Cricket 1902

258 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J u l y 10, 1902. uously formed an absorbing topic of con­ versation among all classes of cricketers. He came from the Little Lever C.C. to the Lancashire X I. in 1895, and scored 152 not out against Warwickshire in his second match, so that a brilliant career was prophesied for him. But for a time he did nothing else of importance, and people began to think that after all he would be only a moderate cricketer. He was not long in the chrysalis stage, and by the time that he played three succes­ sive innings of a hundred in 1897 (includ­ ing 106 and ICO not out in the matoh at Birmingham against Warwickshire), he was recognised as one of the greatest players of the day. Last year, together with Abel and C. B. Fry, he scored over three thousand runs in first-class cricket in England, the exact totals made by each man being 3,309 by Abel, 3,147 by Fry, and 3,041 by Tyldesley. Only twice before had a total of over three thousand been made by any cricketer in a season, viz., 3,065 by Ranjitsinhji in 1900 and 3159 also by Ranjitsinbji in 1899. W. A. B e t t e s w o r t h . CRICKET FICTION. Few people know for what a number of hooksof everyclass England’snational summer pastime has been responsible. Some scoff at the idea of cricket literature. “ What can there he to write about” they say “ in a game consisting of mere attempts on the part of ‘ the man with the ball ’ to bring about the downfall of ‘ the man with the bat’ ” ? Nevertheless they will find that the literature of the game consists of several hundred volumes, ali dealing exclusively with the subject. In the last few years several books of cricket fiction have been published, and there is small doubt that more will soon be forth­ coming as the subject grows ever more popular. Critics may argue that there must always be a sameness about such stories, and in a way they are right. For instance the hero almost invariably reaches three figures with the greatest ease, despite the fact that the ‘ villain’s ’ bowling is quite irresistible against the rest of the side. A certain young lady who is interested in the prospects of the batsman is always to be found in the ladies’ tent, splitting a fresh pair of kid gloves at every other “ fourer.” Six runs are required by the hero’s side when the last man comes nervously to the wickets, and these the hero, whose score is precisely 94, obtains by a magnificient straight drive, amidst great applause. At the close of the match it is found that the villain has left suddenly for Timbuctoo, and all ends in rejoicing over the coming marriage, etc. Occasionally the lucky batsman, who has won the match by a neat “ leg-glide,” turns out to be a girl who has assumed the disguise in order that the side may not suffer from the fact that their best batsman has been kidnapped by their opponents, a very com­ mon occurence in cricket stories. In some such narratives the simplicity of the ciowd is indeed wonderful. The deceitful villain has only to “ touch up” his appearance and they promptly accept him as anyone else whom he chooses to impersonate. Thus, he puts on a black beard and becomes W. G. Urace, while with the help of a small amount of dye he is certain to make a great “ hit ” as Ranjitsinhji. But, perhaps, the most popular type of cricket story is that in which two rivals agree to settle their dispute (over the hand of a lady) by a single-wicket match. Both march grimly to the wickets, one preparing to wield the willow while the other seizes the ball with ferocious determination. The relations of the lady in question hover round, making bets as to which of the combatants is to become a member of the family. Aunts and great-aunts, uncles and grandfathers cluster round the wicket and watch the con­ test “ with feverish interest.” Rival No. 1 gives vent to a groan as a fast ball disturbs his off-bail and clutches wildly at the “ leather sphere,” vowing inwardly that his opponent shall never win. The ball is bowled—there is a shriek—and it is discovered that one of the aunts has effected a neat catch, much to her own con­ sternation. Here the story ends with the appearance of the young lady with- a husband. Catches are certainly poetical to the fields­ man and most writers are very much at home in their description of a catch. The agony which the hero endures as he waits for the dropping of a “ skyer” is pathetic, and the reader, like the imaginary crowd, rejoices as the ball lands safely between his palms and the disappointed batsman departs pavilionwards. Apart, however, from this common type of story, the last few years have offered to the public much excellent matter in the way of cricket fiction which can be read and enjoyed over and over again by all who are interested in England’s summer game. Such books undoubtedly tend to increase the enthusiasm of the public over the best of sports. S.E.B. B R IX iON WANDERERS v. FOREST H ILL. — Played at Forest b ill on June 28. F orrst H ill . W . S. Holt, run o u t... 17 J. Newman, not out 4 S. J. Balkwi.l, Russell ........... 2 C. E. Lee, c Glanvill, b Harfert... ... 8 ' C. Barham, b Whyte 36 W . R. bingham, b W hy’ e ......... 8 G .E . Hast, c Gibbons, b W h y t e ...............33 R. D. Boxall, 1 j W, b Jones ................ P. R. Thompson, b Jones ................... P. H. Russell, b Jones H. L. B»skett, b Jones Extras .................. Tolal ...202 B bixton W anderreb . A . J. W byte, c Russell, b Balkwill 51 A. Barbert, b Bast ... 2 ‘ C. H o?g. b B« xall ... 4 A. V. Russell, c Lee,b boxall .. .. .. 13 J. Bohrmann. b Byxall 41 A . R. v\hitlt-y, b bast 6 Dr.Gibbons. e Thomp s »n, b Balkwill .. 26 W . M. Mitchell, b Boxall ................... 7 E. A. Biymer. not out 12 C. F Jones, b Balk­ will .......................... 2 B. A. Glanvill, c t-nd b Balkwill 8 E xtras................. 7 Total . 195 INCOGN I1I June 28. v. R.M .A.—Played at Woolwich on I ncook it i . D. C. Lee. c McCloug- hin, b E iike .. 17 A . b. V.-ules, cBurnet- Sttwarc, b Bagnall 41 E C. Lee, c Bocquet, b Rawson 126 P. Northcott, b Kirke 61 Capt. F. G. Guggis­ berg, b Kirke ... 0 G. Croedile, not out 81 H. F. Hch, b Dan ... 4 M. E. Nelson, not out 6 B 6,1-b 7, w 2, n-b2 17 Total •358 E. W . Smith, Capt. Roberts, and R. O. Lee did not bat. • In ings declared closed. R.M .A. O. D. Rawson, notoutlOl J. A. Dan, c & b RoL erts ................... 9 R. L. Palmer, b Gug- gisterg ...................24 B 19,1-b 14, w 2 35 E. St. J. Kirke, b E. W S m ith .................16 D. W . Payne, c Sich b Northcott...................119 R.N. Bocquet,c Voules, b E. W . Smith ... 0 K. R. M.McCli ughton, b E .W . Smith ... 0 Total INCOGNIIT v. NORTH AW PL A C E .-P layed at Potter’s Bar on July 2. I ncogniti . H. Laurie, l >w, b Hignet ...........19 H. E. T. Sich, c Hignet, b Haynes 73 H. D. Taylor, st Compton, b Haynes 15 S. C. J. Fox, c Hignet, b Haynes .......... 10 A. Eiloart, c Hall, b Hayn* s .................2 G. C. Robertf-on, c and b Haynes ... 15 W . Holland, b Carlisle 49 W . F. Brown, run out 3 H. O. Dolbey, b Hignet ...................12 C. M. Tuke, b Haynes 23 E. W . Smith,c Hignet, b Carlisle ................. 22 C. C. H. Millar, not out ... ................... 4 B *, lb 1 ........... 6 Total ...253 N obthaw P lace . L. W . Compton, c Dolbey, b Millar 27 Rev. F. Meyrick Jones, not out 120 C. Micklen, lun out 5 J. F. Curter. Micklen, Hignet. Haynes, G. F. Battrey, Rev. J. J. Hall, and Griffiths did not bat. K . M. Carlisle, not out 8 B y e ......................... 1 Total ...........161 THE WANDERERS v. AD D I8COMBE.- Addiscombe, on Wednesday, July 2. A d d isc o m be . -Played at H G.Roberts,cMurial, b Colm an.. 77 C. S. Di^prey, c & b Colman .................. 4 F. W Roberts, c Fis­ cher, b Be.dam ... 1 R.L.Turner, 0 Beldam, b Gillespie ... 49 R.Kenward,b Gillespie 2 C. Kenward, c Conyers, b Gillespie A. G. Newcomb, st Layman, b Gillespie E. C. Ashcroft, c I incoln, b Colman A.C. Heaton, b Colman T. E. Curry, not out H. Y . Brown, b Col­ man ......................... E xtras................. Total ...143 T he W anderers . S. Colman, n >t out ... 1*23 C. A. beldam, b C. K enw ard.......... ... 0 J. Conyers, b Brown 47 p . P. Lincoln b Turner 35 J.D.Gillespie.c lurner, b Ashciofu ...........52 A. E. Waller, b Ash­ croft ... ... 1 E H. Fi cher, b F. W . Roberts ................ 4 W. H. Waller, not out 27 Extras ........... 6 Total .. 295 J. E. G. Hadath, Rev. R. L. Murial, and A. R. Layman did not bat. OLD °ITIZEN 8 v. LONDON & WESTM INSTER BANK - Piayed at Norbury on July 5. O ld C itizens . P. W . Hale, b Willson H. Blewett. h W illson f .C.cole.b S. Bowmmi H.Hockstroper,c Pod­ more, b Bo*man . J.tt.r arn^tt.bWillson E. C. M ssey, c Dear, b Bowmau ........... J.C.Hayden.b Willson H. L&vington, b Bow­ man D. R. Up dale, b Will­ son ................... J. H. Cole not out ... Muiiel, b Bowman ... byes ................... Total ........... L ond n and W estminster B ank . C. J. Bowman, b Cole 9 H. E. 'I homson,b H*le 44 W . bradbery,b lewett 16 A. G. bough, c Hale, b Cole . ... 27 T. H. Pritchard, c Par- nett b •ole . . 5 C.J. Crossley, b Hock- stroper .........................43 S.Bowman lbw,b Hale 1 E A. Wills n st Massy, b Hockstroper H.G.W ellborne.cCole, b Hockstroper H. D. Dear, b Hock- stroper .................. A. Podmore, not out.. B 8, lb I ........... Total ,..172 HAMP.-TEAD v. OLD REPTON IAN S.—Played at Hampstead on July 6. O ld R epionianb . T. Horton, c Beaton, b Hayman ........... 35 H.Jameson, c Beaton, b Mareden 7 J.Bowbtead, c Beaton, b A h*an-ul-«ak 27 W S.Nealor, b Trimen 62 F.R. D Monro, lbw, b Ahsan-ul-Hak ... 0 E.A Burnie, b Hylton 13 F.H.Bryant, c Ahnan- ul-Hak. b Trimen .. 29 R. C. Hill, b Trimen.. 2 E. A. M ojre, b Marsh 4 A Kidd, not out 0 C.S.Smallwo >d,a s nt 0 B 10, lb 1 ...........11 Total ..180 H ampstead . .. 304 H . W . Lewis, G. R. Burnet-S+ewart, H. G. Bagnall, and J. G. Ball did not bat, Ahsan-ul-Hak,c sub , b M« n r o ..................36 A.R.Triiuen. st Hill, b b Bowsiead ... 12 A. E. r>toddart, c Bow­ stead, b Horton ... 69 H. B. Hayman, c sub., b Horton ... ... 41 L J.M oon,c Bowste .d, b Moore ..................61 E. L. Marsden, C. D.McMillin and C. C. Bracchi did not bat, T. M. Farmiloe, b Moore ........... ...87 F. J. Marsh, not out.. 11 E. W. H. Beaton, not out ... ................. 6 B 2D, nb 1 ...........21 Total (6 wkts) 294