Cricket 1902

CRICKET, AUG. 7, 1902 “ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. No. 0 10 . VOX.. X X I. THURSDAY, AUG. 7, 1902. FBICB 3d. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. MR. AHSAN-UL-HAK. Although he has only been in England for two or three years, Mr. Ahean-ul- Hak has become very well known as a cricketer, and it seems a very great pity that just as he has begun to feel his way in first-class cricket for Middlesex, his profession as a barrister (he was called to the Bar in June) should demand his presence inIndia. In about amonthhe will leave England, and it is probable that he will get very little cricket, as his home will be in Jullunder, where, except by the military team, cricket is not much played. His record as a cricketer since he has been in England is very good indeed, for he scored 1160 runs for Hampstead in his first season, 1900, while for all matches his total was 1459, with an average of about 38. Last year he made in all 1965 runs, with an average of 48, and took 85 wickets for about 15 runs each. In India his best scores, but not his highest, were 52 in each innings against Patiala, 62 against the Agra club, and53 against the Allahabad dub. As a batsman he has a splendid eye, and his strokes are numerous; he has a very powerful drive which he makes without any apparent effort. If he had been able to remain in England, great things might have been ex­ pected of him. It is only natural that when he has been seen carrying a cricket bag, Mr. Ahsan-ul-Hak should some­ times be mistaken for Ranjitsinhji. “ This has often happened,” he said, “ but I need hardly say that it has not been when I have been batting—only when I have been approaching or going away from a cricket ground, One day when I was at Liverpool Street, a small boy asked to be allowed to carry my bag. I replied that it was not worth while, but he begged so hard that I let him have his way. When we reached the MB. AHSAN-UL-HAK. {From a photo by Messrs. Hawkins <tc Co.t Brighton.) platform from which my train was to start, I put my hand in my pocket with the intention of giving the boy some coppers. But he declined to take them, saying that all he wanted was my signa­ ture. This surprised me not a little, for I certainly did not think I was well enough known for anyone to wish to have my autograph, but to humour the boy I signed my name in the pocket book which he produced. He looked at the signature, and his jaw fell. ‘ What, ain’t you Banjitsinhji ? ’ ” he asked. “ Where did you learn your cricket ? ” “ At Aligarh College—the chief Mohammaden college in India, although before that my brother, who had captained the Aligarh team for three or four years, had given me my first ideas of the game. At the college I was fortunate enough to come under the notice of Mr. Shaukat Ali, who was then captain of the team, and he took a lot of trouble with me. This was in 1895. He put me into the eleven, but in the first year I was a great failure, only making about twenty runs during the season at an average of three. But for all that I was not turned out of the team, and in the next two years I was top of the averages. I had a curious experience in amatch against another school. When tak­ ing guard I used to measure the distance from the wicket with my bat, and in this match I happened to knock off a bail when doing so. Immediately tbe field ap­ pealed, and the umpire gave me out. Fortunately for me the captain of the field­ ing side said that it was all rot, and would not hear of my going out.” “ Whatarrangements were made for practice at the Aligarh College ? ” ci We practised almost every day all the year round from four o’clock to about half-past six, but, we had no ooach- ing in the sense of the word as it is