Cricket 1903

A ug . 20, 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 355 BUSSEY’S “DEMON DRIVERS. <c-c& « GEO, G. BUSSEY & GO Desire to inform Cricketers all over the world who may experience a difficulty in ob­ taining “ D em o n D r iv e r s ” that this difficulty arises in consequence of the ever-increas­ ing demand exceeding the supply. Readers o f G e o . G . B u s s e y & Co.’s pamphlet, entitled “ Evolution o f the Demon Driver,” are aware that a fea­ ture o f the success of the “ D em o n D r iv e r ” is due to a special process, occupying a long period, that the bats 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 Q o -A The Finest Bat the World produces. GEO.G.BDSSEY&CO, 36 & 38, QUEENVICTORIASTREET, E.C, Manufactory—PECKHAM, S.E. Timber HUls—ELMSWELL SUFFOLK. AGENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. B t F . S . A s h l b y -O o o p b r . The decision not to visit Australia, at which C. B. Fry was reluctantly compelled to arrive, has caused much regret to be expressed in cricketing circles both at home and abroad. His inability to undertake the journey will mean a very great loss to the side, for at the present time he is showing greater skill as a batsman than ever before. I hear on very good authority that Fry was extremely anxious to make the trip, and that the delay he took in which to decide the matter was due to a reply he expected to receive from Australia respecting an offer he made to do journalistic work for some colonial newspaper during the tour. Whatever the cause, however, the fact that he cannot see his way clear to accompany Warner on his latest cricketing expedition robs the doings of the team of a great deal of the attractiveness they would otherwisehave possessed. Despite the absence of the famous batsman, the team will be very strong in all departments of the game. There is plenty of variety in the bowling, the wicket-keeping is in capable hands, and a good score by the side may always be confidently anticipated. The question as to the person most likely to be called upon to fill the place left vacant by Fry’s decision is causing much interest amongst followers of the game, but at time of writing nothing definite is known on the matter. John Gunn, Knight and W. G. Quaife have been mentioned as likely candi­ dates, whilst in a few places the name of Mr. Ernest Smith has been suggested. Mr. J. M. Laing, the well-known Canadian player, recently distinguished himself by scoring 249 for Wanderers A team against Douglas Park on the Wanderers’ Ground at Parkside, Chicago. Douglas Park, after being dismissed for 26, had 385 runs scored against them for the loss of four wickets, J. M. Laing (249) and J. G. Davis (103 not out) adding 313 together in partnership for the fourth wicket. The following is the score of the innings :— D. T. Campbell, b W . Clark .......... 7 S. Coen, c J. H. Tudball, b E .T.Parker 0 J. M. Laing, c F. Burns, b W . Clark 249 W . i(. Gilchrist, b W . Clark ... .. 9 J. G. Davis, not out ........................ 103 P. Williams* ii, not out........................12 Extras ....................................... 6 Total (4 wkts) ..........885 Laing batted under three hours for his record score. The re-introduction of Langford into the Hampshire eleven has strengthened the side considerably. He was tried for the county against Leicestershire, at Leicester, last year, but failed to make a good impression—owing perhaps to the fact that he was given but little chance of distinguishing himself. He scored 4 and 0 not out, and bowled two overs for four runs without obtaining a wicket. This season he has been extraordinarily suc­ cessful with the ball, his analyses being: O. M. R. W. v. Warwickshire . 119 • ‘ \ 28 .. . 9 . . 14 . .. 30 . .. 41 . .. 5 .. 6 v. Sussex................. 35*5 ... 12 ... 81 ... 7 Totals .... 82 5 .... 36 .. 155 .. 18 Average runs per wicket, 8-61. His record, good as it undoubtedly is, would have been even better had he received adequate support from the field. In the Sussex match he suf­ feredmuch from dropped catches,Kanjitsinhji (95) and Fry (43) being missed off him when 2 and 15 respectively. His recent successes should cause his future performances to be followed with more than ordinary interest. Of the many great bowling feats performed during the past week that of Wilson, in obtaining four wickets in five balls for Wor­ cestershire v. Gloucestershire at Cheltenham, must rank as one of the most remarkable. Last year the feat was twice accomplished in great matches, by J. T. Hearne for Middlesex v. Essex at Lords’, and by the Hon. F. S. Jackson for Yorkshire against the Austra­ lians at Leeds. When Worcestershire entered the County Championship Competition—in 1899—Wilson began with a splendid perfor­ mance against Yorkshire, taking in the first innings eight wickets for 70 runs, but it must be admitted, although he has since that date accomplished many excellent feats with the ball, that he has not gained quite so high a place in the cricket world as he at one time gave promise of doing. All his best perfor­ mances have taken place when representing Worcestershire. He has twice performed the hat trick against London County at Wor­ cester, in 1900, and Surrey at the Oval in the following year, his victims on the former occasion being Quaife (W. G.), F. G. Kobin- son, and Braund, and on the latter L. Walker, E. M. Dowson, and Stedman. His other good feats may be summarised as follows :— 12 for 211,v. 8 for 70, v. 8 for 46, v. 7 for 76 12 for 1411T' 7 for 84 1 11 for 185 ( Tl 11 for 188, v. 7 for 63, v. 11 for 16\ v. 11 for 90, v. 7 for 51 1 12 for 84 f He also took four for 8 v. Leicestershire in 1900, six for 22 v. Gloucestershire in 1901, and six for 15 v. Hampshire this year, all three matches being played at Worcester. Not for many years have Surrey proved so poor a team as they are at present. Even with their strongest side in the field they have for some seasons past been unable to score runs with any degree of certainty on a wet wioket. In so wet a season as the present the absence of their greatest run-getter, Abel, is especially to be deplored by all interested in the welfare of the once- invul­ nerable county. It has been truly said that even on a hard wicket the side is liable to be dismissed for less than 200 runs if Abel is disposed of for .under 50: his value to the side is not shown merely by the mark he leaves on the score-sheet. He has been for so many years a regular member of the county eleven, that the teamappears strangely unfamiliar without his presence, whilst it is no exaggeration to say that the other players on the side have never seemed really comfort­ able since he stood down. It is with pleasure that one can add that his eye trouble is lessening, and that in all probability he will next year again take his place in the eleven. His failures early in the present season must not be taken seriously, as when asked to play he candidly confessed that he did not con­ sider himself in a fit condition to do so, and it was only after considerable pressure from the committee that he consented to take the field. The following score of an innings played by Isfield against Hadlow Down, at Hadlow Down, Sussex, on the 3rd inst., is worthy of preservation, inasmuch as only one run was M.C.C. and Ground.. Yorkshire............ Oxford University .. Gloucestershire Middlesex................ Leicestershire......... Sussex....................... Gloucestershire .. .. Hampshire................ Gloucestershire Lord’s ... 1899 Worcester... 1899 Oxford ... 1699 Gloucester.. 1900 Worcester... 1900 Leicester .. 1901 . Worcester... 1902 . Bristol ... 1902 , Woicester... 1903 , Cheltenham 1903