Cricket 1902

132 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M a t 15, 1902. and it was only through being invalided home in 1900, after an attack of enteric, that he was enabled to take part in the Gentlemen v. Players match that year at Scarborough. On his present form, it is difficult to see how he can fail to be se­ lected to assist England against Australia at Edgbaston on the 29th inst. Passing reference was made above to Mr. A. G. Steel. Could he not be induced once again to ass st the Gentlemen against the Players ? He has already obtained ninety-nine wickets in these matches, and by assisting the Gentlemen in another game, would in all probability secure his hundredth, and so place his name amongst those of the immortals. His reappearance would be decidedly popular, especially in the year of his Presidency at Lord’s, and he would still be anything but a “ pas­ senger,” even in a match of such import­ ance. The summary manner in which the Australians finished off the match at Nottingham, on Saturday last, shows that the team is hardly as weak in bowl­ ing as the majority of the critics would lead us to suppose. The home team did well on the opening day to score as many as 287, and, up to a certain time, it seemed as though a good game would be witnessed. Serious mistakes in the field, however, enabled Darling to score 128, and the total of the innings to reach almost five hundred. Even then it appeared as though a draw would be the result, few, if any, of those present think­ ing it likely the county would collapse, as it did, in sorry fashion, before the leg- break bowling of Armstrong. The man­ ner in which the side was rattled out by the latter recalls to mind the inglorious display they gave last year against Yine at Trent Bridge. Nowadays a victory over Notts is nothing to what it would have been in the late eighties, but, with Trumble and Jones away, the Australians had every reason to congratulate them­ selves on their success. Their match against Surrey, at the Oval, was con­ siderably interfered with by rain, and does not call for much comment. One of the features of the game was Trumper’s innings of 101 ; he made capital strokes, especially in front of the wicket, and his success was very popular. Yesterday the wicket was unplayable, and against the almost irresistible bow­ ling of Saunders and Howell, the Surrey men were helpless. Under the circum­ stances, no team would have made a better display. Abel proved the mcst dependable batsman on the side in e^ch innings, and his scores of 34 and 36 were of far greater value than the figures would indicate. The Australians fielded throughout brilliant, and well deserved their success for the manner in which they played a winning game. Howell, as in 1899, proved a thorn in the side of the county, and Saunders bowled with sufficient tffect to lead one to suppose that he will prove of very great service to the side during their tour. At present he is rather apt to give full tosses, but as soon as he has settled down thoroughly, he will doubtless meet with much success. On Tuesday the ground was visited by the Prince of Wales, who watched the game for about an hour, Noble and Armstrong being the batsmen during the major portion of his stay. Many followers of the game have ex­ pressed themselves very forcibly of late years—and generally.it must be admitted, having good cause—on the subject of the perfection of modem wickets. It is not intended to make this an opportunity to compare the past players with the pre­ sent, but it may be pointed out in passing that even as recently as twenty years ago the expression “ a good wicket ” referred to a wicket upon which batsmen and bowlers were on an equality, whereas now it means a wicket all in favour of run- getting. The only consolation which the enthusiast can derive from the smooth­ ness of modern grounds is that it enables old players to keep longer before the public than would otherwise be the case. The present age, in fact, is a golden one for the veteran. The successes attained quite recently by men who may fairly be considered long past their prime and well advanced in years (for cricketers) will testify to the truth of this remark. Twenly years have come and gone since Mr. Key played his first match for Sur­ rey, yet he is still able to make centuries in first-class cricket, and is still worth a place in any county eleven. William Gunn, too, at the age of forty-three, scores a centmy for the first time against Gloucestershire bowling, whilst Shrews­ bury, by his display against the Austra­ lians, has shown his ability to yet make many runs when opposed to the strongest attack in the whole country. Mr. Mur­ doch is evidently in splendid form, and W.G. still possesses the ability to hit over the grand-stand at Lord’s and out of the ground. But the latter reckons not by years. THE AUSTRALIANS, 1902. Joe Darling’s band, from the Southern strand, Is with us once again, And on British shore must strive once more, Its honour to maintain. And this we say, “ If the Cornstalks play Like their friends by the Yaal out there, When, side by side, with England’s pride, They helped the brunt to bear, It’s two to one the September sun, At the close of the season’s play, Will shed its gleam on the winning team, At home, ‘ down Melbourne way.’ ” But still we know that our men have “ go,” And will fight to the bitter end, And do their best in every “ Test ” Whomever the fates befriend. But whether we win, or at length give in, To the men from “ Cornstalk land,” We’ll join in one, every mother’s son, In a bumper to Darling’s band. May, 1902. S.E.B. C RICKET Report Sheets, lOd. per dozen, poet free. Order of Going-in Cards, 7d. per dozen, post free. Cricket Score Books, 6d. and Is. each; postage, 2d. extra.—To be obtained at the Offices of Cricket, 168, Upper Thames Street London, E.C. J. C. LOVELL’S X I. v. B A B N E 9—Played at Tulse Bill on May 10. B arnes . N. C. Newman, b R o­ binson .......... P. M. Bees, c Flindt, b Holland................. VY. F. L. Frith, b Q. K in g .......................... S. C. Manders, c L. Lovell, b G. King ... S. E. Busher, c West, b Holland.. 26 F. D. Bird, b G. Ring 14 C. H. Mountain, Busher ........... 1 L. Lovell, b Bird ... 5 D. V . Bassard, c and b S. Busher ........... 9 C. L . Ring, b Bird ... 1 J. Holland, notout ... 40 K. Robinson, b Bird .. 2 Innings declared closed. J. C. L o v e ll's X I. b S. H. A. Busher, runout 0 C. E. B. Lockell, b G. K in g ......................... 11 A. u . 3 . Stevens, not out ........................... 8 B . Tolkein, c E. Lo­ vell, b G. King ... 14 C.A.Hackman,notout 12 B 1, lb 1 ........... 2 Total (9 wkts) *171 G. A. Ring, c sub, b L. Busher ........... E. D. Lovell, b S. Busher ................... H. West, not out ... Byes ................... , Total (7 wkts) 84 S. H. Flindt and G. Holgate did not bat. UPPER TOOTING v. BECKENHAM.—Played at Upper Tooting on May 10. U pper T ooting . A.H -Parez, b R. Chris­ topher ...................40 D.H Butcher,b Collard 8 J.F.Hosken,b R.Chris­ topher ................... 2 R.R.fcaudilands.c Coll- yer, b R.Chiistopher 28 C.C.F.Hotken, lun out 26 A.M.Pollard.b Collard 0 J. fcl.Lindsay ,c Collyer, b J. Chiistopher ... 0 B eckenham H.J.Hawking.c and b J. Christopher ... 1 H.V.M.Davies,notout 7 P. L. Frith, b J.Chris­ topher ................... 0 A.H.Pollard,st Furz j, b J. Christopher ... 0 B 10, lb 4, w 1, nb 1 16 Total .127 F. Furze, cSandilands, b Lmdsay... ... ... 8 A.R. Collyer, c Davies, b Lindsay.................. 19 J.E.Cnr»en,b Lindsay 10 J. S. Christopher, c Sandilands.bLindsay 7 R Curwen, b Parez ... 19 J. E. Williamson, b F. Bosken ... . ... 3 D. A . Collard did not bat. K. A. Christopher, Bt J.F.Ro»ken,b Lind­ say ........... ... 0 F. G. Thoms, not out 17 C. A. Brown, not out 2 E.H .8tenning,b Lind­ say ........................... 5 B 9, w 1 ...........10 Total (8 wkts) 100 GBANVILLE v. BROMLEY.—Played at Bromley on May 10. G ranville . N. Cockell, c Burnie, b Earnthaw................... 0 L. H. Summers,bBar­ ker ........................... 0 F. G. Bull, b Stuart ... 35 H. J. Jenniogs, c Gor­ don, b Barker...........11 J. P. Clarkson, b Earn- abiini Q A. P. Roe', b*Stuart 20 Howard Morris, b Stuart F. 8. W indett, b Shaip ........... H. T. Richardson, iun out ................... W . Edwards, not out A . R. cayman, b Stuart ................... Extras ........... T o ta l......... 115 B romley . A. H. Hewett, c M or­ ris, b hichardson . 3 M. Baker, c Cockell, b Bull .......................... 3 R. R. Barker, c Lay­ man, h Koe .. ..3 9 A. E. Eurnishaw, st i Layman, b Bull ... 48 I Lt. Dubhwood, b Bull 2 | C. W. Sharp and S. A. Smith did not bat. E. A. Burnie, not out 18 R. Stuart, c Cockell, b i.ichardaon ........... 3 F. H. Darton, b Bull 4 B. Gordon, not out ... 7 E x tras........... 9 Total (7 wkts) 136 GOLDSMITH V INSTITUTE v. STANLEY.— Played at New ( rosa on May 10. GOLDBMlTHa* W . H. Manley, c Greaves, b Leleu ... 6 W . Jbalkner, run out 2 H. E. Murrell, not out 46 A. Baldwin, c Embie- ton, b Leleu ... 2 A.B. GassoD, b Henley 2 R. R. Henty, b Henley 0 H. Mayo, bHenley ... 9 S. R. Best, c Stitch- terry, b Greaves ... F. a . Peter, c Hubble, b Greavea................. W . b. Murrell, c Mul- ley, b B ellieni......... B. w inaeoank, c Era- bleton, b Leleu B 3, lb l ........... Total S tanley . E. Pellieni, run out ... 5 Benley, run out... tttitchherry, run out Mulley, b Henty Embleton, b Henty .. nubble, c Windebank, b Henty ................... F. Bellieni, bt Best, b W , Murrell ........... 13 Oreaves, b W.Murrell Leleu, b Plenty........... Woodwar.j, b denty Morgan, not out b 3 ,lb 1 ................... Total 7 2 1 0 0 4 47