Cricket 1901

THE FINEST BAT THE WORLD PRODUCES. J uly 11, 1901. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OE THE GAME 259 BUSSEY’S ^ ^ * / v v p » * 1 0 3 BUSSEY’S AT TH E SIGN OF THE W ICKE T . B y F . S . A sh le y -C ooper . Seldom, if ever, has a week of more interesting cricket been seen at Lord’ s than during the past seven days. It is, however, to be regretted that the ’Varsity match could not be brought to a definite conclusion on account of high scoring. In these degenerate days, when billiard- table wickets abound and fieldiDg, gener­ ally speaking, appears to be a lost art, drawn games, as is only natural, occur with far greater frequency than in the days when bat and ball were on an equality. The recent ’Varsity match, although undecided, will long remain historical. There are several matches which have been rendered memorable by the performances of one of the players : thus, that of 1870 is known as “ Cobden’s Match,” and that of 1900 as “ Foster’s Match.” It is not overstating the case to declare that last week’s game will go down to posterity as ‘ 1Marsham’sMatch.” Nowadays, it is not considered a very great feat to score a hundred runs in an innings of a first-class match, especially on a plumb wicket, but the coming historian, when dealing with th e’Varsity match of 1901, will have to set apart Mr. Marsham’s not out innings of 100 for special commendation. Oxford Uni­ versity were set 327 runs to get to win in three hours and five minutes, and com­ menced the task with Marsham and Dillon. The latter was dismissed at 17, More at 18, Kelly at 27, Knox at 50 and Wyld 1 run later, and everything at this point suggested a victory for Cambridge. Marsham, however, was playing a really superb game for his side, and, after bat­ ting an hour and fifty-five minutes, reached his half century. J. W. F. Crawfurd stayed twenty minutes, but when he left six wickets were down for 82 and none of the remaining players could be safely relied upon to keep up his wicket for any length of time. In the hour of Oxford’s need, however, R. A. Williams rendered Marsham great assistance, batting fifty minutes for 23 runs and helping to add 63 for the seventh wicket. It was this partnership which saved the Dark Blues from defeat. After the dismissal of Williams, Munn helped to play out time, and just before stumpswere drawn Marsham had the satis­ faction of adding his name to the list of those batsmen who have played a three- figure inningsina’Varsitymatch. Innings asgood may, perhaps, havebeen previously seen in these matches, but none better. Marsham’s innings was a most masterly display, and dwarfed everything else seen in the game. The hero of the recent match belongs to a famous cricketing family, his father being the Reverend Cloudesley Dewar Bullock Marsham, and two of his uncles Charles Jacob Bullock Marsham and Robert Henry Bullock Marsham, all of whom have at various times represented the Gentlemen against the Players. Two other relatives—the Hon. and Rev. John Marsham and George Marsham—have also excelled in the game, thcugh not to so great an extent or with as much success as those mentioned above. The recent match, apart from Marsham’s display, was re­ sponsible for several performances of note. First and foremost must be mentioned E. R. Wilson’s innings of 118 and E. M. Dowson’s 70 not out, both hit for Cam­ bridge. It would be difficult to decide which was the better innings. Wilson made his runs at the commencement of the match and practically made defeat for his side out of the question, whilst Dowson’s runs, scored in double-quick time, made a victory for Cambridge a possibility. It came as a surprise to most to see the Oxford total exceed that of the Light Blues, a result chiefly brought about by Knox, More, and Williams. The last-named will be able to look back upon the match with a great deal of pleasure, as in addition to obtaining three wickets for 68 runs in the first venture of Cambridge, he scored 57 and 23, the latter innings being one the value of which cannot be estimated by the number of runs contained in it. Harper, in the second iunings of Cambridge, was seen to great advantage, but his batting was somewhat overshadowed by the brilliant display given by Dowson. A word of praise deserves to be given to the Oxford eleven for their keen fielding, which was always reliable ard often brilliant. It has been said, and with truth, that the greatest match in the whole history of cricket is that between the Gentlemen and Players. It is nearly a hundred years since the sides first met, and all the greatest exponents of the game during the period mentioned have participated in the matches. It is the height of a cricketer’s ambition to be selected to assist one of the sides in the Lord’s match. Into the history of the games it is un­ necessary to enter here, beyond saying that for many years the Gentlemen were quite unequal to the task of opposing the Players on level terms, and that until 1857, when the first of the Oval series of matches took place, the meeting of the two sides was confined to Lord’s. The Bhort table appended brought down to to-day’s date, will enable one to see at a glance the results of all matches. RESULTS OF GENTLEMEN v. PLAYERS’ MATCHES. Where played. , „ (X I. aside... „ Lord s |against odds .. Oval ............................ Hastings .................... Prince’s .......................... Scarborough ............. ) XI. a side . Brighton j agajn9t 0dds Canterbury (against odds) Total I X L a 8ide • ( against odds Won Won by by Mtchs. G’ts. Pl’rs. Drn. Tie . 69 .. . 27 .. . 35 ... 7 ..,. 0 17 .. . 7 .. . 9 ... 1 .. . 0 . 44 .. . 12 .. . 52 ... 9 .. . 1 . 6 .. . 1 .. . 2 ... 2 .,,. 0 . 5 .. . 4 ..,. 1 ... 0 .,.. 0 . 5 .. . 2 .... 1 ... 2 ., 0 . 2 .. . 0 .. 1 ... 1 .. 0 1 ... 0 .... 0 ... 1 .. 0 ) 1 - . 0 .. 0 ... 1 .,.. 0 .130 ... 46 ... 62 , ...21 . .. 1 . 19 .. 7 .,.. 9 ... 3 ... 0 .149 .. . 53 71 . ..24 ... 1 Grand Total N o t e .— The Players have never received odds in any shape or form when meeting the Gentlemen. The honours of the game concluded at Lord’s last evening were clearly carried off by Mr. Fry for the Gentlemen, and Tyldesley, Lockwood and Hirst for the Players. The best thing seen in the match was the first-named’s display of 126. The value of his innings was not properly realised until the later batsmen