Cricket 1903

THE FINEST BAT THE WOfiLD PRODUCES. M ay 28, 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 163 BUSSEY’S C/J c o «*» CD CO C 3 H GO p e r S3X) K H = 3 1 O w Q D flu J_ CO CO o +-> = 3 o <5 C D 0 § S3 GO BUSSEY’S AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F. 8. A s h lb t -O o o p ir . The defeat of Yorkshire by Somerset at Taunton enabled the west-countrymen to maintain their reputation as a team of sur­ prises. Whilst congratulating them heartily on their victory, however, one cannot forget that the Yorkshiremen laboured under a tremendous disadvantage in having Brown, jun., Hirst and Tunnicliffe on the injured list. It is true that ere two of the players named became incapacitated Somerset had gained the lead, but it must be remembered that Yorkshire grit is always most prominent when the side is in danger; hence, the the absence of Tunnicliffe and Brown, jun., and the inability of Hirst to bowl and field weakened the side more thanwould have been the case ordinarily. One cannot but speak in the highest terms of Hirst’s heroic effort in the second innings of his countrymen. To bat with a twisted ligament in his left calf and make the highest score (50) of the venture, coupled with his still larger innings at Wor­ cester, is deserving of knighthood. Braund once again, as on many previous occasions, proved the chief stumbling-block of the champions. His performances both with bat and ball when playing against Yorkshire during the past few seasons have been extra­ ordinary, and have been in themselves suffi­ cient to stamp him as one of the best all­ round pla) era we have ever had. The defeat of Yorkshire will certainly cause more interest to be taken in the fight for the county cham­ pionship than would have been the case had Somerset not proved victorious. Two remarkable bowling feats were per­ formed in first-class matches on Thursday last. In the match at Catford between Kont and Notts, John Gunn, who commenced the attack for the latter, began by sending down nine consecutive maiden overs (54 balls), whilst for Warwickshire against Cambridge University, at Cambridge, Field, at one time in the first innings of the latter, delivered fourteen successive overs, thirteen of which were maidens. These feats have, in many quarters, been described as unique. As far back as 1851, however, William Clarke and Daniel Day, when appearing for England against Kent at Cranbrook, bowled thirty- two successive overs (128 balls) to Fuller Pilch and E. G. Wenman without a run being scored, which was altogether remark­ able considering the batting ability of the two players named. For the England Eleven againstEighteen of the Manchester Broughton Club, on the Broughton Ground, Manchester, in 1861, the late Edgar Willsher at one time delivered luO consecutive bails for one run, and that against men who were not “ stickers.” The same player six years later, when appearing for the United South of England Eleven against Fifteen of Southgate, on Mr. John Walker’s charming ground, bowled 52 balls for no runs, after which, being hit for two by Mr. R. D. Walker, he sent down thirteen more maiden overs in succession. This must be regarded as one of the most remarkable bowling feats in the whole history of the game, considering the strength of the Southgate team. Of the fifteen men who composed the latter as many as eleven appeared in matches between the Gentlemen and the Players, whilst the remaining four were George Hearne, of Middlesex, and three members of former Hairow elevens, to wit, C. A. Cater (1861), E. W. Burnett (1861, 1862 and 1863), and H. G. Phipps (1863 and 1864). Willsher was again to the fore in the North v. South match at Canterbury, in 1871, opening the bowling for the latter by sending down fifteen consecutive maiden overs (60 balls) against Mr. J. W. Dale and Ephraim Lockwood. In the matches between the Gentlemen and the Players, at Lord’s and the Oval, in 1880, Alfred Shaw did some extraordinary bowling for the latter. In the Oval match he com­ menced by delivering eighteen overs, seven­ teen of which were maidens, for one run and two wickets—those of W. G. Grace and A. P. Lucas. At Lord’ s in the following week, in the second innings of the Gentlemen, his first fourteen overs (56 balls) were maidens, his analysis for the innings being 164 balls for nine runs and two wickets against W. G. Grace, A. P. Lucas, F. Penn, J. Shuter, A. N. Hornby, the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, and the Hon. Ivo Bligh (now Earl of Darnley) ! Almost as remarkable was the feat of Mr. C. F. Tufnell in bowling twenty consecutive maiden overs for one wicket, for Kent against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, in 1878. At Leyton, five years ago, in the match between Essex and Derbyshire, the late George Davidson, who could keep down run- getting as well as anybody, at one time bowled for eighty - five minutes, during which time only one run was scored from him. As he continued to reel off maiden over after maiden over, the crowd became quite enthusiastic, cheering the bowler heartily and re­ peatedly. Mention must not be forgotten of W. G.’s wonderful analysis of 41 balls for no runs and seven wickets for Gloucester­ shire v. Notts, at Cheltenham, twenty-six years ago. Daft was captain of the Notts eleven in the last-mentioned match, and, as W. G. continued to mow down the side without being scored from, he became con­ siderably excited, and not a little irritable at the repeated failure of his men. At last he determined to go in himself to stay the rot. The score sheet records “ R. Daft, c Gilbert, b W. G. Grace, 0 ” ; the Notts captain, being only human like his men, speedily fell into W. G.’s square-leg trap. In bringing to an end this list of bowling notabilia, allusion may be made to two most remark­ able feats performed in early intercolonial matches. In February, 1869, at Melbourne, Tasmania were disposed of in their first venture for 18 runs, Sam Cosstick bowling throughout the completed innings, and having but one run scored off him, his analysis being 85 balls for one run and six wickets. In a match between the same sides at Launceston, 1858, Tasmania were dismissed for 33, G. Elliott, who bowled throughout unchanged, sending down 76 balls for two runs and nine wickets! But enough of bowling notabilia. The match which commences at Lord’s on Monday next, between Middlesex and Somer­ set, has been set apart as a benefit for William Attewell, who has played an impor­ tant part upon the cricket stage during the last two decades. As a chat about this famous player appears elsewhere in the paper, the chief events of his long career need be only lightly touched upon here. Bom at Keyworth on June Pith, 1861, he was engaged by the Notts Commercial Club in 1878, 1879 and 1880, and gained a place in the Notts Colts’ match both in 1880 and 1881. In the last-mentioned year he received a trial in the Notts Eleven, his first appearance for the county being against Middlesex at Lord’s. Although chiefly known as a bowler, Atteweil has on more than one occasion given one reason to believe that had he not been a great bowler he would have gained prominence as a batsman. His best performance with the bat was for M.C.C. and Ground against Northumberland, at Lord’s, in 1889, when he