Cricket 1903

J uly 9, 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 259 BUSSEY’S “DEMON DRIVERS. < c c o « GEO, G. BUSSEY & GO Desire to inform Cricketers all over the world who may experience a difficulty in ob­ taining “ Demon Drivers ” that this difficulty arises in consequence of theever-increas- ing demand exceeding the supply. Headers 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 D river ” 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 fromthe system that has made the The Finest Bat the World produces. GEO.6.BUSSEY&CO, 3 6 & 3 8 , QUEENVICTORIASTREET, E.C. Manufactory—PECKHAM, S.E. Timber Mills—ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK. AGENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. A T TH E SIGN OF TH E W ICK E T . B y F . S . A sh le y -O oopbb . The ’Varsity match and the meeting of the Gentlemen and Players have combined to furnish a most interesting week’s cricket at Lord’s. The easy victory of Oxford took us all by surprise, the side playing in a wholly different manner from that they showed in the various trial matches. Dowson, unfor­ tunately for his side, was a failure. His superb displays in the earlier matches had led one to hope that he would be seen to very great advantage against the Oxford side. Once again, however, the uncertainty of cricket manifested itself, with the result that all the critics were proved false prophets. But what charm would there be in the game if Fry and Tyldesley never got dismissed for single-figure scores, or if Rhodes and Hirst never bowled without obtaining ten or more wickets f The extent to which the Light Blues depended upon their captain’s efforts could cause the match to end in only one manner in the event of his non-success. Not only did Dowson fail, but the Oxonians played a far better game than was anticipated, with the result that the Light Blues sustained the heaviest reverse— one of 268 runs—ever experienced by either side in the series of ’ Varsity matches. To Raphael and Evans Oxford arc chiefly indebted for their victory, and to Mclver (of whom we shall probably hear much in future years) and Carlisle in a less degree. Raphael commenced his long innings of 130 in a very steady manner, exhibiting strong defence, and running not the least risk. Although his innings could not be termed a really great one, it was nevertheless of the utmost value to his side, and was, moreover, com­ piled without a chance. Evans was seen at his very best as a bowler, the manner in which he varied his pace without any appreciable change of action being very clever. His slow ball proved a distinct success, not any of the Cambridge men being able to time it with any degree of certainty. The invitation he received to appear for the Gentlemen at Lord’s was an honour he fully merited. The tremendous scoring on the Trent Bridge ground in last week’s match between Notts and Lancashire again causes general attention to be drawn to the subject of pre­ pared wickets. It is universally recognised that the present great superiority of the bat over the ball is (apart from bad weather, which cannot be remedied) wholly attributable to the billiard-table wickets, which are now­ adays to be found on all county grounds. During the last few non-cricket seasons many suggestions, with responsible persons as sponsors, have been advanced so that high scoring might be checked, the num­ ber of drawn games lessened, and bat and ball (as should always be the case) placed on an equality, but each in its turn has been condemned as impracticable. The suggestion which would have probably produced the result desired took the form of a circular issued by the M.C.C. to the secretaries of the county clubs, dated December, 1901, and wordod as follows:—“ It is undesirable, in the interests of cricket, that the wickets should be prepared artificially {i.e., in any way other than by water and the roller, except when patching is necessary).” If the above, instead of remaining a mere experience of opinion, could be embodied in the laws of the game, bat and ball would be placed on an equality, and drawing-room batsmen would cease to trouble. The feature of the match at Lord’s between the Gentlemen and the Players was the success which attended the efforts of Knight upon his debut in the classic contest. By playing an innings of 139 he placed to his credit the highest score ever made by a Player on his first appearance against the Genllemen. During the four hours and twenty-five minutes he was at the wieket he did not give a chance, and the only fault which might be found with his display was that at times he was very slow. Appended will be found a table showing particulars of the most successful first appearances in Gentlemen v. Players matches, which date back to 1806. The qualification is one inn­ ings and scoring 50, or two innings and scoring 70. Ratsmen. T. E. Bagge Scores. Ground. Year. 62 and 60 ... Oval 1860 .. 75 it 10 » •» 26* ... Lord’s ... 1819 61 Oval 1899 . 50 .. Prince’s... 1877 .. 6 »» 123 .. Oval 1900 a 82 11 .. Oval 1897 . 70 .. Lord’s ... 1865 . 32 tt 50 !.. Oval ... 1882 .. 72 6 ... Oval 1896 .102* tt 136 Lord’s ... 1900 .. eo tf 0 .... Oval 1895 . 64 it 58 ... Oval 1865 . 11 62 ... Lord’s ... 18*52 .. 4 tt t7 .. Lord’s ... 1897 .. 38 tt 33 . Lord’s ... 1822 ,.139 .. Lord’s ... 1903 67 .. Lord’s ... 1806 .. 74 tt 20 !.. Oval 1895 ,. 89 tt 31 .. Lord’s ... 1885 ,. 27 f 100 .... Oval 1895 47 tt 47 ... Oval , 1897 62 tt 27* ,.. Oval . 1676 .. 42* tt 59 Oval . 1889 .. 72 ... Prince’s..., 1877 .. 16 t» 57 ;.. Oval 1864 .. 76 .. Oval , 1891 . 125 ,.. Scarboro’ . 1900 .. 96 and 12 ... Oval . 1896 .. 56* Lord’s .... 1892 ... 50 it 28 ... Hastings. . 18S9 .. 81 ... Oval . 1899 C. J. Hurnup . F.H.B.Champai B. B. Cooper .. Flowers, W. H. K. Foster . R. E. Foster ., L. H. Gwynn . Humphrey, T. . Iddison, R. G. L. Jessop ., Jordan, Jas. Knight, A. E. ., Lambert, W . . Lilley, A. A. . F. M. Lucas Marlow, F. W . F. W. Milligan F. P<mi ... . Quaife, W . .. . W. W. Bead . Rowbotham, J., E. Smith ... Thompson, G. J C. L. Townsend Wainwright, E. Ward, A. ... Young, H. ... * Signifies not out. From the above list it will be seen that only five cricketers have succeeded in playing a three-figure innings on their first appearance in these matches, one of whom, Mr. R. E. Foster, scored 102 not out at bis first attempt and 136 at his second. At the present time there is no side in tbe country more worth watching at the wicket than Worcestershire. In H. K. Foster and Arnold the county possesses two players whose claims for inclusion in an England eleven would be very strong indeed at the present time. Foster has been in tre­ mendous run-getting form this season, and his absence from the ranks of the Gentlemen at Lord’s was very regrettable. When his two famous brothers return to the team, Worcestershire will possess a side which will be found very difficult to defeat. Not only can the eleven be relied upon to make a satis­ factory score against the best bowling, but the runs are always made at agood rate. On the first day of the match against Somerset this week, at Worcester, as many as 570 runs were obtained, the home team scoring 427 for the loss of but two wickets after the visitors had been disposed of for 143. H. K. Foster was chiefly responsible for this fast run- getting, seeing that he made 210 not out in 185 minutes out of 310 obtained whilst in. At one period he obtained 60 in 18 minutes, and, in partnership with Bowley (148), added 250 for the second wieket in 110 minutes. The score was advanced from 200 to 300 in 35 minutes, and from 300 to 400 in a precisely similar period. It is run-getting such as this which not only enables high-Bcoring matches to be finished, but also attracts the public, without whose patronage first-class cricket would very quickly cease.