Cricket 1903

THE FINEST BAT THE WORLD PRODUCES. M a y 7, 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 115 BUSSEY’S c o c o 0 9 BUSSEY’S AT TH E SIGN OF TH E W ICK E T . B y F. 8. A shley -O oopbk . It is very unfortunate that the Phila­ delphian team, which is to visit us this summer, will be without Mr. G. 8. Patterson, who would have captained the side, and who is, beyond doubt, still the finest batsman in the States. It had been hoped for some time that he would be able to join the side about the middle of the tour, but it is now known that there is no likelihood even of this. At a meeting of the members of the team, at the offices of The American Cricleeter , on Monday, March 23rd, Dr. John A. Lester was unanimously elected captain of the side. As Dr. Lester has already had considerable experience of English cricket, it is evident that no better choice could have been made. When the last mail left New York it appeared uncertain whether Mr. A. M. Wood, who, by the way, holds the American record (278), would be able to undertake the trip, owing to pressure of business. His absence would be a distinct loss to the side, as he still retains sufficient batting ability to place him in quite the front rank of American cricketers. Should he be prevented from accompanying the team, his place would not be filled, and the side would consist of fourteen men instead of fifteen as originally arranged. The most interesting player in the com­ bination will be Mr. J. B. King, who is at the present time by far the best all-round exponent of the game in the States. English cricketers have already had opportunities of judging of his capabili­ ties, and many will doubtless be able to recall to mind the manner in which his fast bowling disposed of the Sussex team for 46 half-a-dozen years ago on the run- getting ground at Hove. He is one of the comparatively few batsmen who have exceeded the 200 in a single innings in America. His three-figuro innings in the United States are as follows :— 227, Belmont v. Baltimore ..................... 1899 176, Belmmt v. Cleveland ......................1899 168, Belmont v. Baltimore .................. 1902 167, Tiago v. Pennsylvania R.R.................1895 135,* Belmont v. K.J B.A............................1899 123, A. M. Wood’s XI. v. Pacey’8 XI. 1895 116, Tiago v Belmont .............................1892 107, Belmont v. Germantown ..........1*99 10 Belmont v. Merion.............................1901 105,* Belmont v. Frankford .....................19J2 103,* Tingo v. Kent-iogton .....................1895 102,* Belmont v. Pennsylvania Univ. ... 1902 101,* Belmont v. Sherwood ..................... 1900 * Signifies not out. Amongst his many good bowling feats may be mentioned :— 12 for 17, Belmont v. Germantown ......... 1901 12 „ 31,Belmont v. Montreal ............1899 7 „ 1, Tiago v. Philadelphia .................1694 7 „ 1, Tiago v. Kensington International 1895 7 ft 6, Belmont v. Chatham ..................1899 9 „ 4,Belmont v. Albion .........................1896 On July 17th, 1896, he clean-bowled all ten wickets in an innings for 20 runs, when playiDg for Belmont v. Manhattan, at Brooklyn, which is apparently a per­ formance which stands alone so far as trans- Atlantic cricket is concerned. Pour years ago he obtained all ten wickets in an innings—for Belmont v. Germantown, at a cost of 39 runs—but in this case only seven were bowled down. In 1899 and again in 1902 he could claim the double performance of obtaining over a thousand runs and over a hundred wickets during the season. This latter feat is very seldom indeed accomplished in America; in fact only W. H. Cooper (1896) and G. S. Patterson (1891), in addi'ion to King, can boast the double event. At a meeting of the Associated Cricket Clubs held in Philadelphia on March 28th it was announced that Mr. Frederick C. Sharpies?, of Merion, would form one of the team. Mr. Sharpless is a firs‘ -class bat and a very good change bowler, whilst his fielding is far above the aver­ age. His presence should undoubtedly strengthen the side. The following practica matches have been arranged for the team :—May 9th, v. Haverford Col­ lege, at Wissahickon; May 16th, v. Best, of Philadelphia, at Elmwood; and May 23rd, v. English Residents, at Mannheim. The side sail from New York on the “ Majestic ” on Wednesday, May 27th, and play the first match of their tour against Cambridge University on June 8th, 9th and 10th. The side will be a good one, despite the absence of Mr. Patterson, and should prove capable of winning at least as many matches as it loses. A recent communication from New York contains the regrettable news that the American Cricket Annual is dead, the editor, Mr. Flannery, having resolved to discontinue publication owing to the cost of bringing it out and the poor support accorded the volume. This is heavy news indeed, as for a full decade the Annual had been a guide, philosopher, and friend to all those whose pleasure it was to occasionally discourse on the subject of trans-Atlantic cricket. One would have thought there would have been sufficient enthusiasts in the States to create a demand for such a publication. Cricket annuals, however, have never received the support they deserved, unless we ex­ cept Wisden and the Red Lilly. It is surprising that Australia has never been able to give sufficient patronage to an annual in order to make the undertaking a success, considering how great an interest is taken in the game out there. As one turns over the pages of the old Guides —many of them excellent produc- tioi s, such as Fairfax, Conway, Boyle and Scott, Davis, etc.—one cannot but wonder at the poor receptions accorded the volumes. The New Zealand Annual ran through four issues, whilst Mr. Davis’s volume lasted but three seasons. It is pleasing to find that the Barbados Cricketer's Annual, first produced in 1894-5, still flourishes bravely—a fact which makes the demise of the Austra­ lian, American, and New Zealand publi­ cations the more noticeable. A special service for men only was held at Christ Church, Crowborough, Sussex, on Sunday, March 28th, 1903, when the Rev. G. Hugh Jones preached a sermon entitled “ Lbw, a parable of the Cricket Field.” He took his text from St. Matthew xiii, 34: “ All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in para­ bles ; and without a parable spake He