Cricket 1903

J u l y 23, 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 291 BUSEY’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 Driver ” is due to a special process, occupying a long period,that thebats under­ 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 The Finest Bat the World produces. GEO.G.BDSSEY&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. Br F. S. A sh lb t -O oopbk . The fact that Kent and Hampshire faced each other on Monday last at Catford Bridge reminds one that the finest batsman that ever appeared for the former side Was born exactly one hundred years ago, and that the most celebrated bowler Hampshire ever possessed was laid to rest the same year. The two players—their names will remain household words as long as cricket continues to be in­ dulged in—were respectively Fuller Pilch and David Harris. “ PUchand Harris !” What picturesque scenes the names enable one to conjure up ! Pilch was king of batsmen, Harris king of bowlers; each was supremely great in his own generation. Pilch, who was born at Horningtoft, in Norfolk, was initiated into the mysteries of the great game when apprenticed (quite a lad) to some trade in Sheffield, which was then a famous cricketing centre, and was in later years induced to settle in Kent, much to the advantage of that county. He is unanimously looked upon by all historians of the game as the best batsman that ever appeared before the days—or de­ cades—of Dr. W. G. Grace. His forward play was especially fine, and his knowledge of the game generally unsurpassed. Several persons have stated that hewas of a somewhat morose disposition, being uncommunicative and unsociable, but this is incorrect, for when in agreeable company he was amost interest­ ing man to listen to, anda pleasant companion. Mr. Frederick Gale, in an article entitled “ A Pipe in Fuller Pilch’s back Parlour,” has drawn us a fine picture of the old man, and has preserved for the benefit of future generations Beveral conversations he had with him at Canterbury. David Harris, about whom old John Nyren waxed so eloquent, was one of the bright particular stars of the Hambledon Eleven, which used to play even- handed against All England. During the last few years of his career he suffered terribly from gout, and would often be obliged to hobble to the ground on crutches, when, becoming warm, ho would bowl as well as ever. So severe at times were the attacks, that a large arm-chair would be brought on to the field of play, in which, after delivering his over, the hero would repose in his own calm and simple grandeur. It is recorded that often in an innings of eighty runs, not more than seven or eight would bemade off Harris’s bowling. When in his prime he was the greatest hero in Hampshireand the neighbour­ ing counties, but when he died he passed away unnoticed and unregretted: “ Now li h he there with none so poor to do him reverence.” His death was not mentioned in any news­ paper of the time, not even in those of his own county. A cricketer, however great, is speedily forgotten after he has dropped out of important matches. Even the death of the justly-famous Mr. William Ward would have been unannounced to the cricketingworld had not a casual correspondent troubled to draw the attention of the editor of Bell’s Life to the matter afew weeks after the funeral. To do justice to Ranjitsinhji’s innings against the M.C.C. at the Crystal Palace on Tuesday last would require at lea9t a couple of columns. The manner in which he nursed the bowling, by obtaining a single or a three from the last ball of the over, was little less than wonderful, and could only have been accomplished by a batsman of thevery highest attainments. He almost monopolised the bowling, as even a casual analysis of his innings will demonstrate ; of the 136 runs he added in partnership with May for the tenth wicket, the latter claimed but 25. When the ninth wicket went down Kanjitsinhji could have entertained but slight hope, if any, that he would reach three figures, see­ ing that his own score was then but 22. May, however, showed stubborn defence, and this, combined with Kanjitsinhji’s skilful tactics, enabled yet another hundred to be placed to the Indian’s credit. It was a splendid dis­ play in every way, and once again showed what unlooked-for changes can take place during the course of a game. Nine wickets were down for 68, but the total reached 204. Doubtless W.G. was chaffed for holding back the best batsmen until the last! One of the brightest batsmen to watch when thoroughly set is Hayes, of Surrey, who has made some excellent scores this season, and during the past week in particu­ lar. His large total against the Lancashire bowling was made by means of fearless hitting, which is tantamount to saying that the display, though a very brilliant one, was not faultless. It is impossible for any bats­ man, however great, to hit so hard aud for so long against good bowling, as Hayes did on Friday, without giving at least one chance. There was, by-the-way, an extra­ ordinary finish to that Surrey-Lancashire match, as, owing to rain, play was restricted on the last day to a maiden over bowled by Cuttell to N. Miller. One cannot but sympathise with those spectators who, after paying entrance-money and waiting patiently for some hours, had to rest content with seeing an unproductive over sent down. A precisely similar happening took place at Lord’ s, in 1877, when the only play which occurred on the first day of the Essex v. M.C.C. and Ground match was a maiden over delivered by the late Robert Clayton for the premier club. Messrs. George Newnes and Co. have for­ warded me a sumptuonsly-produced and most interesting volume entitled Cricket, this being the latest addition to their “ Country Life” Library of Sport. Although th« production runs to over 450 pages, the price—12s. 6d. net — will probably be found somewhat beyond the limit which the average cricket enthusiast cares to go. The only chapter in the book with which one might find fault is that entitled “ Some Points in Cricket History ” by the editor (Horace G. Hutchinson), who, presumably unaware of the many discoveries made during the past few seasons concerning the early records of the game, obtains the great majority of his information from Pycroft’s Cricket Field. Probably the most interesting of the numer­ ous illustrations is that facing page 40, which is of a ticket of admission to the Artillery Ground on the 18th of June, 1744. Students of cricket lore will readily recall to memory that the date is that of the first fully-recorded match, one between Kent and England, which, until the autumn of 1898, was always supposed to have been played in 1746. Above the illustration is written, in faded ink, “ A ticket to see a Cricket match, price 2s. 6d.” This did not refer, as Mr. Hutchinson suggests, to the charge for admission to the ground—which was generally but twopence, and never more than sixpence —but was obviously the price asked for the interesting relic of bygone days by the dealer into whose hands it had fallen. The ticket was probably a pass given to somebody who desired to leave the ground during the course of the match but wished to return later. This surmise is in all likelihood correct, as it was in June, 1744, that return passes were first issued at the Artillery Ground.