Cricket 1903

228 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J u n e 25, 1903. BUSEY’S “DEMON DRIVERS. GEO, G. BUSSEY & GO D e s ir e t o in f o r m C r ic k e t e r s a ll o v e r th e w o r l d w h o m a y e x p e r i e n c e a d if fic u lt y in o b ­ ta in in g “ Demon Drivers ” th a t th is d iff ic u lt y a r is e s in c o n s e q u e n c e o f th e e v e r -in c r e a s ­ i n g d e m a n d e x c e e d i n g th e s u p p ly . H e a d e r s o f G e o . G . B u s s e y & C o . ’s p a m p h le t , e n t it le d “ E v o l u t i o n o f th e D e m o n D r iv e r ,” a r e a w a r e th a t a fe a ­ t u r e o n th e s u c c e s s o f th e “Demon Driver ” is d u e t o a s p e c ia l p r o c e s s o c c u p y i n g a l o n g p e r i o d th a t th e b a t s u n d e r ­ g o b e f o r e le a v in g th e w o r k s , a n d a lt h o u g h t h e r e a r e a lw a y s a la r g e n u m b e r o f B a ts u n d e r th is t r e a tm e n t w h i c h c o u l d b e p la c e d in th e m a r k e t , G e o . G . B u s s e y & C o ., in th e in te r e s t o f c r ic k e t e r s a n d t h e ir o w n r e p u ­ t a t io n , w ill n o t d e v ia t e fr o m th e s y s t e m th a t h a s m a d e th e The Finest Bat the World produces. GEO.G. BUSSEY&CO, 36 & 38, QUEENVICTORIA STREET, E.G. M an u fa c to ry— PECKHAM, S.E. Timber Mills—ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK. AGENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. B t F . S . A sh le y -C o o p ir . Cricketers have experienced varied weather during the past few days. Last week the rain descended in torrents in almost all parts of the country, causing matches to he aban­ doned in wholesale fashion, whilst during the past three days the weather has been ideal. Cricketers generally, and those of Bath and Tonbridge in particular, will long remember the deluge winch played such havoc with the game. At the former place the watery element was so unfavourably prominent, that in one portion of the enclosure a depth of four feet was recorded! Although the ground was not in so parlous a state at Tonbridge, it was nevertheless so severely flooded that menwere specially engaged to pump oft the water. The generation yet unborn will, in years to come, be able to congratulate itself on having providentially escaped the wettest, dreariest and most miserableJune that was ever known. It was strange that during the last three days of the past week Manchester, which does not boast a very enviable reputation so far as the weather is concerned, should have escaped the torrents which descended in other parts of the country. In fact, whilst cricketers were deploring their ill-fortune on most grounds, the Lancashire and London County men were revelling on a billiard-table wicket at Old Trafford. “ 1309 runs for 35 wickets” reminds one of the Hove ground at its best— or worst. Poidevin, Murdoch, Eccles and Hallows all reached three figures, and each, curiously enough, for the firsttime this season in a great match. The success of Murdoch recalls his many triumphs as a member of the early Australian teams, whilst Poidevin, by his fine display, proved—if any proof were necessary—that he is a batsman of the very highest class. Next year he will be qualified for one of the Metropolitan counties, and if he is able to appear regularly for the side should do much to restore it to the high position it formerly occupied in the cricketing world. During the past few weeks he has exceeded the hundred on three occasions for London County, making 110 not out v. Worcester Park Beagles, 116 v. Dublin University, and 172 not out v. Lancashire. Murdoch also has reached three figures thrice for the club during the previous season, as in addition to his 155 last week against Lancashire he has also made 121 v. Townley Park, and 114 v. Guy’s Hospital. It was a wonderful performance on the part of London County to leave off with the best of the draw, after being so much in arrears on the first innings. The result doubtless gladdened the heart of “ W.G.” It was only to be expected that there would be some extraordinary cricket after the heavy rain which fell last week, but few people, if any, could have been prepared for tbe sorry displays given by Hampshire and Gloucestershire against Worcestershire at Worcester, and Kent at Tonbridge respect­ ively. Hampshire’s collapse was as greatly due to bad batting asto the excellent bowling of Arnold and Wilson. As amatter of record it may be mentioned that the last seven wickets increased the score by three runs only, and that the last five actually went down without any increase in the total. Remembering this, it is not surprising to find that their score of 30 is the smallest for which they have been dismissed in a great match since 1789, when they went down before Kent, at Hambledon, for 27. That their poor display was inexcusable was plainly shown when the Worcestershire innings was opened by Bowley and H. K. Foster, who, by means of very bright cricket, scored 156 before the first wicket fell. H. K. Foster is in very good batting form this year, and ia worthily maintaining the best traditions of the family. When K. E. and W. L. Foster take their places in the county eleven, Wor­ cestershire will possess a side which will be a very difficult one to beat. Last week was an unfortunate one for Gloucestershire, the county collapsing for 43 against the Gentle­ men of Philadelphia and 31 against Kent in consecutive innings. In the last-mentioned match Alec Hearne was in irresistible form, his analysis being eight for 15, which is his record performance with the ball in first-class cricket, unless one regards his 4 for 0 against Somerset, at Taunton, in 1894, as being better. The manner in which Hearne main­ tains his form is extremely gratifying, as he is one of the cheeriest and keenest of cricketers. Although he has been in the Kent eleven for 20 seasons, he played his highest innings as recently as last year and accomplished a truly wonderful bowling per­ formance last week. The success of the Philadelphians over Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire, coupled with the splendid fight they made against a strong M.C.C. team, should do much to cause their future doings to be followed with the greatest interest. It is evident that Mr. J. B. King is the mainstay of the side, as in addition to being the chief of the bowlers, he is also one of the most reliable of the batsmen. It is to be hoped that the counties which are to meet the team will not place weak sides in the field, which would not only be a poor com­ pliment to the tourists, but would also court defeat. Should we experience a spell of dry weather and hard wickets, the Philadelphians would probably have many large scores made against them, as they practically have only two bowlers, King and Clark, both fast, who may be depended upon to cause trouble to English batsmen. The side appears to be capable of making a good score against the best of bowling - witness their 400 for nine wickets in the second innings of the Notts, match—and will probably be rarely dismissed for less than 250 on a good wicket. Their totals of 65 and 93 on a treacherous pitch at Lord’s, against Mead, J. T. Hearne and Trott, were better performances than the figures would lead one to suppose. Their defeat in the match by five wickets indicated a greater differenc# between the two sides than there actually was, and, but for Warner being allowed to double his score through a catch missed by Morris, the result might well have been reversed. It is a curious fact that touring teams are generally seen at their best at Lord’s against the M.C.C., the performances of the various Australian sides, and especially that of 1878, of the South Airican team of 1894, and of the Philadelphians this year, bearing witness to the truth of the statement. The return of Hirst to the Yorkshire eleven has made a tremendous difference in the strength of the side, his performances against Derbyshire and Kent showing most plainly how greatly the team was handi­ capped by his inability to participate in the few previous matches. If a team represent­ ing the full strength of England had to be chosen at the present time, Hirst would pro­ bably be the first man picked. That he is by far the best all-round player in tho country cannot be gainsaid. Against Kent, at Leeds, although he neither took so long a run, nor bowled at so great a pace as before hiB break­ down, he obtained nine wickets at a cost of 76 runs, the manner in which he made the ball swerve being most pronounced. It will