Cricket 1901

A u g . 1, 1901. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 317 W H A T M IG H T H A Y E B E E N IF THE CLEBK OF THE WEATHER HAD NOT MADE A MISTAKE IN THE DAT. B y ou r ow n p articu lar M edium . Hours before the commencement of the great match between Surrey and Yorkshire for Lockwocd’s benefit crowds began to stream towards the Oval, for the day was gloriously fine, and the slight rain on the pievicus Wednesday had only served to freshen the grass a little, without in any way damaging the wicket. As the sun was working at full power, it occurred to an enterprising merchant of German extraction that a supply of cheap Japanese fans and umbrellas might find a ready sale, and as it turned out, the crowd rapidly exhausted the supply which he brought to the outside of the ground in a couple of large furniture vans. Sad to say, only a few of the umbrellas could be used, inasmuch as the spectators who were not in the front row insisted on their being lowered immediately they were opened. But the thousands of fans came in very useful, and when they were all waving at once the effect was so brilliant that Lord Knowzoo is said to have stated, from his seat in the pavilion, that it reminded him of an advertisement hoarding. At twelve o’clock every available square inch was occupied, but, as spectators still continued to pour in, the Surrey committee sent word to the gas works to enquire whether spectators might be allowed to seat themselves on the top of the gasometers. Unfortun­ ately, the gas works’ people did not see their way to consent to the proposal. At last everything was ready, and the ground was cleared. Suddenly a man appeared and walked towards the centre of the ground. “ What the doose is he doin’ out there ? ” asked a spectator of a friend. “ Oh,” was the reply, “ that’s Apted; he’s just gone out again to see whether some worm or other has taken the opportunity to come up as soon as his back was turned.” In the pavilion Mr. Jephson and Mr. Ernest Smith had tossed. Mr. Smith called tails, and was then about to say something, but suddenly remembering that he was a headmaster, he stopped short, and merely remarked “ just my luck.” From this, and a seraphic smile on the face of Mr. Jephson, it was con­ cluded that Surrey had won the toss, and in a moment or two a tremendous cheer was heard, as the spectators realised that Surrey would probably be at the wickets all day. When the Yorkshire team went into the field Rhodes surreptitiously bowled two or three balls on tbe wicket, and scratched his head. “ What do you think of it ? ” asked Mr. Ernest Smith anxiously. “ 1 think that they will be in long enough to prevent us from being beaten,” was the reply. Again Mr. Smith remembered that he was a head­ master, and contained himself. What need to go into details of the Surrey score ? Suffice it to say that Abel and Mr. Jephson went in first and both played their best Saturday afternoon cricket, which, considering the impor­ tance of the occasion, surprised the spectators not a little, until they remem­ bered that both men bad lately made their runs very quickly. They were together at luncheon, and it was not until the afternoon was far gone that Lockwood appeared to take bis place at the wickets, bis walk from the pavilion being accompanied by the strains of “ For he’s a jolly good fellow,” from the brazen throats of the thousands of spec­ tators. With the reflection that if he played himself well in he would be likely to get more of the half-guineas which an evening paper had generously offered for every run he made, than if he began to hit at once, he studiously refrained for an hour and a half from hitting anything, after which he let himself go and raked in half-guineas almost by the bushel. He was presently joined by Mr. Craw­ ford, who treated Rhodes to a memor­ able series of hits as soon as he came in. The first ball went soaring over the pavilion, and it was a long time before the cheers at this feat died away. The second ball would, in the ordinary course of affairs, have been a fast yorker, but Mr. Crawford, being a little excited, was well out of his ground, and made it a full pitch, the ball smashing one of the palings in front of the pavilion, to the delight of the crowd. Rhodes smiled grimly and bowled the next ball a little short and a good deal to the off. But Mr. Crawford, having anticipated a frightfully difficult ball after the two others, found it admirably suited for a pull, and again there was a boundary hit. Things were getting serious, and Rhodes puzzled out a new ball. It was a slow one and Mr. Crawford was quite deceived in the pace. He went at it like a lion, and of course got under it. For­ tunately he got well under it, and the ball, after seeming but a mere pin-point in the heavens, dropped harmlessly on the awning in front of the pavilion. It is said that the sigh of relief which went up from the spectators was heard by a party of pleasure-seekers at the “ Welsh Harp.” Long-off, disappointedofhis prey, leaned over the pavilion rails and wept. But why say more about this re­ markable hitting, which would have been fully described in the daily papers if the match had taken place P It is enough to say that the innings was declared on the second day at lunch time. Whether the Yorkshiremen were tired with their field­ ing in the broiling sun, or whether the Surrey bowlers, encouraged by the cheers of the crowd, were desperately difficult, it would be impossible to say. It is certain that the Yorkshiremen did not do themselves justice, and that they had to follow-on. Of course they did infinitely better in their second innings, and on Saturday afternoon it was almost any odds that the match would be drawn. Mr. Ernest Smith played a remarkable second innings, which almost rivalled that .of Mr. Crawford. One of his hits created a sensation. The ball was driven tremendously hard in the direction of the committee room, where, seated before the open window, was the King, who had dropped in to see the finish. In an instant, batsman, bowler, the field, and the spectators recognised the terrible danger of the situation, but fortunately Mr. Alcock, who was standing by the side of the King, explaining the difference between a “ bowl ” and a “ chuck,” was alive to the peril of the monarch, and remembering that in the days when he himself used to play cricket he was a fine field, he stretched out his hand in the nick of time, brought off a brilliant catch, tossed the ball carelessly into the field, and, after promptly being knighted by the King, continued his explanation as if nothing had happened. It is understood that the Surrey Committee, who are not altogether satisfied with the fielding of the team, at once offered to give the secretary a place in it, but he was obliged to decline owing to pressure of business. The crowd cheered until it was hoarse, and wept with joy, and it was quite a long time before the game could be pro­ ceeded with. When Yorkshire seemed practically certain of making a draw, one of those sudden changes took place in the game which make cricket so interest­ ing, and in a few minutes it began to dawn on everybody that Surrey might win after all. The Yorkshiremen were still behind, but only wanted forty runs to save the innings defeat with five wickets in hand. A brilliant catch by Hayward, an exceedingly clever bit of stumping by Stedman, and a “ spread- eagle ” ball by Richardson upset all calculations. There was still an hour to play. Haigh and Rhodes sturdily kept up their wickets, and it was sadly realised that they would play out time, when happily Rhodes was l.b.w. The last over was called when Hunter, the hero of many stubborn last wicket partnerships, came in. He seemed cool enough, but Stedman noticed that his left leg shook a little as he was taking guard, and he quickly communicated his discovery to his companions. There were hopes. Lockwood was the bowler, but try as he would he could make no impression on Hunter, and at last there was only one more ball to be bowled. The excitement was so intense that the voice of a beetle which was calling to its mate seemed like the thunder of aparcels delivery van to the excited imagination of the spectators, and it was reported by a careful statistician that the united beating of the hearts of the vast body of spectators caused the b. and s. in his glass (which he was holding in his hand) perceptibly to shiver. Even among the hardened inhabitants of the Press box it was impossible to conceal the excite­ ment which was felt by each of its occupants. The Times said that he wouldn’t be in Lockwood’s shoes for something; the Sportsman said that there seemed to be a mist over his glasses ; the Cricket Reporting Agency forgot that he had not thought to look how long Rhodes and Haigh had kept up their wickets, and the Field said that “ a half volley would be about good enough for Hunter just now.” And a half volley it was, for Lockwood, who intended