Cricket 1903

J uly 16, 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 275 BUSSEY’S “DEMON DRIVERS. <CCB« 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 ofthe ever-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 thebatsunder­ go before leaving the works, and although there are always a large number of Bats under this treatment which could be placed on 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 TheFinest Bat the World produces. GEO.G.BUSSEY&CO, 3 6 & 3 8 , QUEENVICTORIASTREET, 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 shlby -C oofhk . The result of last week’s match between Eton and Harrow was wholly unexpected. The few reports which had got about con­ cerning the Harrow eleven were distinctly favourable, and nobody couldhave anticipated a victory for Eton by an innings and over 150 runs. Either Harrow played greatly below their form, or Eton possessed one of the strongest school sides that has ever appeared at Lord’s. It has been remarked that on the Friday morning the wicket had been rather over-watered, a fact which would to a certain extent explain the collapse of the Harrow side for 115 after having won the toss, whilst their second innings’ total of 156 was by no means surprising considering the command­ ing lead established by their opponents. Having endeavoured to make some reasonable allowance for the poor scores compiled by the fechool-on-the-Hill, it must be at once admitted that Eton played a winning game throughout, and, judging from what occurred in this particular match, were immeasureably the more powerful side of the two. In Crankshaw, Williams, and the captain, Nicholl, were three batsmen such as are very seldom found in a school eleven. To them may chiefly be attributed the large total of 425—the highest ever scored by either side in the whole series of matches - seeing that the first-named was responsible for 100, Wil­ liams for 89, and the captain for 44. In the selection of 0. E. Hatfield, the Etonians were pre-eminently fortunate, inasmuch as he had only appeared once before in the Eleven— against I. Zingari —and proved a very great factor indeed in the rout of Harrow. He bowled with the greatest suc­ cess in each innings, his analyses being five for 33 and seven for 58. He possesses a beautiful action, natural and easy, and keeps a splendid length. As he is but sixteen years of age, he will presumably appear against Harrow on two or threemore occasions. His future performances should be followed with more than usual interest, as no school bowler has for years met with such pronounced success at Lord’s. A word of praise is due to the Harrow captain (Baily) and Bolton for their manful stand in the second innings, when the odds against them were so over­ whelming. The father of Baily, Mr. Edward P. Baily, assistedHarrow against Eton in 1870 and 1871, and Cambridge in the University matches of 1872 and 1874. He was acapable wicket-keeper, like the son, and a spirited batsman, who played a rousing first innings of 76 against Eton in 1870. The match at the Oval between the Gentle­ men and the Players produced a more interesting struggle than had been generally anticipated. It was thought that the strength of the Players’ bowling would cause the match to end in the defeat of the Gentlemen, but, so far from this being the case, the latter won comfortably by 54runs. Apart from the display in each innings by Quaife, the batting of the Players was very disappointing and was quite unworthy of the team. The Warwickshire batsman, who battled strongly to stave off defeat, received no adequate support, and was unfortunate in being on the losing side. G. W. Beldam and C. J. Burnup, who had previously met with success when assisting the Gentlemen at the Oval, were seen to advantage, the former scoring 80 and 64 and the latter being responsible for 77 and 39. Poidevin and Simpson-Hayward were very brilliant in the slips, and the latter, at quite the end of the match, brought off a most successful piece of lob-bowling, which recalled the feat of Jephson in the Lord’s match four years ago. Although the play was at times tediously slow, the cricket witnessed was very interesting, and—best of all - a definite result was arrived at, there fortunately not being any preponderance of the bat over the ball. The successes achieved by Somerset and Derbyshire over Lancashire and Nottingham- shire respectively, were worthy of all praise. Somerset’s victory was especially meritorious seeing that the side lacked the services of such redoubtable players as L. C. H. Palairet, Woods, and Martin; in the circumstances, to win by 182 runs after being 68 in arrears on the first innings, must be considered one of the very best performances ever accom­ plished by the county. Somerset is probably the most surprising team which has ever taken part in a long series of great matches. The form they show in one game is of no use in forecasting their probable display when next they take field ; they may be beaten by Hampshire in an innings and defeat York­ shire by over 250 runs in the same week. Such occurrences furnish the greatest charm of the game. There would be but little interest in cricket if the stronger side always won, and if the critics were never in error in their forecasts. The success of Derbyshire at the expense of Notts was a very great surprise, and should do much to give an impetus to the county for which W. B. Delacombe and L. G. Wright have done so much during the past two decades. The victory furnishes a red-letter mark in Derbyshire annals, for, although Notts have been met for over a quarter of a century, on no previous occasion had the county suc­ ceeded in winning. The visit of the M.C.O. team to Australia in the autumn is still the chief topic of con­ versation in the cricketing world. Specula­ tion as to the probable constitution of the side continues, whilst certain critics profess to be in possession of most interesting and reliable information on the subject, which, in their generosity, they refrain from making public—owing presumably to the fact that those who had previously published their own ideas have since been ridiculed on account of the gross inaccuracies of their surmises. The fitness of Mr. Warner for the post of skipper has been discussed in many quarters, but no really good reason has been shown why he should not captain the side. He has had as much experience of touring abroad as any other man, and has always proved himself a capital leader of men. The argument that he is unfitted for the post because he has never been in command of an England XI. at home goes for little, as there is a considerable difference between the game as played hero and in Australia. Not the least anxiety to a captain of an England XI. in this country is due to the fact that only three days can be allotted to the most important games, which causes much thought to be devoted to the manner in which the utmost can be got out of the side in the time available, and also the bes moment at which an innings may be declared closed. These points, and others which have to be considered owing to the match being restricted to three days, do not crop up in Australia, where matches are played to a finish irrespective of time. C BICKET Report Sheets, lOd. per dozen, post free. Order of Going-in Cards, 7d. per dozen, post free. Cricket Score Books, 6d. and Is. each; postage, 2d. extra.—To be obtained at the Offices of Cricket, 169, Upper Thames Street, London, E.C.