Cricket 1902

Feb. 21 , 1902. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 21 CRICKET IN THE WEST INDIES Through the courtesy of Mr. C. P. Hurditch, the Author and Editor of the American Cricketer, we are able to reproduce the following from the Cricketer. Jn view of the presence of the English amateurs in the West Indies it will be of interest: Teams from every part of the island of Jamaica indulge in friendly games with each other and neighbouring towns ; every parish has its eleven, and visits are duly exchanged in the course of the year. One thinks nothing of riding overnight seventy-five miles or so in a buggy to participate in a game, and the man who scores the century is known all over the country in no time. Blacks and whites alike are equal on the field, and even the inmates of the asylum have their matches. In the latter case, however, it must be confessed that their form of insanity is very mild, though I distinctly remember being very glad once when one batsman was led off the field in a certain game after I had the good fortune (?) to catch him out. On the first of January of every year a spectacular match is held, and the players oldest and most important. Very up-to- date in all its transactions, it now has over 450 members on its club list, and the ground at Sibina Park is one of the best in the island. The financial end of the club is in a very flourishing condition, and year after year they show a balance on the right side of the ledger. In 1899 the highest aggregate ever recorded was made by a Mr. S. C. McCutchin, who scored 745 runs in thirty-three innings (six times not out), the record having previously been held by the writer—1891- 1892—of 647 in eighteen innings) five times not out), who also held the highest individual score of 152, not out, which, I believe, still stands. Messrs. Gibb and F. L. Pearce (the latter a son of the Postmaster-General) hold the record for the longest partnership for first wicket, when they scored 102 runs before being separated. In bowling, they possess in C. II. W. Chandler a trundler of no ordinary ability, and the last figures I have received of his analysis will bear repetition :— tell from one year to another on whom they can depend to play regularly. Some of the best players Jamaica has ever seen have come from the Garrison Club (or rather originally from prominent clubs in England), young men who have just received their commissions, fresh from the Military Academy and drafted out to the West Indian regiment, so it is pretty safe to conjecture that every year they can boast a few good players who are very keen on the game. I have thus mentioned the three chief clubs, but it must not be thought that the game is thus confined. At Montego Bay, St. Annes, Spanish Town, Mon- eague, St. Elizabeth, and in fact in almost every town the tourist can find a local team. Special mention ought to be made of the Elizabeth Cricket Club at Black River, a club supported nobly by the Farquharson family, a household word in Jamaica. The “ old hoss,” Walter Farquharson, is no doubt kindly remembered by a good many Americans, not only in this country, but in his own T h e G round op th e K in g ston C.C., Jam aica. (Photograph by Mr. G. P. Hurditch.) don all sorts of fancy costumes. Admission is charged and large numbers attend, the Governor and suite rarely failing to put in an appearance. It may be here remarked that the present representative of H.M. the King of England, H.E. Sir A. W. L. Hemming, K.C.M.G., is a player of no small calibre, and indulges frequently in a bit of practice at the nets of an afternoon. The costumes are most original and each one tries to outdo the other in grotesque­ ness, while the antics of the players cause howls of laughter all around the ground, j Uncle Sam never fails to be represented, while Columbia may often be seen I promenading arm in arm with Britannia. These matches realise quite a respectable sum of money, which goes to beautifying the club’s pavilion, or swelling the fund for entertaining visitors at the smoking concerts, which are often held out on the green sward. Turning to statistics (my memory may be a trifie rusty and need greasing a bit), the Kingston Cricket Club is by far the No. of matches bowled. O. R. M. W . Aver. 22 367*3 580 150 99 5*85 When one takes into consideration the wonderful amount of dry weather and the consequently hard wickets, it will be at once seen that his average is a remark­ able one. L. S. Gruchy, F. L. Pearce, and C. E. Marshall are about the best to follow him, and they all do fairly well, generally winding up the season with ( averages of a trifle under 10, so it will be seen that in bowling at least the club j is efficient. The Kensington Club ranks next in importance, and though several of its | members belong to the parent club, they never lose any opportunity to play against her, and these matches are most keenly contested. They have lately removed to ! larger and more commodious quarters, and by this move they expect a cor­ responding increase in point of numbers, j The Garrison Club are always to the j fore, but on account of the constant removal of their officers one can never domains. Selected to represent the team sent over here by the combined islands, under the captaincy of another Jamaican, L. R. Fype, some few years ago, his commanding stature and jovial presence won for him a host of friends, and those of us who have been fortunate enough to accept of his unlimited hospitality will never forget it or the “ Busha.” Call upon him at any time and he will soon suggest a few balls at the nets, and caSing up the workers from his sugar plantation, in short order he will have bats and balls ready for service, and nothing gives him greater pleasure than to obtain your wicket, although his action, delivery, and custom is something like Tom Emmett, viz., three wides and a wicket first over. Right here let me add that one of the features of the season is the annual game between eleven Farquharsons and. the Kingston C.C., so it will be gathered from this that their family is an extensive one. At one time the St. George Cricket Club bid fair to make quite a reputation. I