Cricket 1903

68 CRICKET • A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A p r il 16, 1903. 218* A. D. Wilkins, North v. South of Bombay Presidency, at Poona ........................ 1886 216 Capt. Coin Mackenz e, Murree v. Rawul Pindi, at Mume ............................... 1889 215 Capt. E. I.. ( ballenor, Madras Presidency y. Ceylon, at Madras ................. 1902 211* B. Jaya Ram, Bangalore Wanderers y. Belgium, «t Be’gaum ........................ 1901 213 J. D. Guis-e, Bal yganj v Mr. Milts’ X II., at 1allyganj (Calcutta)......... .......... 1903 212 Capt. G. C. Eicke. Officers of Wiltshire Regiment v. Offi era cf Royal Irish Fusiliers, at Prshawur ........................ 1896 211* J. E. Waterfleld, about ten or twelve yearB8g0,0!i A nnandale Ground. Simla. 209* E. B. T. Studd, Behar Wanderers v. Cal­ cutta, at Calcutta ....................... ... 1899 209 Major L. A. Hamilt< n. Officers v. N.C O ’s and Mtn (of K.O. Yorkshire Light Infantry), at Dirnp re (Bengal).......... 1885 2C6 H. C. Kirg, Madras v. Bangalore, at Bangalore .............................................. 1885 205 Prince Christian Victor, King’s Rtyal Rifl-s v. Devonshire Regiment, at Rawul Pindee ...................................... 1893 204* Lieut. E. H. Lancaster, Queen’s Regiment v. Garrison, at Murree ........................ If00 204 J. B. Wood, Simla v. Bishop Cotton’s School, at Simla...................................... 1900 204 Capt. J. G. Gr«ig, Bombay Presidency v. Oxford University Authentics, at Bombay ........................ ................. 1902 203 G. H. Simpson-Hayward, Oxford Univer­ sityAuthpnticsv.Pt shawur,at Peshawur 1903 202* Capt. R. M. Pooie. Gaiieshkicd v. Lan­ cashire Fusi iers and Worcestershire Regiment, at Garieshkind ................. 1892 * Signifies not out. The above list has no pretentions to com­ pleteness, and details of any further individual scores of over 200 will be gladly welcomed. It will be observed that K. S. Ranjitsinhji never held the record for India, as has been so frequently stated, his innings of 257 not out in 1898 falling short of Lieut (now Lieut.-Col.) Colin Mackenzie’s 259 at Simla fourteen years before. When the latter made his huge score of 259, Lieut. Taylor (160) assisted him in putting up 321 for the first wicket, which constitutes a record for India. “ How often has cricket been mentioned in the House of Commons? ” is a query which recently came to hand on a post-card from the south of France. The instances have not been numerous, and only the following are noted in one of my M.S. books :— (a) On August 15th, 1843, Lord John Manners asked the Attorney-General whether persons could be legally fined for playing on their village green on Sunday evenings. It appeared that “ a certain saintly person,” desiring to put an end to Sunday practice on the village green, at Hurley, Berks., brought some boys who had thus played before a country justice who, after hearing both sides of the case, fined each of the youths three shillings and costs, or about fifteen shillings each in all. The boys, each of whom earned but seven shillings a week, pleaded their inability to pay the sum, which was after­ wards done for them by a charitably-disposed person. In their defence, the boys stated that Sunday was the only day upon which recreation was possible for them. The Attorney-General, in his reply to Lord John Manners, said that if the boys were playing in their own parish the conviction was illegal; if not, then it could be supported. (b) In the course of a speech on April 21st, 1899, Lord Charles Beresford said :—“ Whilst I was at Wei-Hai-Wei, the German Admiral made a curious remark to me. He said: 4 You English are a most extraordinary peo­ ple. Three ports have been taken in China by foreigners—one at Port Arthur by the Russians, one at Kiaochau by the Germans, and one at Wei-Hai-Wei by the British. The Russians are working with very great activity to fortify their port; the Germans are employed, also with great activity, in making parade grounds ; and the English are engaged with great industry in making a cricket-ground.’ ” ( c ) Colonel G. Kemp, the old Cambridge University and Lancashire cricketer, took part on February 23rd last in the debate con­ cerning the phantom army corps, and re­ marked : “ Yes, I quite understand that! But would these corps, even with their reservists, be ready, fay on March 31st, to engage any other country in war, if necessary ? I do not think they would, because there are not the brigadiers or the other officers.” (Hear, hear). Proceeding, the hon. member said a few days ago he went to the depot at Colchester, and when he asked to see the training-ground the infantry officer pointed to what would make a good cricket ground. Particulars of any other instances of the game being referred to in speeches made in the House will be gladly received. I have a dim recollection of cricket in Battersea Park being the subject of discussion on one occasion, but at time of writing can give neither date nor details. An interesting instance of the “ glorious uncertainty” of cricket was brought to my notice a short time ago by one of the leading Tasmanian players. The following remarks refer to the match played in Melbourne last season between Victoria and Tasmania. “ For various reasons,” writes my correspondent, “ seven or eight of our leading Tasmanian players were unable to get away to play in Melbourne, and, as we had such a poor team, we wired at almost the last moment to the Victorian Association, stating that owing to having such a wretched team we suggested postponing the match for a season, and asked if they agreed. Not receiving a reply for a day or so, we wired to say we would go. VVe went—and won by 59 runs against a strong sid e!” The foregoing occurrence recalls to mind that in the match between the North and Surrey at Manchester, in 1863, the score of the first innings of the North was exceeded by the county without the loss of a wicket, yet Surrey eventually succumbed by 20 runs. On January the 31st V. Trumper (335) and D. Gee (172) scored 423 runs for the first wicket of Paddington v. Redfern, on the Redfern Oval. Trumper obtained his runs in two hours and three-quarters, and hit 22 fives and 39 fours, an occurrence which caused the Sydney Mail to inquire, “ Did anyone on any ground in the world hit 22 fives and 39 fours in one innings?” In reply it may be stated that no other player has ever hit as many as 22 fives in an innings, but that two or three have accomplished hitting feats which will compare very favour­ ably with Trumper’s. Thus, C. J. Eady, in his 566 for Break-o’ -Day v. Wellington, at Hobart, a year ago, hit 13 fives and 68 fours (337 runs) ; W . Hyman, whilst scoring 359 not out for Lath Association against Thom- bury, at Thornbury, in July last, obtained 32 sixes, and 30 fours (312 runs); and A. E. Stoddart, during his mammoth innings of 485 for Hampstead v. Stoics, at Hampstead, in August, 1886, hit an eight, three fives and 64 fours (279 runs). Trumper, it will be noticed, obtained only (!) 266 of his runs by strokes which counted four or more each, and that, in this respect, his display must be ranked after those of Eady, Hyman and Stoddart. The memory of the Arctic weather exper­ ienced at the Oval during the initial first- class match of the season will probably long remain with those whose fortune—or misfor­ tune—it was to be present. It was difficult to realise, as one stood by the roaring fire in the Surrey pavilion, thatthe season had really started. Snow fell on each of the first two days, causing a ten-minutes’ interruption on the Monday, and recalling the fact that snow fell during the match at Manchester, in June, 1882, between Lancashire and Cambridge University. Apart from the weather, the game was very enjoyable and much of the cricket seen was of a very high standard considering how early in the season it was. The chief feature of the match was undoubt­ edly the action of the umpires making use of the guage in order to see that none of the bats exceeded the legal width. Much amuse­ ment was caused when Sewell had to produce three bats ere being able to satisfy the umpires. As he had to proceed to the wicket in order to have each bat measured, much time was wasted most unnecessarily. It must be somewhat disconcerting, not to say humili­ ating, fjr a player to be obliged to retrace his steps to the pavilion from the centre of the ground, especially when there are thousands of spectators present. Years ago, at Lord’s, old Tom Hearne used the guage as each man left the pavilion, an arrangement which is far preferable to the one followed at the Oval this week. In passing, it may be pointed out that the fact that the bats produced by Sewell and Board failed to meet the requirements of Rule 5 by no means proves that those players habitually use wider bats than allowed by law. The bats disapproved of, it is important to remember, were not new ones. This fact should be borne in mind, as a new bat is very liable to “ spread” after being used even a little. Thus, a player may practise with a bat which does not exceed the legal width, but which, when about to be used in the match, may fail to meet the requirements of the guage. In fact, the bat used by Sewell in compiling his 90 runs, although passing through the guage before the innings, failed to do so after. It has been suggested that it would be a capital thing if the M.C.C. would test all guages and stamp them, so that one might know whether a guage produced was itself of correct dimensions. In an article in the Daily Telegraph of Monday last, entitled “ Coming Cricket Season, by Prince Ranjitsinhji,” it was remarked, “ To-day the young Madras player, Jayaram, is appearing for Dr. Grace’s side.” The debiit in great matches of B. Jaya Ram— who,*by the way, was born in April, 1872, and is, therefore, lianjitsinhji’s senior by some months—evoked much interest, espec­ ially as he had made 118 at the Crystal Palace on the previous Saturday. At the Oval he did not, unfortunately, remain at the wicket in either innings long enough to show the form which had placed him in quite the front rank of Indian cricketers. One cut he made in the first innings, however, was delightful, and it is a pity it could not be preserved under a glass case. It was, beyond doubt, the finest stroke of the match. As Jaya Ram will probably remain in England for two or three years, enthusiasts will have several opportunities of seeing his displays. Next year his presence in the Native Indian team should strengthen the side considerably, for, in addition to being a splendid batsman, he is an excellent field, and can bowl with a very useful leg break. From a Surrey point of view, the most pleising feature of the recent match was the capital all-round cricket of Hayward, who, like Holland, says he has never felt more fit in his life than at. the present time. Opposing bowlers may therefore expect to receive very scant courtesy at times from their hands. The Surrey batting will this year probably be very strong, but the new bowler, of which the county has been in need for some time, has