Cricket 1902

14 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J an . 30, 1902. OBITUARY . MR. WALTER GEORGE MILLS. The death is announced of Mr. Walter George Mills, an all-round player of more than average ability. He was especially -well known in Lancashire cricketing circles, and represented the county on a few occasions in 1871, 1875, 1876 and 1877. His highest score in a great match was 26 for Lancashire v. Sussex, at Brighton, in 1876. He bowled with success in the match against the Australians at Longsight in 1880. S ir THOMAS LEA. Sir Thomas Lea, Bart., who died at Kidderminster on January 9th, was, in his day, a capital player, identifying himself with the Worcestershire County C.C. At the time of his decease he was in his sixty-first year. D. McLEOD. Dan McLeod, brother of R. W. and C. E. McLeod, died on November 25th, 1901, in his thirtieth year. He did good service in his time for Port Melbourne and University Clubs as a batsman, but never attained so high a rank as a player as either of his brothers. On his first appearance for Victoria—against Tas­ mania, at Hobart, in January, 1895—he scored 107, thereby giving promise of future excellence, which was, unfortu­ nately, never realised. MR. GEORGE STRACHAN. Few cricketers of the present day will be able to recall the striking personality of the fine all-round cricketer who cap­ tained the Surrey eleven in 1872 and occasionally for the next few years, with the one exception of 1876. Yet George Strachan at his best was about as good a player as one could find among amateurs thirty years ago. His first association with Surrey was a little curious in a way. He was born in Cheltenham, and had captained the college cricket as well as football teams, besides representing it at racquets. He had played for Gloucester­ shire, and did actually play for that county as well as Surrey in one season. It was quite possible in 1he absence of any written laws to play for any county, and Mr. Stracban represented Gloucester­ shire, Surrey and Middlesex all at the same time. It was the desire to see him properly qualified for Surrey that led to the formulation of a regular system of qualification for county cricket in 1872. In the result, a qualification for Surrey came to him, and he captained the side in 1872 with a good deal of success. As a player he ought to have been even better with his physical advantages. Over six feet, he used his full height in bowl­ ing, and under certain conditions, was bound to be very daDgerous, particularly as he was a splendid field to his own bowling. A really brilliant field he was quite one of the best cover points of this or any other time. As a batsman he was sure to score if allowed to get set, although he hardly made as much use of his height as he might. Though a fine all-round cricketer there was still some­ thing lacking, and one could not help feeling that a little more grit would have made him quite a great player. One of his many good performances with the ball is often quoted. It was for the Gentlemen against the Players at the Oval in 1875, when he took the last five wickets of the Players in thirty-five balls for no runs. A peculiar experience is also recorded to him. He was playing in, I think, a match for Gentlemen of the South against the Gentlemen of the North, at Beeston. He put his pads on late on the first day ready to follow either I. D. Walker or G. F. Grace, if I remember rightly, and he went in, after a lengthy partnership extending until the last day, on the third morning, to be out the first ball. Twenty years or so ago he settled in South Africa, and there he remained. It was while in charge of one of the con­ centration camps that he died of fever some few weeks ago. MR. WILLIAM BURRTTP. The last link connecting the later Surrey Executive with the founders or early fathers of the County Club, was broken when Mr. William Burrup passed away at the end of the Christmas week. South Londoner born and bred, “ Billy A. Burrup,” as he preferred to be called, lived and died within a mile or so of the ground he loved so well. The Oval had come to be a part and parcel of his life, and it remained so to the last. Living just off the Brixton Road, it was his habit to walk to his business at the Royal Exchange daily, taking the Oval on the way. Every morning, with increasing regularity, for years and years he used to visit the Oval, inspecting the wickets and taking stock of the ground generally. Even after he gave up office he con­ tinued his daily visits. His devotion to the ground he had tended so closely during the eighteen years (1855 to 1872) he held the position of Hon. Sec., never faltered till quite lately, when his eighty years prevented him going about as much. Many a good story has been told of Billy Burrup and his times. But no one ever said, any­ thing to his detriment, and he certainly had not an enemy. The work he did for Surrey cricket can certainly not be over­ rated. Succeeding his twin brother, John Burrup, as hon. sec. on June 11, 1855, he held the office till April 6, 1872. How Surrey cricket prospered in his hands in these eighteen years the records of the game will show. It was to his initiative that was mainly due the intro­ duction of the Northern Counties, York­ shire, Notts, and Lancashire in particular, to the Oval. It was to him that the promoters of the visit of the first English team to Australia applied to get up the side. His unvarying good nature made him popular with all classes of cricketers, amateuis and professionals alike. The public as well as the players had reason to be grateful to him, and certainly nothing that would tend to improve the accommodation for either ever lacked his support. At the busiest part of his secretaryship the County had a par­ ticularly strong side, and he never tired of expatiating on what he called the Palmy Days of Surrey. He had an excellent memory, and his recollections of old time cricket and cricketers, if, as was only natural, a little partial, were always interesting as well as reliable. Of his work in the cause of Surrey cricket no one can speak except in the highest terms. In his time, the Oval, with at first little or no convenience for the public, theplayers, or the members, became acom- fortable and fairly well-appointed resort. The loyalty and devotion he showed to Surrey cricket, from first to last, should keep his memory green at the Oval, and with the members of the County Club for all time. “ BY THE WAY BALLADS.” As an occasional, too occasional, con­ tributor to Cricket, anything Mr. W. Sapte, jun., may write cannot fail to appeal to Cricket readers. His latest volume, which is illustrated by John Hassall and Frank Reynolds, under the above title, proves his nfrsslity—the joke was unintentional—as a writer of tales in rhymes. He terms them “ trivial tales in varied verse,” and the variety is beyond dispute. Most of the twenty - eight ballads have already appeared in different papers from Punch down, or up according to taste, to Scraps. “ The Chinese Cook,” which opens the inniEgs, in other words the contents, has the mcst taking style to our mind. But, altogether, Mr. Sapte has got together a good side, and “ By the Way Ballads ” are bound to make a long score. “ By the W ay Ballads,” by W . Sapte, jun. Sands and Co., London, 1901. WISDEN’S ALMANACK. Though as a cricket annual it has now the field to itself, Wisden’s Almanack more than maintains its high standard of excellence. In bulk it continues to increase rapidly. What was in 1892 a volume of 330 pages has in ten years developed into a capacious store of information extending to 532 pages, all, too, apart from the figures which are invaluable for purposes of reference, good, solid, interesting reading. The chief features of the thirty-ninth edition, in addition to the statistical matter, are the articles on “ Leg Break Bowling,” by Mr. D. L. A. Jephson, and “ Public School Cricket,” by Mr. W. J. Ford. The portraits this year are those of Mr. F. Mitchell, Mr. C. McGahey, Tyldesley, Braund and W. G. Quaife. To say that no cricket library can be complete without its Wisden is only to do justice to a really invaluable record of cricket facts and figures. Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanack. London: John Wisden and Co. 39th Edition. Edited by Mr. Sydney H. Pardon. Is.