron. no. 552 vot. xix. TH U R S D A Y , A U G U S T 23, 1900. p b i o b ad. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. MR. W . C. NOOK. The manager of the West Indian cricket team is a gentleman who, with plenty of hard work in the Government Service at Trinidad, devotes his leisure time to the welfare of the chief cricket club in the colony, of which he has been honorary secre­ tary for some years. Born in the West Indies, he used to play a good deal of cricket in Trinidad, but his voluntary duties increased little by little, until he de­ cided to give up the game altogether and give his whole time to managing the club. In England he has made friends everywhere, and al­ though he gives all the credit for the smooth working of the arrangements during the tour to the good sense of the players, everybody knows how much depends on the good nature and good temper of the manager. “ Ever since the first visit of an English team,” said Mr. Nock, “ the idea of a tour in England had been talked about in the West Indies, but it was not until two years ago that it began to take any shape. A West Indian club was then started in London with the object of bringing the colonies more into the notice of the public. Men could meet there and discuss matters and problems relating to the welfare of the colonies. Lord Hawke was a member of the club, and one of its moving spirits, especially in matters relating to sports of all kinds. He has taken a prominent part in arranging the present tour, and the colonies owe a very great deal to the efforts which in various ways he has made on their behalf.” “ How was the tour actually ar­ ranged P” “ In January this year, while the inter-colonial cup was being played for in Trinidad, we asked the different islands to send men to represent them and to form a selection committee. There are always three teams playing for this cup, viz., Barbados, Demerara and Trini­ dad, so that there was a good opportunity for the committee to watch the form of the various players. Then we chose the very best eleven which, in our opinion, was to be found in the West Indies, irrespective of whether a colony was represented in it or not. Of course, as nearly always happens, two or three of the best men, who would have helped the team a lot, were unable to come at the last moment.” “ Did the coloured members of the team quickly fall into English ways ? ” “ Very soon. They are thorough sportsmen, and have given no trouble whatever during the tour. Truth to tell, I was a little afraid that they would be spoiled by the hospitality which has been so freely offered, but it has not had this effect at all, for they knew when to pull up. They are very keen cricketers, as an anecdote or two may show. In one of the towns where we were playingI went to the coloured members of the team and said, ‘ I have got tickets for us all to-night at one of the theatres, and will have an enjoyable evening.’ To my surprise they one and all said that they thought they would rather not go, as they were very anxious to win the match.” “ Have they been keen in the field to the end ? ” “ Oh, yes, most decidedly. Some of them have a habit of waiting for the ball to come to them instead of going for it, but they only want a word and they are off at once. This is not a want of keenness, but a want of practice. Occasionally in their excitement they make very straightforward re­ marks, as for instance, in one of the matches, when nearly the whole side appealed for a catch behind the wicket, Woods, who was bowling, walked over to the umpire at the end of the over and thus addressed him with much scorn, * You call yo’self an umpire! ’ The umpire, a good-natured fellow, was amused, but Woods was serious at the time, though he was quieted in a moment. They were all much im­ pressed by their first views of England. In our first match— at the Crystal Palace — I was walking through the grounds with Woods, who suddenly said to me, ‘ Mr. Nock, they have got a lot of white people in this country ! ’ ” “ Have the members of the team stood the wear and tear of the tour well ? ” “ They have stood the strain very much MB. W . O. NOOK. (From a Photo by W. Brovghton A Son , Norwich )