Cricket 1904

M at 19, 1904. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME 131 BUSSEY’S “DEMON DRIVERS. GEO, G. BUSSEY & GO Desire to inform Cricketers all over the world who may experience a difficulty in ob­ taining “ D em on D r iv e r s ” that this difficulty arises in consequence of the ever-increas­ ing demand exceeding the supply. Readers of G e o . G . B u s s e y & Co.’s pamphlet, entitled “ Evolution of the Demon Driver,” are aware that a fea­ ture of the success of the “ D em on 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 The Finest Bat the World produces. GEO.OUSSEY &CO, 36 & 38, QUEENVICTORIASTREET, E.G. Manufactory— PECKHAM, S.E. Timber Mills—ELMSWELL SUFFOLK. AGENT8 ALL OVER THE WORLD. A T TH E SIGN OF TH E W IC K E T . By F. S. A shley -C ooper . The recent fine form shown for the Hamp­ stead Club by Mr. F. R. Spofforth has caused two correspondents to inquire for particulars of all his bowling performances on behalf of that body. A glance through the books of the Hampstead C.C. reveals the fact that he has assisted the club for thirteen seasons, during which he has obtained 810 wickets at a cost of 7'41 runs each. This is a splendid record considering the strength of the clubs against which Hampstead has played, and remembering how perfect (from the batsman’s point of view) the wickets have been of recent years. For the sake of the correspondents who wrote to me on the matter, I append particulars of his bowling performances year by year since he made his first appearance for the club. The information will probably interest many besides those who asked for it. O. M. R. W . Aver. 1891.......... ..,. 137-1 ,. 52 ,... 254 ... 38 ... 6-68 1892............... .1447 .. 87 ,... 647 .. 77 ,.. 8-40 1893................ 349-2 .,.. 99 ... 793 ... 110 ... 7*20 1894............... 606-2 .. 208 .,..1181 ... 200 ... 5 90 1895............... . 156-2 .... 51 ... 310 55 ... 5 63 1896............... . 193-2 ..,. 76 ,.. 295 ... 58 ... 5-08 1897................ . 160 ... 52 , 350 47 ... 7 44 1898................. 128 ... 43 . 231 .,,. £9 ... 5-92 1899 ............... . 82 .. 27 . 199 ... 18 . . 11-05 1900................ . 132 .. . 37 ... 400 .. .. 23 .. 17 39 1801................ . 185 .. . 30 . ... 419 .. 36 . .11-64 1902................ . 167 ... 39 .... 398 . . 45 . .. 8*84 1903................ . 245 .. 81 .,.. 632 .. 64 . .. 8-31 Totals.. . — .. — . ..6,009 .... 810 . .. 7*41 Mention of Spofforth reminds me that in his biographical notice in vol. xiv. of Scores and Biographies it is stated that about the year 1881 he rode on horseback 400 miles in order to participate in a match, and that he then bowled so successfully that he lowered all twenty wickets of his opponents. This report, which sounds very like a fairy-tale, is quite true, except for the statement that he journeyed 400 miles to play in the game. By-the-way, cannot somebody induce the “ Demon” to give us his reminiscences? His experience of first-class as well as club cricket, both in England and Australia, has been so great—in fact, unique, unless Mur­ doch be considered a rival in this respect— that a volume from his pen would be warmly welcomed. Besides, there must still be plenty of matter unpublished concerning the early Australian teams which came over, which ought to see the light. Perhaps Spof­ forth will act upon this suggestion and pen his memoirs; should he do so, cricketers in all parts of the world would rejoice. That he is a most interesting raconteur is well- known. At the moment of writing I recall an amusing expression he uBed whilst in conver­ sation with me last summer, in connection with a once-famous bowler, who became so stout “ that at last he bowled with one hand whilst he held his stomach up with the oth er!” But that is another story. One of the best performances of the present season was accomplished at the Oval on Tuesday last by L. G. Wright and C. A. Ollivierre, who scored 173 runs together for the first wicket in the second innings of Derbyshire against Surrey. Both men played good cricket, though the innings of neither was without blemish. Their partnership occurred at a time when the loss of a couple of wickets would practically have placed their side out of the running, and when the Surrey bowling was fresh, and therefore, presum­ ably, at its best. Mr. Wright, who has been faithful to the side through many years of depression, again distinguished himself, and enabled Derbyshire to obtain a winning position after being 34 in arrears on the first innings. It does not detract from the merit of Mr. Wright’ s innings in the least to state that during his long standwith Ollivierre for the first wicket the spectators showed more interest in the display of his partner. The fact that Ollivierre is a West Indian—he hails from St. Vincent, where he was a clerk in the Customs—may be held chiefly responsible for this, but it must also be acknowledged that he was the more attrac­ tive player to watch. He is evidently a bats­ man who would experience some difficulty in playing a strictly defensive game, for he gives one the impression of being a man who must always be scoring whilst he is at the wicket. He has a curious stroke, which, at first sight, appears a somewhat dangerous one, whereby he sends the ball over the heads of the slips. During his inn­ ings of 91 he made the hit repeatedly until a fieldsman was put out to prevent it. He is certainly an entertaining player to watch, possessing many strokes, and should prove of the greatest value to Derbyshire, for he is a man who gives every promise of occupying a high position in the world of cricket. He has been displaying capital form of late, and on the 4th inst. played a fine innings of 148 for Manchester against Oldham. Three years ago he played a fine innings of 94 at the Oval, for theWest Indian team against Surrey, and, in partnership with P. I. Cox (142), put up 208 for the first wicket, thereby having a great deal to do with the defeat of the county by an innings and 34 runs. During that season he scored 883 runs for the West Indians in 27 completed innings, heading the averages with the capital figure of 32'70. His chief scores were 69 against the Minor Counties, 159 v. Leicestershire (when he and P. F. Wamerput up 238 for the first wicket), 50 v. Notts., 44 and 60 v. Lancashire, and 94 v. Surrey. Derbyshire’s well-deserved victory at the Oval is bound to do a great deal of good to the county, for whom Dr. Ashcroft should prove a tower of strength, provided his profession allows him to play at all regularly. Are cricketers of the twentieth century superstitious P It is to be feared an answer in the affirmative must be given, unless some recent extraordinary occurrences in the South of England failed to show the real nature of some of our leading players. Mr. Hamish Stuart, the well-known authority on angling, when fishing in Scotland about fourteen years ago, took from a brook a small round stone, which he has ever since regarded as a talisman. At the commencement of the match at the Crystal Palace, a few weeks ago, between London County and Surrey, the stone was placed in Sewell’s hand, and the prophecy made that he would distinguish himself by making- a big score. Eesult— Sewell played an innings of 181! Later, in the same game, Abel was similarly favoured by Mr. Stuart, and the veteran showed his appreciation by scoring 67. One of the players, who shall be nameless, heard of these myBtic doings, and, wishing to earn talent money, seized the stone, at the same time remarking that he was glad he should do well, as it was always nice to open the season in good style. Mr. Stuart, however, re­ marked that the charm would not work in that particular instance, as the player, by seizing the stone, had endeavoured to “ force the magic ” —a statement which proved accurate, for the unfortunate cricketer was dismissed by the second ball he received ! Prior to the commencement of play in the Surrey v. Hampshire match, the magic pebble was quietly placed in the hand of Lees, whose