Cricket 1903

A pbil 23, 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 85 At each end three small stumps were set into the board, and dotted round the field were some eight or nine odd little fielders of gauza and wire. I took careful note of my great oppo­ nent’s position as he took centre. The bat was eight inches long, of peculiar shape, about two-thirds handle to one- third bat. It is used in a back-handed fashion, as if one were playing the left- handed game. The Doctor held it quite perpendicularly, between the thumb and fore- finger with some little support from the second finger; in fact, except for the angle, pretty much in the same way as the average person handles a pen. At the bowling end I found myself in sole charge of an elaborate machinery consisting of a two-inch powerful coil spring mounted on a wooden block. Out­ side the board was a slide six inches in length over which the block ran easily, thus allowing the spring catapault to be shifted three inches from the centre, to right or left, thus enabling the bowler to bowl over or round the wicket at his end of the board. On the top of the wire coil was a little ring into which I placed a small gutta­ percha ball and let fly, as I thought, dead on the middle stump. This ball did not go far, but collided violently with the stumps set at the bowler’s end, partly for ornament’s sake, and partly, no doubt, to exact an extra amount of skill on the part of the bowler when delivering from behind the wicket. Having learnt that this loss-shot meant a run for the Doctor I reserved centre balls till a more convenient season, and took up a position a couple of inches to the right of the wicket. I was soon to find that the little cata­ pult required handling with considerable skill, for the next ball was a full pitch and went clean over the batsman’s head. Mr. Weintraud obligingly recovered it from a remote corner of the room, for which service the Doctor claimed four runs. This forfeit, I was told, would be inflicted as often as I repeated the offence of bowling off the table. In bowling it has been found possible to put a very formidable break on the ball. This is done by giving the spring catapult a half turn in the socket. Then, instead of pulling straight back as in ordinary bowling, the spring should be bent sideways. Thus the ball is made to strike at the side of the wicket, instead of immediately in front of it, and if the shot is properly judged, the ball takes a sharp angle in the direction of the stumps, in a very disconcerting manner for the batsman. The spring catapult can, of course, he turned to right or left, the breaks being made at either side of the wicket accordingly. Considerable prac­ tice is necessary to make a good break bowler, and there is much room for indi­ vidual cleverness. A good man is able to put on breaks at almost every con­ ceivable angle, and the standard of bat­ ting is naturally proportionately raised. The Doctor takes quite a boyish delight in the new game, and his sons and other well-known cricketers are no less enthu­ siastic. M.C.C!. OTJT-MATCHES, 1903. MAY. 9. Blackheath, v. Blackheath 16. New Romney, v. New tiomney 18. Honor Oak, v. Guy’s Hospital 21. Clifton, v. The College 23. Silwood Park, v. Silwood Park 23. Winchmore Hill, v. 8t. Bartholomew’s Hospital 23. Wokingham, v. Wokingham 27. Gravesend, v. Gravesend 30. Ewell, v. Ewell 30. Sevenoaks v. Sevenoaks 30. Swindon, v. Swindon JUNE. 1. Ealing, v. Ealing 1. Kensington Park, v. Kensington Park 1. Clewer Park, v. Sir Daniel Gooch’s X I. (Amateurs only)* 2. Hampton Wick, v. Hampton Wick 5. Portsmouth, v. United Services* 6. Godalming, v. Charterhouse School 6. Haiteybury, v. The College 6. Saffrons, Eastbourne, v. South Lynn 8. Ardingly, v. The College 9. Lancing, v. The College 10. Hurst, v. St. John’s College, Hurst- Sussex pierpoint College 11. Brighton, v. The College Tour. 12. Eastbourne, v. Eastbourne College 13. Eastbourne, v. New College 10. Chiswick, v. Chiswick House (Amateurs only) 10. Guildford, v. Guildford 13. Victoria Park, v. Victoria Park 13. Reigate, v. Reigate Priory 16. Cambridge, v. Ley’s School 17. Peterborough, v. Peterborough* 17. Newport, v. Monmouthshire* 17. Beckenham, v. .Beckenham 18. Winchester, v. The College 18. East Acton, v. Palliogswick 18. Harrow, v. The School 19. Card ff, v. Glamorganshire* 19. Catford, v. Private Banks 20. Bradfield, v. The College 20. Enfield, v. Enfield 20. Eton, v. The College 22. Canterbury, v. St. Lawrence Club* 22. Lej, v. Granville Club 23. Arkley, High Barnet, v. Arkley 23. Stonyhurst, Blackburn, v. The College 24. Moor Hall, Harlow, v. Moor Hall (Amateurs only) 24. Slough, v. Slough 24. Reading, v. The School 25. Hornsey, v. Hornsey 25. Cantercury, v. King’s School (Amateurs only) 26. Aldershot, v. 1st Army Corps* 23 Watford, v. West Herts 26. Sherborne, v. The School* 27. Buckhurst Hill, v. Buckhurst Hill 27. Southgate, v. 8outhgate 27. Highgate, v. The 8cftool 19. Marlborough, v. The College* 29. Felsted, v. The School 29. Maidstone, v. Mote Park* JULY. 1. Dorking, v. Dorking 1. Crouch End, v. Crouch End 1. East Molesey, v. East Molesey 1. Horley, v. Burstow School (Amateurs only) 3. Rossail, v. The Schooi* 3. Rugby, v. The School* 3. Neasden, v. University College School 4. Tonbridge, v. Tonbridge School 4. Dulwich, v. The College 6. Wimbledon, v. Wimbledon* 6. Waithamstow, v. Forest School 7. Tottenham, v. Tottenham 7. Epsom, v. The Colltge 8. Vincent Square, v. Westminster School 8. Forest Hill, v. Forest Hill 8. Bedford, v. Grammar School 9. Streatham, v. Streatham 9. Croydon, v. Whitgift Grammar School 9. Bedford, v. Modern School 10. Bedford, v. County School 10. Shrewsbury, v. The School' 11. Wellington College, v. Wellington College 11. Brentwood, v. Brentwood 13. Market Drayton, v. Market Drayton* 13. Bath, v. The College 14. Weybridge, v. Oatlands Park 14. Canterbury, v. King’s Schoal 15. Chelford, v. Gentlemen of Cheshire* 15. Mill Hill, v. The School 15. Uxbridge, v. Uxbridge 16. St. Alban’s, v. Hertfordshire* 16. Bellingham, Catford, v. Merchant Taylor’s School 17. Sandiway, v. Sandiway* 18. Willesden Green, v. South Hampstead 18. Horley, v. Horley 18. Banstead, v. banstead 10. Bury St. Edmunds, v. Bury and West S.iff^lk* 20. Crystal Palace, v. London County C.C.+ 20. Warwick, v. Gentlemen of Warwick* \ 22. Leamington, v. Leamington Town* f Warwick 21. Coventry, y. Coventry and North 1 Tour. Warwickshire > 22. Woodford Wells, v. Woodford Wells 22. Sidcup, v. Sidcup 23. Orpington, v. Goddington 23. Burghley Park, Stamford, v. Burghley Park* 25. Esher, v. Esher 25. Hampstead, v. Hampstead 25. Windeor, v. Home Park 27. Colchester, v. Colchester 27. Harrow, v. Harrow Blues 27. Lincoln, v. Lincoln Lindum* 28. Norbury, v. Norbury Park 29. Croydon, v. Croydon 29. Beddington, Hackbridge Station, v. Beddington 29. Cheltenham, v. East Gloucestershire* 3). Chiswick, v. Chiswick Park 30. Lee, v. Northbrook 31. Lichfield, v. W . E. Harrison’s X I. (Amateurs only)* 31. Hunstanton, v. Hunstanton (Amateurs only) 31. 8urbiton, v. Surbiton AUGUST. 1. High Wycombe, v. High Wycombe 1. Maidenhead, v. Maidenhead 3. Tunbridge Wells, v. Tunbridge Wells* 3. Bournemouth, v. Bournemouth* 3. Henley-on-Thames, v. Henley 7. Norwich, v. Norfolk* 7. Eger!on Park, v. Egerton Park* 7. Bishop’s Stortford, v. Bishop’s Stortford* 10. Huntingdon, v. Huntingdon 10. Folkestone, v. Folkestone* 10. Newport, v. Isle of Wight* 11. Witham, v. Witham 13. Hereford, v. Herefordshire* 14. Sidmouth, v. Sidmouth* 17. Davonport, v. United Services* 19. Teignbridge, v. Teignbridge* 21. Tavistock, v. Devonshire* 24. Instow, v. Instow* 26. Bideford, v. Bideford* 14. Littlehampton, v. Littlehampton* 14. Hythe, v. Hythe* 17. Bexhill, v. Bexhill 18. Hailsham, v. Hailsham 19. Eastbourne, v. Devonshire Park* 21. Eastbourne, v Eastbourne* 2f*. Oxford, v. Oxford City* 26. Worcester, v. Boughton Park* 27. Scarborough, v. Yorkshiret 28. Bourton-on-the-Water, v. Bourton Vale* 29. Worthing, v. Worthing * Two-day matches. + Three-day matches. LONDON SCOTTISH C.C. S eason 1902. Matches played, 29 ; won, 17; lost, 5; drawn, 7. BATTING AVERAGES. Devon Tour. South Coast Tour. No. Times Most of not Total in an Inns. Out. Runs. Inns. Aver. T, S. Taylor ... ... 6 . . 1 ... 164 ... 125*. . 32 8 T. B Porter ... ... 13 . . 1 ... 3 8 .. Ii0 281 S. Lienard ... 12 .. 3 ... 247 .. 86*. . 27 4 M. T. Purcell ... ... 14 . . — ... 297 . 87 . . 21*2 W. Cooke......... .. 14 . . 1 ... 225 . 52 . . 17-3 E. Lacey ......... ... 12 . . 3 .. 154 . . 52 ... 171 J. Lamont... ... ... 17 . . 1 ... 269 . . 40 ... 16 8 J. D. Forbes ... ... 15 . . 1 ... 234 . . 60 . . 16-7 H. J. R. Pope ... H. G. Dunkley ... 16 . . 4 ... 196 . . 43 ... 163 ... 12 . . 1 ... 179 ... 59 . . 162 A. F. Deniiiston ... 7 . . — ... Ill . . 53 . 15 8 N. F. Marcus ... ... 9 . . 2 ... 1 0 .. 34 . 157 E. A. Bennett... ... 11 . . 1 ... Ill ... 62*... 141 J. C. Cooper ... ... 6 . . 1 ... 64 . 20*. .. 128 F. J. Wass ... 18 . . 1 ... 215 . . 67 ... 127 G. M. Clark ... ... 8 . . 2 ... 76 . . 31 . . 12-6 C. Koe Child ... ... 10 . . 4 ... 65 ... 39 . . 10-8 A. Kinross .. 16 . . 2 ... 149 .. 3**. .. 106 P. Child .......... ... 15 . . — ... 145 . . 49 .. 96 J. H. Adamson ... 4 . . 1 ... 29 ... 22 ... 96 F. R. Connell ... ... 14 . . 2 ... 106 . . 35 .. 8-8 H. C. Smith ... ... 6 1 ... 35 .. '.7 .. 7 K. A. Bennett.. ... 12 . . 4 ... 55 . 11*... 68 D. Drummond... 5 . . — ... 25 . . 13 .. 5 D. Clark .......... .. 5 . . 2 ... 14 5 .. 4 6 A. B. Daniells... ... 6 . . 1 ... 5 . 4 .. 1 BOWLING AVERAGES. Overs. Runs. Wckts. Aver. A Kinrose......... ... 39 ... 54 ... 14 .. 3-8 E. A. Bennett .. ... 50 ... 115 ... 18 .. 63 J. IV Connell ... ... 42 ... ... 13 .. 67 M. T. Purcell ... ... 123 ... 272 ... 35 .. 77 J. Lamont......... ... 6) ... 192 ... 2 1 .. 87 P. Child .......... ... 64 ... 200 ... 20 .. 10 E, Lacey .......... ... 257 ... 627 ... 54 .. 11-6 H. J. R. Pope ... ... 109 ... 269 ... 2 2 .. 122 S. Lienard......... ... 167 ... 504 ... 38 .. 13*2 R. A. Bennett... ... 31 ... 74 ... 5 .. 148 F. J. Wass ... 117 ... 377 ... 24 .. 157