Cricket 1903

O c t , 2 9 , 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OE THE GAME. 4 4 5 OBITUARY. J o h n C r o s s l a n d . T h e Subject of this notice was born in Nottinghamshire on 2nd April, 1853. In 1878 he was recommended from Accring­ ton as a good all-round man, and received two trials in the Lancashire eleven. Prom thence till his connection with the County ceased in 1885, the fair­ ness of his bowling was subjected to a crusade of criticism which will never be forgotten. Until 1882 the amount of work he did with the ball was compara­ tively small, but he gare a wonderful indication of his powers against Surrey at the Oval, in August, 1881, when he took seven wickets for 14 runs in the first innings, fairly paralysing the Surrey men by his terrific pace. In 1882 Cross­ land was undeniably the most deadly fast bowler in England, and had there been no question as to the fairness of his bowling, would no doubt have been chosen for England against Australia. In all first-class matches he obtained 105 wickets at a fraction under 10 runs apiece, and of these no less than ninety- seven were taken for Lancashire. In match after match he was extraordinarily successful. Against Surrey at the Oval he obtained eleven wickets (ten bowled) for 79 runs, at one period in the first innings actually clean bowling five men for one run ! To quote Wisden, his questionable style evoked a “ storm of disapproval ” from the spec­ tators, who indulged in cries such as “ Take him off,” “ Well thrown,” and “ Thrown out, Crossland.” Outside county cricket that year he played for the North against the Australians, and captured eight wickets for 88 runs, and, with Peate, helped to add over 50 runs for the last wicket by free hitting. This was one of the only four defeats sustained by the Colonists in 1882. In 1883 and 1884 his records for all first-class matches were very similar, viz., 551 overs for 929 runs and seventy-two wickets in 1883, and 525 overs for 893 runs and seventy- one wickets in 1884, or an average of between 12 and 13 per wicket for each of the two seisons. In 1883 his bowling against Sutrey at the Oval again caused a hot demonstration of feeling, which all but led to the abandonment of the ma' ch. In the first innings he clean bowled seven wickets for 34 runs. Half-way through the season of 1884 a strained arm caused his absence from the later Lancashire matches, but of many successes might be mentioned a splendid feat for Liverpool and District against the fourth Austra­ lian team. In the first innings he obtained five wickets for 50 runs, and when the Australians went in to make 128, Crossland’s opsning ten overs were sent down for 6 runs and five wickets, his whole analysis showing six wickets for 20. The Australians won by one wicket only at the finish. Meantime some of the Counties had been taking action in the matter of his bowling, with the result that Notts refused to play Linejshire in 1884 and 1885, while in the latter year the return with Kent was cancelled as the result of a heated controversy. N on the less, no less a sportsman than Mr. Hornby always championed the fairness of Crossland’s bowling. During the season of 1885 at the instance of NottstheM.C.C. disqualified hin for playing for Lancashire on the ground that he had not continu­ ously kept up his residential qualification, Thus, as it were by a side door, did he make his exit from county cricket. So extraordinary were his powers of throw­ ing, that it is eaid he threw a ball one hundred yards while standing on a tub. Most people have also heard of the bats­ man in a local eighteen who, on receiving a yorker on the foot from Crossland, proceeded to limp to the pavilion. “ Come back,” said the umpire, “ you are not out.” “ Nay,” replied the man, “ but I ’m a going.” Crossland died of pneumonia on September 26th, and was buried at Blackburn at the cost of the Lancashire club. SCOTTISH CRICKET IN 1903. B y W . S alm on d . T hough Jupiter Pluvius has again had a long innings the improvement manifested in 1902 has undoubtedly been maintained. The season that has just closed has been one of more than ordinary interest. We have received visits from three first-class English elevens, while the Gentlemen of Philadelphia included us in their tour. The tour of the Oxford University Authentics also lent variety to our programme. Though we did not succeed in winning any of our represen­ tative matches, we showed up better than we usually do in such encounters, in spite of the fact that luck was invariably against us. We again experienced the old difficulty of getting together really representative elevens. There was not, however, what I may term a Mid- Lothian monopoly this year, the players being chosen from the different districts, and not the bulk of them from Edinburgh as hitherto. The English elevens that came north were Sussex, Lancashire, and G. L. Jessop’s eleven. There were some good individual performances on the patt of the Scotsmen in these matches, notably the bowling of G. W. Jupp (Carlton), who accounted for nine of the Sussex wickets at a cost of 10 runs apiece. Against Jessop’s XI. A. S. Cairns (Leith Caledonian) and A. •Blacklock (Selkirk), each gave a splendid display of batting; while the South of Scotland v. Lancashire match was chiefly remarkable for the good bowling of M. E. Dickson and T . Kyle (Hawick), and R. Harvey (Selkirk). The feature of the Phila­ delphian encounter was the brilliant batting of Joe Anderson (Perthshire), who scored an admirable 51. This versatile player was also, it will be recalled, the hero of the Australian match last year. Other features of the past season were the batting of L. M. Balfour- Melville who made four separate centuries; the all-round play of Higgins, the Forfar­ shire professional, who has just completed twenty-two years service at Broughty Perry; and lastly, the consistent batting of A. Stephen, who, playing throughout the season averaged 51. The County Championship in this the second year of its existence has again been attended with results .which have amply justified its inauguration. From start to finish the play in the competition was of the keen and exciting order, some very close finishes being witnessed. Though much handicapped by climatic conditions the majority of the players engaged acquitted themselves well, and showed more confidence than last year. Aberdeenshire, the champions of this season and runners-up of last, were easily the best all-round team. Their batting, bowling and fielding were all equally good, and their enthusiasm was great. In W. Webster and J. A. Scharenquival they possess two fine all-round cricketers, while in Johnson they have a fire slow-medium bowler. Aberdeenshire have carried off the champion­ ship not through the efforts of a few out­ standing players, but through the consistently good play of the entire team. Forfarshire were a very good combination, but they were too dependent upon their professionals in the bowling department. In batting they were very strong, W. R. Sharp, G. K. Chalmers, J. A. Kyd and Higgins all showing much ability. The bowling honours were shared equally by Higgins and Chambers. The former, like wine, improves with age, while Chambers will, in all probability, be seen in the Notts team next season. Perthshire also gave a fine exposition of the game. . Joe Anderson, Dr. C. C. Stuart and W. Stewart all batted in consistent fashion, the first- named especially, while R. Macgregor, Mitchell and Creighton distinguished them­ selves with the ball. As an all-round player W. Lovat Fraser was distinctly useful- Stirlingshire were again a disappointing combination. In Teesdale and J. A. L. Dunlop they possess two really good batsmen, but J. Harper Orr was hardly the Harper Orr of last season. The Stirlingshire howling was very weak, and their fielding also was not all that could be desired. Fifeshire again bring up the rear with a similar record to last year. They are certainly handicapped by playing nothing but mid- week matches, but after ali the remedy lies in their own hands. There is still room for improvement in the regula! ions governing the competition. The need for neutral umpires was more than ever apparent. Such umpires are nothing short of a necessity, for we must avoid friction and disharmony at all costs. 1 cannot but think that it would be well to specify the duration of all county matches. All such matches should begin not later than 12.30, and finish up at 6.30, thus allowing each side to have a complete innings, and consequently a decisive rtsult. I am also of opinion that the county qualification should be made more stringent. We do not wish every Tom, Dick and Harry who may stay a short time in Scotland to have a place in our county elevens to the exclusion of young and promising players. We should, to use a fiscalitm, “ protect ” our rising talent against the inroads of the “ foreigner.” To do this the qualification should be increased from two to six months. Club cricket ia Scotland has pursued the even, and it must be added monotonous, tenour of its way. After watching club cricket one invariably came away with the feeling that there was something lacking, that something being the absence of the competitive element. Without competition cricket soon becomes uninteresting, while the play itself sufifers from the want of stimulus. The Grange, Leith Caledonian and Carlton Clubs were among the most successful Eastern elevens. The Raeburn Place team were not so successful as usual. They were strong as ever in batting, but had to rely entirely upon their professionals for bowling. At one period of the season the professionals bowled unchanged in three consecutive matches. In the West, the Western District Championship as usual attracted much attention. Uddingston and