Cricket 1902

CRICKET, JULY 17, 1902. “ Together joined in Cricket’ s m an ly to il.” — Byron. zro. 007 . v o l . x x i . TH U R SD AY , JU LY 1 7 , 1 9 0 2 . p b x c e 2 d. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. W . G. QUAIFE. For a long time Willie Quaife has been regarded as one of the most notable representatives of the careful school of batsmen. By reason of his small size he was precluded from being a hitter, and he wisely set himself out to make the best of things by adopting a steady style of play, which has saved Warwickshire from defeat a great many times. On the other hand, his play has often been one of the chief causes of victory, for by keeping his end up, he has given other men the chance of making big scores, of which they have availed themselves readily enough. Many hard things have been said about him, but all cricketers know the immense value to a side of a player like him, and a team which cannot boast of such a man is certain to suffer severely in the long run. He does not invariably make his runs very slowly, for if the bowl­ ing falls off in the least, he knows how to deal with loose balls. On bad wickets, as well as on good ones, he has played many splendid innings, and it has often been a subject of wonder to spectators how, when balls are rising to the level of his nose, he can not only keep out of harm’s way, but can score off them. His highest innings in first-class cricket was 223 not out, while he has also made scores of 207 not out against Hampshire and 228 against Staffordshire, One of the most remarkable of the many innings which Quaife has played under difficulties was his 48 at Old Trafford against Lancashire. Warwick­ shire were a long way behind, and the wicket was in such a state that everybody prophesied a very severe beating for them against such bowlers as Mold and Briggs, but, largely owing to Quaife’s steady play, his county made an excellent draw. “ Before our innings began,” he said, “ Johnny Briggs said that the match would be over very soon, for that on such a wicket it was impossible to hold out long. He prophesied that we shouldn’t get a hundred runs. But somehow or other we managed to stop in, and when time was put up we had scored about 250 for six wickets. My own innings lasted for three hours and a half, and at one time the crowd got very unruly about it, but Mr. Hornby went to them and told them that I was playing the right game for my side, and they raised no more objections.” “ Were you much ‘ barracked ’ by the crowds in Australia ? ” “ A little, sometimes. But I don’t think the crowds there differ very much from those in England. On the whole I thought we were very well treated. All big crowds, especially holiday crowds, are pretty sure to include a few people who want to find fault, but for the most they are good humoured enough, and only want their money’s worth. If they don’t think they are getting it, they are likely to chaff a little boisterously. But in my opinion it is very seldom indeed that a crowd gets really bad tempered, and certainly we met nothing of this sort in Australia. I remember that once when I was going to the wickets a loud voice was heard, ‘ Here comes the microbe,’ and, of course, this was followed by a roar of good humoured laughter, which did not injure my feelings in the least. One of the expres­ sions which used to amuse us was general in up- country matches. When any one on either side missed a catch, there was an instantaneous demand that he should get a bag ! ” “ Did you enjoy your visit to Australia ? ” “ Very much indeed, and I should like to go out there again. I did not do as well as I had hoped, but I believe that I should do better another time, for the light would not bother me so much. It was not the pace of the wickets that I minded, but after sitting in a dark pavilion it was dazzling to find oneself in the brilliant light, and until I got used to I could never see the ball at the commencement of my innings. {We also had a good many wet wickets, which is, of course, unusual in Australia. * A wet wicket does not last very long, but owing to the power of the sun and the nature of the soil it is practically unplay­ able. One feels very pleased when W. O. QOAIJE. (From a photo Iy S. W. Thomas , Cheapside, London , B.C.)