Cricket 1902

THE FINEST BAT THE WORLD PRODUCES. M a t 15, 1902. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 131 BUSSEY’S 0 9 C D BUSSEY’S M iJ 0 G E P oo t S a CO M — ” 1 C O ► r a £ 2 a JD u j a = f? CO «XJ C O CO W 09 p » * s W = 1 W QD T CO £ CO I ■ m <-> cfl s s 03 No. Times Most of not in an Total Inns. out. inns. fyins. Aver. . 7 . . . 0 . . . 68 .. . 107 .. 1528 . 16 ... 3 ... 107 .. . 541 ... 4161 . 17 . . . 1 . . . 112 . 621 ... 3881 . 40 .... 4 . 287 ... 1269 ... 35*25 AT THE SIGN OF THE W ICKET. B y f . 8 .A sh l e y -O o o p b r . The trial matches at the Universities, although lacking the importance (and grim seriousness) attaching to County Championship matches, are always inter­ esting to watch, as the play is at all time bright and attractive. Some of the best cricket seen this season took place at Cambridge last week-end in the match between the University and Mr. H. D. G. Leveson-Gower’s X I. The outstanding features of the game were the capital batting displays given by C. H. M. Ebden and K. R. B. Fry— senior and freshman respectively. The former exhibited powerful defence as well as good hitting powers, whilst the latter showed fine and vigorous cricket during the four hours his innings of 127 lasted. Fry is a cousin of C. B. Fry, and appeared last season for Sussex in a couple of matches, but without success. He was educated at Cheltenham, being in the eleven there in 1899, 1900 and 1901. His batting averages for the college during the three years were as follows:— Year. 1849... , 1900 .. . 1901 .. T o ta l In 1899 he was just developing into a sound bat when he fell ill, but in 1900 and 1901 proved the mainstay of his side. In addition to his batting capabilities, he is a very fair wicket-keeper. In each of his last two seasons in the eleven he exceeded the hundred against Marl­ borough, making 107 in 1900 and 112 in 1901. In the former year he also scored 159 not out for Cheltondale against Southwood House. His portrait can be seen on page 26 of R. W. Turnbull’s recard of Cheltenham College cricket for the year 1900. C. H. M. Ebden will have good cause to remember the recent match, as in it he scored over a hundred in what was his first appearance in great matches. Last season, beyond making 126 for Cambridge Crusaders v. Streat­ ham, on July 8th, and 109 for Trinity Wanderers v. Eastbourne, on Augustl3th, he accomplished nothing of note, unless scores of 37 and 59 in the Seniors’ match be excepted. This year he again took part in the Seniors’ match, and by play­ ing two sound innings of 51 and 102, to some extent prepared one to expect large scores from his bat when he received a trial in the ’Varsity eleven. The success with which he met, however, exceeded expectation, and by notching a hundred on his first appearance in first-class cricket has caused his name to be added to a very select list. Three years ago, it will be remembered, E. R. Wilson met with even more pronounced success by scoring 117 not out and 70 for Mr. A. J. Webbe’s XI. v. Cambridge University, at Cambridge. In the last issue of Cricket appeared what was thought to be the full score of the match between Wellington and Break-o’-Day at Hobart, in which C. J. Eady scored 419 not out for the latter. But it seems that the match was not over, and on April 5th Eady increased his total to 566. See “ Gossip. ’ ’ E -idy is a player who, withmore opportunities ofparticipat­ ing in great matches, would have proved himself one of the best all-round cricketers of modern times. When he visited ur in 1896 as a member of the ninth Australian team, he was not enjoying the best of health, and for that reason did not once show his true form. His chief batting performances in Tasmania have been far above the average. He has twice scored two separate hundreds in a match, making: 116 (Tasmania v. Victoria, at Hobart, January- 112* f 26,28, 29 and 80. 1896. 205 ^Break-o’-Day v. Wellington, at Hobart, Feb- 120* S ruary 5.12. 15 and 16,1898. * Signifies not out. His highest innings in club cricket are : 419*, Break-o’-Day v. Wellington, at Hobart, March, 1902. 231, Break-o’-Day v. Derwent, at Hobart, Jan., 1899. 229*, Break-o’-Day v. Derwent, at Hobart, Dec., 1899. 218*, Break-o’ -Day v. Wellington, at Hobart, Dec­ ember, 1899. 205, Break-o’Day.v. Wellington, at Hobart, Feb.,'1898. * Signifies not out. His score of 419 not out is a record for Australasia, exceeding J. Worrall’s 417 not out for Carlton v. Melbourne Uni­ versity at Carlton, in February, 1896. The previous best in Tasmanian cricket was K. E. Burn’s 365 not out for Wel­ lington v. Derwent at Hobart, in Feb­ ruary and March, 1899. The total of 652 for six wickets made by Break-o’- Day against Wellington in the recent match exceeded the score of 648 made by the latter against XV. of New Town, at Hobart, in February, 1894, but fell short of Wellington’s total of 702 v. Derwent, at Hobart, in February and March, 1899. The unfinished partnership of 340 by Eady and W. Abbott equals the world’s record for the seventh wicket previously monopolised by K. J. Key (281) and H. Philipson (150) for Oxford University v. Middlesex, at Chiswick Park, in June, 1887, though it does not rank, as has been stated, as the longest stand ever made in Tasmania. The most lengthy partner­ ships in the island colony are :— 370 for sixth, G. H. Gatehouse (247) and O. Douglas 200 not out), Wellington v. Derwent, at Hoi ait, November, 1900. 367 for first, K. E. Burn (247) and L. H. MacLeod (108), Wellington v. Break-o’ -Day, at Hobart, 1895. 340* for seventh, C. J. Eady (419 not ont) and W . Abbott (106 not out), break-o’-Day v. Welling­ ton, at Hobart, March, 1902. * Without a separation being effected. But enough of Tasmanian cricket. Few cricketers, like Mr. F. S. Jackson, could have returned to first-class cricket after a lengthened absence, and have played a three-figure innings at the first attempt. Mr. A. G. Steel, however, was a player endowed with similar capabilities. Many Surrey and Lancashire enthusiasts will recognise the truth of the last remark, and remember an innings of 105 hit at Manchester fifteen years ago. Mr. Jackson’sperformances in three consecutive matches form a genuine curiosity :— 4 and 101, Yorkshire v. C. I. Thornton’s X I., at Scarborough. 18S9. 134 and 42, Gentlemen v. Players, at Scarborough, 1900. 101 not out, Yorkshire v. Essex, at Leyton, 1902. Two seasons had therefore passed without him making an appearance in the county eleven. This, as is well-known, was owing to his presence in South Africa,