Cricket 1904

J u n e 16, 1904. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME 195 99 BUSEY’S “DEMON DRIVERS. < C C B « GEO, G. BUSSEY & GO Desire to inform Cricketers all over the world who may experience a difficulty in ob­ taining “ Demon Drivers ” that this difficulty arises in consequence of the ever-increas- ing demand exceeding the supply. Readers of Geo. G. Bussey & Co.’s pamphlet, entitled “ Evolution of the Demon Driver,” are aware that a fea­ ture o f the success of the “Demon Driver ” 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, Geo. G. Bussey & Co., in the interest of cricketers and their own repu­ tation, will not deviate from the system that has made the W The Finest Bat the World produces. GEO.G.BUSSEY & CO, 36 & 38, QUEENVICTORIASTREET, E.C. Manufactory— PECKHAM, S.E. T im ber M ilU— E LM BW E L L SUFFO LK . AGENT8 ALL OVER THE WORLD. A T T H E S IG N OP T H E W I C K E T . By F. S. A shley -C ooper . The Kent team, like that of Somerset, is one of surprises, for it is quite likely, after being beaten by some of the weaker elevens, to gain a brilliant victory at the expense of one of the strongest sides in the country. Theirperformances againstsome of the Austra­ lian teams furnish evidence as to the truth of this statement. During the past two hundred years Kent have gained many splendid successes, but few have been more remarkable than the one achieved over Middlesex at Catford on Friday last. It is true that the champion county had to bat a second time on a wicket which gave the bowlers some assistance, but their poor score of 45 was almost as much due to feeble batting as to the excellent bowling of Fielder and Blythe. That their collapse could not be attributed wholly to the state of the ground was apparent when Kent obtained the 82 runs necessary to win for the loss of only two wickets. Middle­ sex may derive consolation from the fact that neither Ernest Beldam nor P. F. Warner was playing, but Kent will nevertheless be able to congratulate themselves on a thoroughly well-deserved success. It was an excellent performance to win by so substantial a margin as eight wickets, after being 36 runs in arrears on the first innings, and the result furnished yet another instance of “ the glorious uncertainty” of the game. It is such unlooked-for events which constitute the chief charm of cricket; but little interest would attach to the game if the stronger side always won, if the best batsmen never failed to score, and if the chief bowlers always obtained wickets. It is a remarkable fact that, prior to last Friday, Middlesex had not been disposed of for less than 50 since May, 1891, when they were dismissed for 44 by Kent, at Lord’s. Matches between Yorkshire and Notts can boast a respectable antiquity, seeing that the two sides first faced each other as far back as 1863, and that, except in 1867, they have met at least twice every season. In 1872, and again in 1873, three matches were played, which will also be the case this year, owing to the “ time-limit ” game arranged at Leeds early in the season. The extra match in 1873, which took place at Huddersfield, was not promoted by the county committees, whilst that of the year before was contested on neutral ground—at Prince’s—an England eleven which should have opposed a combined team of Notts and Yorkshire not being pro­ curable. From the following table it will be seen that the counties have faced each other on 84 occasions, and that Yorkshire have won 29 matches and their opponents 26 :— SYNOPSIS OF MATCHES BETWEEN NOT­ TINGHAMSHIRE AND YORKSHIRE. Bate of Won by Won by Towns. First Match. Yorks. Notts. Drawn.Tota, Bradford 1863 ..,. 1 ... 2 .. 3 .., 6 Nottingham... 1863 ... 13 ... 15 .. 13 .. 41 Dewsbury ... 1868 ..,. 0 ... 1 ..,. 1 ..,. 2 Sheffield Prince’s.......... 1869 .. 10 ... 6 ., . 10 ... 26 1872 .. 0 ... 1 .,. 0 .. 1 Huddersfield.. 1873 .. 1 ... 1 .... 0 .... 2 Leeds .......... 1894 .. 3 . . 0 .. 1 .. 4 Scarborough.. 1900 0 ... 0 .... 1 . 1 Hull .......... 1902 .. 1 ... 0 .. . 0 .. 1 In Yorkshire .. 1863 .. 16 . . 10 ., .. 16 ..,. 42 In N otts ........ 1863 ..,. 13 ... 16 . . 13 ..,. 41 NeutralGrounds 1872 .. 0 ... 1 .. 0 .... 1 Summary ... 1863 ... 29 ... 26 ... 29 ., It is a remarkable thing that Notts have 84 won once only (in 1891) at Trent Bridge since 1886. The Sussex eleven had a curious experience during the week, losing to Essex at Leyton by an innings and 204 runs, but having the best of the match at Sheffield against Yorkshire. On Friday last they were twice dismissed by Essex, in three hours and three- quarters, for totals of 87 and 134, but it is only right to add that rain during the previous night had seriously affected the wicket, making run-getting a matter of no little difficulty. Buckenham, bowling at a great pace on the soft and sticky ground, had the Sussex men at his mercy in their first innings, as his analysis of eight for 33 testifies. This is by far his best performance with the ball in great matches, surpassing his eight for 53 against Surrey, at Leyton, last season. A Surrey man by birth, he furnishes yet another instance of a player who would have proved of great service to the Oval team at the present time, had he not become associated with another county. The fine score made by Sussex against Yorkshire was almost wholly due to the innings played by Ranjit­ sinhji and Fry. The former has evidently run into form again ; so further large scores from his bat may be safely anticipated. The two great run-getters have now participated in as many as eight partnerships of 150 or more runs for Sussex, the list being as follows:— 292 for 2nd, Banjitsinhji (285 not out) and Fry (119 not out), v. Somerset, at Taunton 1901 255 for 3rd, Banjitsinhji (148) and Fry (177), r. Yorkshiie, at Sheffield ................. 1904 196 for 3rd, Ranjitsinhji (103) and Fry (229), v. Surrey, at Brighton............................... 1900 196 for 3rd, Banjitsinhji (105) and Fry (181), v. Lancashire, at Manchester ................. 1903 194 for 3rd, Banjitsinhji (275) and Fry (136), v. Leicestershire, at Leicester ................. 1900 174 for 3rd, Banjitsinbji (93) and Fry (234), v. Yorkshire, at Bradford........................ 1903 169 for 3rd, Banjitsinhji (109) and Fry (106), v. Gloucestershire, at Bristol ................. 1900 167 for 4th, Ranjitsinhji (84) and Fry (219 not out), v. Oxford University, at East­ bourne .................................................... 1901 One of the most improved batsmen of the year is E. H. D. Sewell, of Essex, whose score of 106 not out against Surrey, on Tuesday last, was his third of three-figures in first-class matches during tbe season. At the Crystal Palace, at the end of April, he made 181 for London County against Surrey, and in the course of his innings made a huge on-drive off Lockwood, the hit measuring 130 yards from hit to pitch. During the past ten days he has scored in successive matches 107 v. Warwickshire, at Edgbaston; 64 v. Sussex, at Leyton; and 106 not out v. Surrey, at the Oval. Until the present season he had not quite fulfilled the hopes which his great performances in Indian cricket had raised amongst Essex enthusiasts. But at the present time he is in capital form, scoring well all round the wicket, and making many big hits. It was a splendid wicket upon which Essex scored so heavily against Surrey, at the Oval: how true, may be judged from the fact that McGahey stated that while he was batting he did not see a single ball turn. On no previous occasion had any team obtained three separate hundreds in an innings against Surrey bowling, so Essex accomplished a performance of which they may be pardon­ ably proud. When Essex scored 692 against Somerset, at Taunton, in 1895, Carpenter made 153, McGahey 147, A. P. Lucas 135, and T. M. Bussell 99, whilst against Leices­ tershire, at Leicester, in 1899, Fane contribu­ ted 207, Perrin 132 and McGahey 99 towards a total of 873.