Cricket 1903

JuiT 2, 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 2 1 3 BUSSEY’ “DEMON DRIVERS. <CCB« CEO, C. BUSSEY & CO Desire to inform Cricketers all over the world wlio may experience a difficulty in ob­ taining “ Demon D rive rs” that this difficulty arises in consequence of the ever-increas­ ing demand exceeding the supply. Eeaders of G e o . G . B u s s e y & Co.’s pamphlet, entitled “ Evolution of the Demon Driver,” are aware that a fea­ ture of the success of the “Demon DriYer ” is due to a special process occupying a long period that the batsunder­ go before leaving the works, and although there are always a large number of Bats under this treatment which could be placed in the market, G e o . G . B u s s e y & Co., in the interest of cricketers and their own repu tation, will not deviate from the system that has made the The Finest Bat the World produces. GEO.G.BUSSEY&CO. 3 6 & 3 8 , QUEEN VICTORIASTREET, E.C Manufactory—PECKHAM, S.E. Timber Mills—ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK* AGENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. B y F . S . A shley -C oopbr . This year’sUniversity match, which should commence to-day at Lord’s, has not aroused much interest in cricketing circles, owing presumably to the fact that both teams are obviously below the average strength oi University elevens. The fielding of each side is distinctly poor, whilst the batting of the Oxonians is extremely weak. Probably the best bowler in either team is the old Clifton College boy, Keigwin, of Cambridge, who can change his pace judiciously and make the ball break both ways. Although the two elevens are below the average, they include several players who will doubtless achieve great distinction in the cricket-field in years to come, as, for instance, Dowson and F. B. Wilson of Cambridge, and Evans, Findlay and Mclver of Oxford. Dowson is a player who may win the game for his side almost single-handed, so fine an all-round cricketer is he, and the same [remark applies with almost equal truth to Evans, of Oxford. This year the latter has improved in bowling considerably, but at the expense of hisbatting, which is to be regretted considering the small run-getting ability of the Oxford side. Although Evans is now a better bowler than at any previous time in his career, he is still leagues behind his famous uncle, Mr. A. H. Evans, in this respect. If one may judge from theformdisplayedby thetwo sides during the past few weeks, one cannot but regard Cambridge as the more likely side to win. Should Dowson fail to meet with much success, however, there is no telling what may happen, although, considering how greatly dependent the side is upon him, a victory for Oxford would, in the circum­ stances, be by no means surprising. It is with genuine satisfaction that one is able to congratulate Derbyshire upon their recent performances, for no other county has struggled more gamely during the past two decades to keep a leading place in the cricket­ ing world. To Mr. L. G. Wright, the veteran of the team, the recent successes of the side are chiefly due. Although now forty-one ears of age, he is this season showing better atting form than ever before, whilst his »erformances in the field have justly caused lim to be regarded as one of the smartest and safest points in the country. At his time of life many players show a great deterioration in their fielding ability, but with Wright, who is simply bubbling over with keeness and enthusiasm for the game and who is not blessed with a superfluity of flesh, it is different: in fact, he actually seems to improve with age. To him, more than to any other member of the team, the success of the side mus tbe particularly pleasing, for he has been faithful to the county through many years of depression. There appears no sound reason why Derbyshire should not occupy a conspicuous position in the future among the counties, for in Warren, Bestwick, Hum­ phries, A. E. Lawton and Storer, in addition to Wright, they possess players of undoubted ability, who may at any time accomplish a really great performance. During the Northern tour Surrey have experienced the “ glorious uncertainty” of the game, succumbing to Lancashire, but defeating the more formidable Yorkshire eleven. To the superb bowling of Barnes and Brearley the Lancashire success was due far more than to any other cause. Both men were in their best form, and the latter’s performance, coupled with his displays on previous occasions during the season, thoroughly entitled him to the invitation, which he received and accepted, to appear on Monday next for the Gentlemen, at Lord’s. Surrey’s defeat at Old Trafford did not prepare one for the splendid fight they made against Yorkshire at Brammall Lane. The return to their best form of Lockwood and Richardson will probably cause the county to be one of the hardest sides in the country to defeat on a hard wicket. Surrey, more than any other county perhaps, is very greatly dependent for suceess upon the state of the weather. When the ground is soft the side is always liable to fail even against the weakest counties, but on a dry wicket the team play a wholly different gime. Even now, Lockwood and Richardson, when at their best, are probably the finest pair of fast bowlers in the country on a true wicket. Their really great days, however, are, un­ fortunately, not quite so numerous as sup« porters of the county could desire. Lockwood appears to reserve his greatest efforts for the most important occasions, and when a great performance is required of him he is seldom found wanting. Holland, in recent matches, has done extremely well, recalling his many triumphs of 1895, when he appeared quite unable to make a mistake. His first-wicket partnership with Hayward in each innings against Yorkshire had a great deal to do with the Surrey success. Owing to extreme pressure on space, many interesting items which might be dealt with at length must be merely referred to. It may be mentioned that (1) H. K. Foster, who is at the preseut time one of the most prolific run-getters in the country, has not been selected to appear for the Gentlemen at Lord’s next week; that (2) W. Worsley, the very latest wicket-keeper tried for Lancashire, caught twomen and stumped sixinoneinnings for Church v. East Lancashire at Church on the 20th nit.; that (3) H. R. Murrell stumped five men in an innings last week when play­ ing for M.C.C. and Ground v. Sherborne School; that (4) F. A. Tarrant, the latest Australian importation, made a successful debut at Lord’son Monday last for the M.C.C. v. Oxford University, he was born on De­ cember 11th, 1881, being now but twenty-two years of age ; that (5) there were 106 extras in the two-day Oxford match at Lord’s this week ; and that (6) the Rev. WilliamVincent Jephson, of Hampshire, gives promise of developing into a very useful player. The latter was at Keble College, Oxford, in 1892, was ordained deacon in 1896, and priest the following year. He has been curate of Bea- minster, in Dorset, since 1896. Last Thurs­ day he scored 101 for Hampshire Hogs v. South Wilts on Saturday, a precisely similar number for M.C.C. and Ground v. Sherborne School, and on Tuesday a faultless 90 for Hampshire against Worcestershire at South­ ampton. BEL8IZE June 27. v. PELHAM.—Played at Neasdon on B e l s iz k . E. 8. Buckingham, lbw, b Potter..........28 T. 8. Fox, c Sharp, b Potter ................. 3 G. 8. F. Griffin, o Potter, b Parker .. 83 G. S. Buckingham, lbw, b Parker.......... 0 H. Carter, b Parker... 14 C. F. Pearce, c sub, b Potter ....................87 PlLHAH. A . W . Parker, b Chal­ lenger ................. Wallis, st Fox, b Griffin ................. A. F. Potter, b G. 8. Buckingham......... J. E. Potter, b Chal lenger ................ Axtey, b Challenger E. Hogg, b Parker ...10 J. 8. Buckingham, o Parker, b Potter ...1 8 J.D. Forsyth, b Wallis 2 O. Challenger, c F. Potter, b Wallis ... 4 H. Way, not out Extras... Total ...161 10 S&sfoid, b Challenger bharpe, c E. 8. Buck­ ingham,b Challenger Dalton, b Challenger J.Parker,b Challenger Shaipe, not ou t.. ... Extras................. Total ..........1