Cricket 1902

THE FINEST BAT THE WORLD PRODUCES. J u n e 19, 19 02. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 211 BUSSEY’S BUSSEY’S AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. B y F. 8. A b h le y -C o o p b r . The second match of the season between England and Australia has, like the first, been ruined by the weather. No play what­ ever was possible on the last two days, and what little there was on the first was sadly interfered with by rain. The able manner in which the two Old Harrovians, Maclaren and Jackson, added over a hundred runs whilst together, without being separated, after two wickets had fallen without a run is now a matter of history. Both men played with great nerve and judgment at a critical time, and but for their success, there is no saying what might have happened. Fry and Ranjitsinhji failed as completely as Maclaren and Jackson triumphed. In the two test matches played this year Fry has received five balls, has been dismissed twice, and on each occasion did not succeed in notching a run. His non-success recalls to memory the fact that Ephraim Lockwood scored 0 and 0, 0 and 0, and 3 in consecutive innings against Australian bowling in 1882. The exclusion of Taylor from the England eleven in the Lord’s match occasioned much comment. He had proved himself to be one of, if not quite, the best batsmen we had on wet wickets, He wouldhavebeenamost valuable man to have had on the side, had a serious collapse occurred. The powers that be, how­ ever, decided that he was to stand out of the team, for that matchatleast. Verily, Nature has formed strange fellows in her time ! It is extremely unfortunate for the Australians that they should have visited us in such a wet season, for not only must the weather prove terribly depressing to them, but the gate-money suffers sadly. The latter is a very serious matter with touring teams, which rely almost entirely upon the amount taken at the turnstiles to reimburse the sum they find it necessary to expend during their travels. Everything, however, has an end, and doubtless we shall experience a change in the meterological conditions before the season is much further advanced. Metro­ politan cricketers especially have cause for complaint, for statisticians tell us that twenty-one of the twenty-four Saturdays this year have been wet days in London. From Sheffield a correspondent sends me a long letter concerning the payment of umpires in inter-club matches. “ Would it not be well,” he asks, “ for the two clubs to decide what sum the umpires should receive before the commencement of each game ? Both umpires should receive the same amount in order to prevent ill-feeling. The knowledge that the umpire engaged by the winning side was better paid than the one employed by the other eleven might, in some instances, cause unpleasantness. If my suggestion were carried out, such an occurrence would be im­ possible.” It is to be feared that my corres­ pondent has not a very high opinion of the average club umpire. One of the laws of base-ball is as follows The umpire in a match-game shall be privileged to accept such compensation for his services asthecontesting clubs shall deem advisable, provided he receives from each club the same amount of compensation, but not otherwise.” Such a law is necessary in base-ball, as only one umpire is engaged, and for one club to pay him more than the other would be to offer a premium for partiality. With cricket, how­ ever, the case is different. Each side nomi­ nates its own umpire, and the pecuniary arrangement decided upon is a matter merely for the umpire, and the club which engages him. How often, it may be asked, does an umpire in an inter-club match knowwhat fee is paid to the official engaged by the other side ? The question of the payment of umpires was commented upon by Bill's Life of June 25th, 1837, in a report of a match played at Lord’s on ^June 10th, between King’s College and LondonUniversity. “ Is it a fact,” asked the NunquamDormio oracle, “ that the King’s College eleven are in the habit of paying their umpire double if they win a match ? If such is the case, thesooner the practice is put a stop to the better; not that we think the man would give a decision contrary to his conscience, but that it is giving an umpire more interest in the result of a match than he ought to have, and also that he should not 1:ave a temptation to do wrong.” BelVs Life had just cause to make the above remarks, but there is no reason why any alteration in the mode of paying umpires in these days should be made. Somersetshire is a team of surprises. With a full teamand against a weak side they may lose, whilst when opposed to one of the strongest elevens in the whole eountry, and lacking the assistance of some of their best men, they will, as likely as not, snatch a glorious victory. No eounty takes part in so many close finishes as Somerset, and no county, it may be added with equal truth, can play an uphill game so well. Their meeting with Lancashire produced an ideal match, though it was not played under ideal conditions. The scoring on both sides was moderate, a close game was witnessed, and there was excitement all through. What more could even the most enthusiastic lover of the game desire ?—the weather always being excepted. The Westerners won by the narrow margin of nine runs, and the victory was due almost wholly to the efforts of A. E. Newton and Cranfield. The latter obtained 14 wickets in the match at a cost of 126 runs, having in the previous game between the two sides, at Bath, taken 13 for 132. A. E. Newton distinguished himself both as batsman and wicket-keeper. His scores of 32 not out and 20 were splendid efforts, considering the conditions under which they were made. Had he failed to meet with much success in the field, he would still have done well for hisside. He followed up his good batting displays, however, by dismissing seven men at the wickets, four being stumpedandthree caught. Later in the season Somersetshire will be considerably strengthened by the inclusion of G. W. Jupp, who played against Lancashire last year, when he was bowled by a ball from Mold which Phillips was not in time to ‘ ‘ call.” Last week he plated an innings of 132 not out for Carlton against Dalkeith, and has also met with success asa fast bowler. Mr. H. T. Waghorn, a keen student of cricket history, draws my attention to a match played at Radcliffe-on-Trent, on July 18th, 1814, between Radcliffe and Cropwell. The former won by 75 runs, scoring 63 and 75 against 35 and 23. In the second innings of Cropwell William Clarke’s name appears thus in the score-sheet:—“ Wm. Clarke, sparrowed out by S. Parr, 0.” The question is, what is the meaning of “ sparrowedout ” ? Can any reader of Cricket throw light on the subject? S. Parr was presumably a member of the family to which the celebrated George Parr belonged, though it is quite possiblethat he was related to Butler Parr, thereby being no connection whatever of the famous All- England cricketer. The name H. Parr also appears in the Radcliffe team. S. Parr, in his first innings, went in first and carried out his bat, making 32 out of 63. An instance of some extraordinary fast scoring has come to my notice. The match