Cricket 1903

430 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. S e pt . 17, 1903 THE SECOND-CLASS SYSTEM APPLIED TO THE FIRST-CLASS COUNTIES. (From the Daily Express.) We again give, as we did last year, the result of the county championship com­ petition, worked out under the same system as that in u<e for the Second Division—viz., three points for a win outright and one point for a win on the first innings where the match is left drawn. It will be seen that although Middlesex are champions this year, they only take second place under this system, the reason being that out of all their drawn games they do not get a single point, as in each case their opponents were ahead on the first innings. On the other hand, Yorkshire were nearly always “ on top ” in their drawn games. The results would work out as follows : T3 1Hbo .2 'd <» pq 0 • * o' O a § i dOS -—I .5 3 CDO) 2 £ s * * 1 (3 5 o opHPM © o P h o O) “ P h 1. Yorkshire . 26 .13 .. 6.. 1... 5 . 78 . 45.. 57-69 2. Middlesex 16... 8...--... 4 .. 1 . <8 . 24.. 5/00 8. Lancashire 26...10 .. 4 .. 2... 5 78. . 34.. 4358 ( Worcester 20 .. 8 . 2...—... 6 . 63. . 26 . 43*33 4. Kent .. .. 20... 7 .. 5 .. 1... 6. . 60. . 26.. 43 33 ' Essex 20 .. 7... 5 .. 1... 6 . 6). . 26.. 43-33 7. Notts .. .. 20... 6 .. 6 .. 1... 4 . 60. . 24.. 4000 8. Somerset... 17... 6... 1 6 . 51. . 19.. 37 V6 9. Sussex 23 .. 7 4... 2... 2. . 69. . 25.. 36-23 10. War a ick .. 18 .. 5... 3... 3 .. 4 . 54. . 18 33 3 J 11. Surrey 27... 7 .. 2... 3 11. . 81. . 23 . 28-39 12. Derbyshire 16 4 - .. 1 .. 7 . 48. . 12 . 25 00 13. Gloucester 20 .. 3 .. 5 . —...10... 60... 14.. 23 33 14. Leicester .. 20. 1... 4 .. 1 . 10... 60... 7 11-66 15. Bants 15 .. 1... 2...—...10 .. 45... 5 11 11 The matches Surrey v. Hantp, Middle­ sex v. Essex, Somerset v. Hants, Kent v. Sussex, Essex v. Hants and Middlesex v. Kent are not counted in the above table, as they were abandoned without a ball being bowled. The drawn games in the table are those where an innings had not been completed on both sides. If County A goes in first and makes 150 and B follows with 160 for eight wickets, when no further play takes place, one point is given to B ; but should B only make 140 for eight wickets, the match is included in the drawn column. Out of 93 completed games, no less than 83, or 89'24 per cent., were won by the side leading in the first innings, and only ten counties, or 1075 per cent., ia arrear on the first innings managed to win. Last year the figures were : 83 com­ pleted games, 66, or 79'51 per cent., won, and 17, or 20 48, lost by the side leading on the first innings. The leaders, there­ fore, well deserve the point. Twenty-seven games were finished in two days, and not a siagle one in a day. Under the above system we should see some fine fights, as the side behind on the first innings would make a desperate attempt to win, they being none the worse off if they lost, and to win would mean three points. Under the present system a loss affects the percentages far more than a win, which encourages play­ ing for safety—a proceeding sometimes exciting, but more often exceedingly dull. THE EPISTLE OF GERTRUDE FORTESQUE. M y D e a r e s t M a b e l , —Since my last communication I have been spending a merry time in London with Bert, but, owing to amisunderstanding between us, we are not now on speaking terms. It’s all through that horrid game they call cricket. Bert was so anxious to spend a day at Lord’s and, not knowing what I was to suffer, I went with him. What­ ever you do, never attend a cricket match with your intended, unless you are ini­ tiated in the mystic arts of the game. From the arrangements we made, and the anxiety of Bert to see the first ball bowled—just fancy, they bowl them all alike—one would imagine we were bound for the continent, instead of baing cramped and crushed on a wooden bench, with the sun pouring down on one’s complexion, and forbidden by those be­ hind to open a parasol—and I did so want to display i t ! Why on earth so many persons pay a shilling to see a lot of men play cricket I can’t imagine. There they were, all ia lovely white flannels, with ever so much room at their disposal, while we were huddled together like so many sardines in a tin. Some would bowl, some would bat, while two men, dressed in white coats, never did either. Sometimes the batsman would hit the ball, but more often he wouldn’t, and sometimes they would run. Sometimes somebody would run after the ball, and sometimes they would wait till a person iu the crowd threw it to them, and then about every five minutes the whole lot of them would takea walktostretch their legs. Bertreally made me cross at times. Soon after play commenced I asked him why he smiled and clapped his hands, and for answer he told me Richardson had bowled a maiden over. Naturally I took exception to the conduct of Bert, and his paltry excuse was that a maiden was a cricket term, Until yesterday I believed Bert to be a truthful man, but now I am sorry to say my opinion has altered. The manner in which Bert and his neighbour spoke of Lillie being clean, and Grace playing with his pads, was really childish. I never heard of men being christened Lillie or Grace, and if the giant pointed out to me was named Grace, I should think he could find something better to do than play with his pads. Besides I never saw him play with them. Then Bert left me, actually left me in that motley crowd with the promise that he would be back in five minutes ; he said it was absolutely necessary that he should speak to one of the players about a dis­ puted point in the match. One thing amused me awfully. It was a kind of schoolmaster, who kept altering some figures on a board, and yet never seemed to make up his mind what he required. As I was a considerable distance from him, I never really knew what he was lecturing upon. Whilst watching this individual, I timidly asked a neighbour— for Bert had not returned—why they were applauding, and the wretch—they have not the courtesy to speak civil on a cricket ground—yelled, “ Braund’s leg- breaks.” Guessing Braund was one of the performers, I looked at my pro­ gramme, and there sure enough was the name of Braund. I managed to ascertain which of the players rej oiced in the name of Braund, but although I watched him bowl for a long time, 1 didn’t see his leg breik. The ignorance of some people is distressing. I was very amused at the talk of a couple of gentlemen who sat near me, but what I could not make out was that they both agreed that the wicket was very bad. Of all the idiotic fools ! It was as smooth as glass. As Bert had not returned, and as the seats they supply are not of the saloon type, I thought I would stroll on the ground. Of course, I am not so ignorant as to imagine that the spectators are allowed on the grass until the last wicket is down. So when a boy walked round the enclosure crying “ Card, last wicket down,” I thought the ground free. You have possibly heard, Mabel dear, the roar of the lions in the Zoo ; but that is absolutely nothing compared to the shrieks and strange cries that simultaneously broke from a thou­ sand throats when I trespassed upon the green turf. If a national calamity was pendiug the alarm could not have been more pronounced. Naturally I retraced my steps, and would have immediately left the ground could I have found an exit from that living throng. I was struck by a curious individual who constantly walked round the ground selling poems, and if it hadn’t been for his charming conversation I should have gone mad. He was such a nice old gentleman, and not at all conceited. He actually told us that anyone could write poems, but he defied us to sell them. I like straightforwardness, so I purchased half-a-dozen of them. He furthermore remarked that on most cricket grounds the crowds were ignorant persons, but at Lord’s he met persons of social stand­ ing and intelligence. You know I love flattery, and as his eyes were directed to me I purchased another half-a-dozea. All things have an end, and at last the mighty throng rose as one man and scattered over the green like so many wild beasts let loose, and, watching my opportunity, I hastened from the ground, after spending the most miserable day in my life. I am leaving for home to-night by the 9.15, and if you are disengaged should be pleased with your company. Your loving friend, G e r t r u d e . P.S.—It is all off with Bert. He says that he looked for me all over the ground, which is rubbish. P.P.S.—I have been reading the even- iog papers, and must have misjed the best pirt of the performance. I really should so much have liked to see Grace’s grand drive out of the ground, and Braund knocked right over the pavilion. - G . A. D. T.