Cricket 1902

276 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J u l y 17, 1902. 162, did better than ever before, and the game remark applies to Humphries, who brought off seven catches at the wicket. The latter is a wicket-keeper of undoubted ability, who, with a little more experience of first-class cricket, will be worth a place in any side. Unexpected, however, as Derby­ shire’s win was, that of Hampshire was even more so. The latter had played so poorly previously that a win over Somerset was almost one of the last things looked for. Braund, after his great feats against the Gentlemen at Lord’s, proved ineffective against Hants, and the conquerors of York­ shire were beaten by five wickets. On dit that Somerset have a very promising young player qualifying for the county in the person of P. Hardy, who for two seasons—1900 and 1901—was engaged on the ground staff at the Oval. He was Lorn at Blandford, June 26th, 1881, and wi 1 therefore be able to assist Somerset before completing his twenty-third year. Last season he didwell for the Surrey Colts, making 141 against Wandsworth and 144 not out against Mitcham Wanderers in consecutive innings. His average for the Colts for the whole season was one of 48, whilst with the ball he obtained fourteen wickets at a cost of 13*64 runs each. On Saturday last he made 175 not out for Taunton v. Bridgwater in 120 minutes. A correspondent forwards me details of some wonderful scoring which took place at Bath on Saturday last. The match was between Bath and Thombury, the latter team including E. M. Grace, Paish and Spry. Bath scored 46\} for the loss of six wickets in 100 minutes, W. Hyman making359 notout. The latter treated “ the Doctor” most harshly, at one time scoring 62 from two consecutive overs—32 in one over and 30 in the other. Altogether, Hyman punished “ E. M.” for thirty-two sixes. It is easy to picture “ the little Doctor” keeping himself on for over after over, feeling sure he would dismiss the batsman in his next. Lord Frederick Beauclerck was a captain of the same stamp. When asked whether he did not think a bowling change advisable, he would frequently reply, ‘ Yes; I ’ll go on at the other end! ” But E.M. should have known better, and remembered how T. Leeston-Smith once hit him for six sixes in eight balls for Weston-super-Mare v. 'Jhorn- bury. To a batsman well set, and hitting well, E.M.’s lobs must be “ Sweet as remem­ bered kisses after death.” But to be punished for thirty-two six»s in one innings! “ It was the most unkindest cut of all.” Humour has it that nobody has yet had the temerity to interview the little doctor on the subject. Last week’s match at Lord’s between Eton and Harrow was one of the most interesting of the series for some years past. Through­ out, the play was bright and attractive, and, best of all, a definite result was arrived at. Year after year the same enthusiasm is mani­ fested in the match, and for this reason old crickettrs—more especially those interested in the two schools—patronise it in right hearty fashion. Now that Gentlemen v. Players has unfortunately lost some of the importance which formerly attached to it, Eton v. Harrow is prac:ically the only game which has not been affected by time As recently as two days ago an Old Harrovian— one of the three best batsmen ever turned out by the School-on-the-Hill—wrote to me, saying “ What I love best and feel most interested in now, in my old age, is the annual match between Eton and Harrow.” The enthusiasm displayed in the game cer­ tainly differs from that shown in any other match, and it is not surprising that the “ old boys ” should prove as loyal to it as they do. Hopley’s innings of 74 in the first innings of Harrow was the best thing seen in last week’s match, though there were many other features of interest which might be referred to, if space permitted, which it does not. Of the 77 matches played between the two sides, Harrow have now won 33 and Eton 28. The remaining 16 have been left unfinished. Hearty congratulations to the Master on obtaining his 200th century in all matches ! The writer, fortunately perhaps, was never a poet, or he would celebrate the feat in verse. What was written a quarter of a century ago, when “ W.G;” had already passed his prim. , still holds good to-day : — Pavilions thunder the well-earned applause W hile still he keeps gallantly on. Repeating his scoring of tiroes and fours Till all his compai ions are gone. Triumphantly then he crosses the sward “ Not out ” with three figures is he, Eclipsir g the once-famous doings of Ward, The invitici le ‘ W . fc.” A glance at the greatest of the Master’s innings is almost enough to take one’s br ath away. In first-class matches his largest scores have been 344, 318 not out, 301, 288, 268, 261, 257, 243 not out, 224 not out, 221 not out, 217 and 215 twice, whilst in less important games his largest innings are 400 not out, 259, 210 twice, 204 not out and 203 ! His 400 not out was made with twenty-two men in the field, and one of his 210’s with eighteen ! Many and hearty will be the congratulations he will receive on obtaining his two hundredth century on the eve of his fifty-fourth birthday— “ Yea, the loud ring, Applaudirg thee, shall roar.” “ W.G.” has now made 123 centuries in great matches and 77 in minor cricket. Once again it falls to the lot of the writer to chronicle the complete mastery of the bat over the ball, and a crop of drawn games. Except at Tunbridge Wells, and Bradford, where lihodes bowled effectively against Essex, the bowlers have been treated merci­ lessly during the past three days. At Hastings, where the wicket was like a billiard- table and the boundaries short, this was especially the case. After three days of hard hitting, during which time the two sides took turns to flog each other’s bowling, the game remained unfinished, 1,427 runs having been made for the loss of 21 wickets, which is a record for great matches in England. At no time did any other result appear possible. CTest magnifique: mais ce ri’est pas la guerre. The most interesting cricket is seen when bat and ball are on an equality, and when every ball has to be played carefully. It was thus that old-time cricket was muchmore interest­ ing than that of to-day. It were surely better to see a moderate scoring match brought to a conclusion, that a game left drawn on account of everything being in favour of the batsmen. A well-known cricketer, who had been abroad for some years, on returning to England, recently said of modern cricket— “ You hit the ball, stand still, and count four.” His remark, of course, referred to the game when played under what batsmen would term “ ideal conditions.” There was a good deal of truth in the remark of the Hon. R. H. Lyttelton that “ Any fool can make runs nowadays,” despite the fact that some players still fail to score occasionally. The cause of the curse of modern cricket— high scoring - is chiefly attributable to the fact that wickets are nowadays brought to such a state of perfection (from the batsman’s point of view) that the bowler is generally little less than helpless when the weather is fine. That the apparent superiority of modern batsmen over their predecessors is dueto lackof skill on the part o f bow lers is difficult to believ e T h e latter possess th e a b ility to dism iss their opponents at a reasonable cost w h en ever con dition s are n ot w holly in fa v ou r o f run- g ettin g, as has b een show n repeatedly this season. P ossib ly an im provem en t in fieldin g a n d— th e w ord is uttered w ith bated breath — captain cy m ig h t ten d to lessen h ig h scorin g. N o truer rem ark has ever been m ade than “ G ood fielding m akes w eak b o w lin g stro n g .” O ccasionally a captain is sadly at fa u lt in the m anagem ent o f h is b ow lin g. NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK v. LONDON AND WESTMINSTER BANK.—Playei at Lower Sydenham on July 7 and 8. N ational P lovincial B ank . G. A. CoB8er,b Dear... 6 A. D. Phillips, b W il­ son ... ................... 0 J. Price, b c imp on ... 43 J. W. Richards, c Muriel, b Simpson... 6 A. flarrison, b Wilson 7 H. C. J. McConachy, oH m pson.. ... 1 C. R. V. bymons, st Bradbery,* Simpson 0 F. E. Tyler, b W ilson 11 W . File, b Wilson ... 8 H. L. Stephenson, b W ilson ................... 0 A . F. Aylen, not out Byes .. Total L ondon and W estminster B ank . C. Bowmen, c Hughes, b ^ jm o n s ................69 H. E. Thomson, not cut ........................ 86 S. Bowman, not out . B 3, lb 1 .......... Total (1 wkt) 171 W . Bradbery, A. G. Gough, H. W illborne. C. C. Sim jfron,E A. Willson, H. E. Muriel, H. D. Dear and T. H. Pritchard did not bat. HAMPSTEAD v. SURBITON.—Playe ’ at Hamp­ stead on July 12. H ampstead . F. W . Orr, c Howe’1, b Davis ................I ll E. E. Barnett, c Davis, b 8carf ... 3 A. E. Stoddart, c & b D a v is ......................... 4 F. J. Marsh, st Castle, b Reed ................. 4 H. D. Moffat, c How ell, b Davis ... 8 T. M. Farmiloe, b Montgomery .........53 S urbiton . First int-ings. C. Scarf, b Pawling ... 0 O. B. Howell, b Pawling ... 35 Davis, b Pawling................... 5 P. F. Heed, b Stoddart ... 1 Montgomery, b Pawling ... 4 P. Castle, b P a w lin g...........15 C. A . Wrench, b Pawling 16 c A. Orr, Barnett .. L. D. FlemmiDg, st Beaten, b Marsh "W. Jones, b Marsh V . b . Bow ell, b Pawling . C. Sw innerton, not out W ide ................... D. J. Crump, at Castle, b Davis ... 1 A. R. Trimen, b Montgomery ... 43 E. W . H. Beaton, c and b Davis ........29 A. J. Orr, not out .. a3 S. S. Pawling, b Davis ................. 0 B 41, lb 3 ........44 Total ...... 333 Second innings. not out ........... 9 c Marsh, b A. Orr 26 not out 4 b A. Orr 0 7 b A. Orr 13 b Barnett .byes... 1 7 16 Total ..........101 Total (5 wkts) 105 HAMPSTEAD v. ELTHAM .—Played at E tham on July 12. H ampstead . H. Greig, c Jackson, b Logan ... ...........25 B. E. Figgis, b Hay­ wood ... ........... 1 D. MacGrfgor, c Stampe, h Logan 5 J'.fy. 'Joiler,c Johnston, b Logan .................. 8 A. W . Kveritt, b H ay­ wood .......... .. 0 A . B. Osmond, c Jack­ son, b Haywood ... 21 E ltham . C.B.Stampe,bWheater 43 C. A . Pitt, c Figgis, b W h e a te r................ 13 A. S. Jackson, b W h e a te r .................52 C. S. Jackson,cBarron, b Wheater ........... 0 A . S. Johnston, Barron, b OBmond... 86 W . Young, K . Johnston, and Haywood did Lot Iht. A. A Barron.c Wood, b Haywood .......... 0 H. L. Maclure, lbw, b L o g a n ................... 0 J. Greig, c W ood, b Login ............... 0 T. 8. Wheater, b L o g m .............. 0 A. M. Other, not out 0 B 8, lb 1 ........... 9 Total ...........69 Capt. A . Logan, b Osmond ...................16 J. (J. W ood, not out 18 W . McFarlane, not out ................... 9 B 13, lb 2, w 3 ... 18 Total (6 wkts) 252