Cricket 1902

M a y 1, 1902. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 101 in the country. The present Lord’s Ground was not in existence, the ground then known as such being situated where Dorset Square now stands. In 1802 the picturesque dress of knee breeches and Bilk stockings was still in vogue. It must have been a pleasing sight to have witnessed the players so attired. The late Lord Charles Russell said he could recollect Lord Frederick Beauclerck in his neat nankeen breeches and white silk stockings, with another pair drawn tight over the instep ; a scarlet sash round bis waist, and a whife beaver hat which he would daBh upon the ground if things did not go to his liking. The chief match of 1802 took place at Lord’s on August 25th between Surrey and Eng­ land, which was won by the latter by 83 runs. In the following month a curious game took place, also at Lord’s, between Middlesex and Surrey, each side being composed of twenty-two men, and two players, afterwards most famous, made their debut at headquarters in the match, viz., John Sparks and Mr. E. H. Budd. The former was one of the best all-round players of his day, and in his time appeared in the Kent, Surrey andMiddle­ sex elevens. From 1833 until his death in 1854 he kept the Grange Ground, Edin­ burgh. Mr. Edward Hayward Budd was the bosom friend of Mr. George Osbald- eston—“ The Squire”—who has been described as the greatest sportsman the world has known since the days of the Assyrian Nimrod, and was, like his famous though somewhat choleric companion, a wonderful all-round athlete. His careeras a cricketer extended from1802to 1852, and he shot with a license for over sixty years. He was born at Great Missenden, in Buckinghamshire, February 23rd, 1785, and died at Rose Cottage, Wroughton, Wilts., March 29th, 1875. In July, 1802, Mr. Benjamin Aislabie, who in later years was one of the most prominent figures in the cricketing world, played his first match at Lord’s. For many years he was hon. secretary to the M.C.C., and during the time he held office, ad­ vanced the best interests of the game greatly. He would often ask promising young cricketers to appear in the M.C.C. team, although not members of the club. In his time, great matches at Lord’s commenced at eleven o’ clock, and, save for half-an-hour or three-quarters for dinner, often lasted without interruption until eight o’clock in the evening. Great matches in those days were, in conse­ quence, seldom left unfinished. Such an arrangement, however, could not be attempted nowadays, owing to the large number of matches in which the players participate. Mr. Aislabie was of great size (weighing about 19 or 20 stone), and, like moBt very large men, was very kind- hearted. “ Mr. Aislabie’s wonderful good-nature, pleasantry, and untiring zeal caused the eyes of all to be turned npon him in the cricket-field. ’’ His great love for the game was remarkable, as he was a very poor player himself. “ He doats on the game, has played many a year, Weighs at least 17 stone, on his pins rather queer ; But he still takes the bat, and there’s no better fun Than to see him, when batting, attempting to run.” He played for M.C.C. and Ground against Cambridge University, at Lord’s, in July, 1841, when 67 years of age, scoring one and two, not out, and he would possibly have continued the game even longer had he not died the following year. Mr. Aislabie waB the author of several amusing Cricketers’ Alphabets, and poems about the game. His bust (a capital likeness) can be seen in the members’ writing room in the Pavilion, at Lord’s. There was much good cricket in Sussex in 1802, the county that year meeting Epsom, which in those days was a most powerful side. In a match in Esburn Park, on August 13th, between South Sussex and North Sussex, the whole of the runs were obtained in singles, with the exception of one three obtained by the last man in the first innings of the North. On the following day a scratch match took place between the same sides, in which John Hammond immortalized himself by scoring 110 not out against the South, and so placing to his credit the first century ever hit in Sussex. The wickets in those days were 24 inches by 7—not 27 by 8, as now—and the bowler was obliged to deliver the ball with his hand below the elbow. On May 27th, 1802, James Saunders, one of the most brilliant batsmen Surrey ever possessed, was born at Haslemere. He was left-handed, very showy and a most powerful cutter. A fine flashy hitter, by few he’s surpassed, And when he’s well in fetches runs very fast. Mr. Mitford wrote, “ Among the players we recollected none whose bril­ liancy of stroke and quickness of move­ ment and elegance of style delighted us more than that of Saunders.” He was “ Elegance, all elegance,” as George Parr once said of Joe Guy; “ fit to play in a drawing-room before Her Majesty.” Saunders combined effect with style, for in the Gentlemen v. Players match at Lord’s in 1825 he made 99 (run out) and two years later in the same contest played a splendid innings of exactly a hundred. He died of consumption at his native place, March 27th, 1832, at the early age of twenty-nine. SURREY v. LONDON COUNTY. Played at the Crystal Palace on April 24, 25 and 26. London County won by 196 runs. In the absence of Mr. Jephson, Hayward, Richardson, Lockwood and. Stedman, the Surreyteamwas anything hut representative ; nor was London County quite as strong as had been anticipated, Braund and Mr. Fry not being able to play. From the first the home team gave a fairly good account of itself and never looked like losing, for although the score in the first innings was but small, it was soon seen when Surrey went in that runs were not easy to obtain. In the second innings London County was in high feather. Thematchwaschieflyremark­ able for the splendid all-round cricket of Dr. Grace, for the fine batting of anotherveteran, Mr. Murdoch, for vigorous and most attrac­ tive cricket in both innings b / Brockwell, first-class defensive batting by Mr. Beldam, also in both innings, and good bowling by W. C. Smith and Gill. On the first day, what with want of practice and a wicket which allowed the ball to do a good deal, the bowlers had much the best of the situation, only Mr. Beldam, Board, Mr. Walker, Brockwell and Hayes being able to offer much resistance to them. But on the next day the batsmen came very much to the front. Surrey ended their first innings with a lead of 27, of which 24 were knocked off by Dr. Grace and Mr. Wood. After this, the bats­ men got the upper hand. The Doctor and Mr. Beldam, by excellent cricket, added 100 runs in an hour and a half, the latter playing most delightful cricket and scoring most of the runs. A still longer partnership followed between the Doctor and Mr. Murdoch, the two veterans, despite the slowness of their running between the wickets, put on runs at such a rate that in the course of an hour and a half the total had been increased by 126. It was a pity that both men should havejust missed scoring a hundred, but they had done enough for glory. Dr. Grace was very slow at times, but seemed to have a complete mastery over the bowling, while at times he ran much faster than has been his wont of late years. Often he hit with great power. Mr. Murdoch’s innings was perfect in style, his squarecuts being very noticeable. At the, close of the second day London County had a lead of 316 with two wickets in hand, Mr. Lawton at the close of the day having scored 37 in twenty minutes. The last two wickets gave a lot of trouble, and it was not until the lead had been increased by 90 runs that the innings closed. Surrey, with the very difficult task of making 407 to win, were not seen to any great advantage, for most of the prominent batsmen failed. On the other hand, Brockwell played one of his attractive innings, for which he used to be so famous a few years ago, while Baker did his best to stave off defeat. L ondon C o u n ty . First innings. Second innings W . G. Grace, b Adams ... 10 b H olla n d ........... *97 C. J. B. W ood, b Lees 11 lbw, b Smith ... 14 G. W . Beldam, b Nice 46 c Adams, b Lees 60 W . L. Murdoch, b Smith ... 7 cHolland,bBrock- w e ll................... 92 Llewellyn, c and b Sm ith... 4 c Baker, b Smith 1 W . Smith, b 8mith ........... 0 b Brockwell 21 Board, c Nice, b Smith ... 31 b N ice................... 1 Vine, c Adams, b Nice 6 not out.................. 24 A. E. Lawton, c Strudwick, b Smith ........................... 5 b Hayes ........... 37 L. Walker, c Brockwell, b c Strudwick, b Nice .................................. 38 N ice................... 46 Gill, not o u t ........................... 7 c Lees, b Hayes... 32 Byes ........................... 4 B 5, lb 2, nb 1 8 Total...................169 Total ...433 SUBBEY. Abel, b V in e........................... 8 c Beldam, b Vine 17 Brockwell, c Board, b Grace 52 cW ood, b Llew­ ellyn................... 70 Hayes, lbw. b Grace........... 31 st Board, b Grace 0 Holland, c Beldam, b Grace 16 c Lawton, b Vine 5 Baker, b Gill.......................... 8 not out................... 51 Y. F. S. Crawford, b G ill... 16 b Grace ........... 25 Lees, c Vine, b Gill ........... 7 c Lawton,b Llew­ ellyn................... 8 Nice, c Board, b G ill........... 12 c Vine, b Grace.. 14 Strudwick, c and b Gill ... 0 b Grace ........... 0 Smith (W . C.), not out ... 21 c Board,b Llewel­ lyn ................... 1 Adams, c Board, b Gill 12 c Gill, b Grace ... 14 B 10, lb 1, w 1, nb 1... 13 B 4, nb 1 ... 5 Total ...................196 Total ...210 L ondon C ounty . First innings. Second innings. O. M. R. W. O. M. E. W. Lees........... ... 17 6 31 1 .........,. 23 5 59 1 Smith (W .C .) 16 1 55 5 .........,. 24 5 83 2 Adams .. ... 9 0 28 1 ........... 14 2 55 0 N ice........... ... 135 1 61 3 ......... . 24 4 80 2 H ayes.........,. 22-4 2 51 2 Abel ........... 2 1 2 0 Brockwell.,,. 16 1 74 2 Holland ,. 7 1 21 1 Nice delivered one no-ball. S u bbey . Vine........... ... 16 4 42 1 ......... . 17 4 42 2 G ill........... ... 225 4 50 6 ......... . 11 2 37 0 Llewellyn ... 9 2 35 0 ... .,.. 21 3 93 3 Grace ... 16 4 56 3 .........,. 17-5 5 33 5 Gill delivered two no-balls and Llewellyn a wide.