Cricket 1901

“ Together joined In Cricket’s manlytoil.”— Byron. ho . se x . v o i . i x . THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1901 CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. COLONEL H . B. KINGSCOTE. Like so many other officers Colonel K ingscote was prevented b y his military duties from playing first-class cricket except in occasional matches. But he found time in the years before he went to India to assist Glouces­ tershire, and that authorities in high quarters appreciated his merits is evident from the fact that he was invited to play for the Gentlemen against the Players at Lord’s in 1870. In those days this was the height of a cricketer’s ambition, but, unfortunately for the Colonel, he had a commanding officer who did not understand or care any­ thing about cricket, and refused to give him leave of absence. After he went to India there was no more first-class cricket for him. H e still takes a very active interest in the game, and is constantly at L ord’s and the Oval. Colonel Kingscote learned cricket at home at Kingscote, in Gloucestershire, where there was a good club. “ A t first I was a bowler, round arm medium,” he snid, “ but when I went to Woolwich Academy I took a fancy for wicket - keepin g, and, liking it very much, stuck to it ever afterwards. From 1864 to 18811 kept wicket for the Artillery, after which 1 went to India until 1889, when I gave up the gamftj ilthough I daresay that ad, re­ mained in England I should have played much longer.” “ When did you begin to play for Gloucestershire ? ” “ From 1877 to 1879 I played in a good many matches as wicket-keeper. One of the matches which I always look back upon with especial pleasure was that in which the county played England at the Oval and beat them by five wickets. I remember that after I had been keeping wicket for some time to Miles, who was bow ling to the off as far off as was possible without being wide, W .G . went on and bowled half-volleys to leg. I said to him, ‘ Look here, W . G., I can’t g o o n like this; it’s enough to drive a wicket-keeper wild.’ fBut he told me that he was doing it for a purpose, his brother, G. F., being at deep square leg, and very soon a catch was brought off there b y him. In those days, E. M. Grace was a magnificent field at p oin t; people nowadays, accustomed to seeing point stand somewhere near the boundary, would hardly believe the things he did when he was only about three yards from the wicket. One of his characteristics used to interest me a good deal. When he thought it was about time for him to go on to bowl, he always used to put both hands behind his back and hold his head down. It was an unfailing sign, though I never knew whether it was done intentionally.” Colonel Kingscote is of opinion that umpiring among soldiers has improved o f'la te years. “ In m y days,” he said, “ the soldier umpire often felt that it was his bounden duty to help his own side, and such little idiosyncracies as calling ‘ Wide, over,’ did not trouble him. I think, too, that the game is played nowadays b y soldiers with more understanding. I re­ member a young fellow at Gibraltar, a pioneer, being given out l.b.w . ‘ O u t! ’ be said, ‘ what’s out ? ’ and in­ continently chucked his bat into the block hole, saying •Cricket’s all tomm y-rot.’ Then he stalked off the field, and was not seen on it again for a couple of days. A t Gibraltar we had a long-stop with great strength in his arms. In shying at the wicket when a run was being attempted he had the misfor­ tune to hit the batsman on the back of the head. Not in the least disconcerted, he merely remarked, ‘ Well, he shouldn’t have left his g ro u n d ! ’ ” “ Y ou selected the Army teams for some time ? ” “ And a difficult task it was. Civilians have little idea how many things there are which tend to prevent an officer from keeping an ap­ pointment at cricket. On paper we had a very strong team indeed, but it was very seldom that we were able to put anything like our full strength in the field. We were always anxious to get a really representa­ tive team against the Bar in the match at Lord’s, but it never came off. Ia those days Russy Walker got up the Bar team, and we always dined with him after the first day’s play. Am ong the most enthusiastic of the Army cricketers were Hutchinson, Baldock COLONBL H. B. KINGSCOTE,