Cricket 1904

J u l y 7, 1904. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME 243 BUSSEY’ “DEMON DRIVERS. <CGB«- 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. Eeaders of G eo . G. B ussey & Co.’s pamphlet, entitled “ Evolution of the Demon Driver,” are aware that a fea­ ture of 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, G eo . G. B ussey & Co., in the interest of cricketers and their own repu­ tation, will not deviate from the system that has made the Tie Finest Bat the World produces. GEO.G.BDSSEY & CO., 36 & 38, QUEENVICTORIASTREET, E.C. Manufactory— PECKHAM, S.E. Timber Mills—ELM8WELL SUFFOLK. AGENT8 ALL OVER THE WORLD. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F. S. A shley -C ooper . Oxford were unable to maintain in the ’Varsity match the form they displayed in the majority of their trial games, and it was due solely to rain that they escaped being handsomely thrashed. Prior to Thursday last, those best able to give an opinion in the matter stated, almost without fear of contradiction, that Oxford possessed the stronger eleven, and that, if a definite result were arrived at, the Cambridge side would sustain defeat. The superior form shown by the latter there­ fore came as a complete surprise, especially as they were not favoured in any way by the weather. The outstanding feature of the match was, of course, Marsh’s record score in the second innings of Cambridge, but both McDonell and Evans distinguished them­ selves, the former with the ball and the latter with the bat. It cannot be regarded as altogether surprising that Marsh should establish an Inter-’Varsity record, for he has had some years’ experience of important cricket as a member of the Oxfordshire eleven. He was by far the oldest cricketer in either team, being twenty-nine years of age. R. E. Foster, when he made his score of 171 for Oxford in 1900, was twenty- two years of age, or seven years younger than Marsh. To the failure of Evans as a bowler must be attributed the disappointing position which Oxford occupied when the match was left drgwn : had he shown any­ thing like his best form with the ball, Cam­ bridge would certainly not have obtained half so many runs in their second innings. Raphael, the finest batsman the Dark Blues posse.'sed, who had scored largely against Yorkshire and Surrey bowling, was caught in both innings before he was able to settle down to his true game. The match, in short, was a great disappointment for Oxford men. Those who follow the fortunes of Surrey at all closely will have rejoiced at the improved form recently shown by the eleven Although defeated at the Oval by both Lancashire and Middlesex, it may fairly be urged that luck was against them on each occasion. It was a shower on the third day which proved their undoing in the Lancashire match, whilst, when opposed to Middlesex, they lost the game by losing the toss and being put in first. On Saturday last, at Derby, they gained a substantial victory in startling fashion, thanks to some daring hitting by Hayes and effective bowling on the part of the hard-working Lees. The full score of the last-mentioned match, which can be seen on another page, will recall to the minds of those who study the history of the game the corresponding match played eight years ago. Then the scores were:—Derbyshire, 349 and 148 ; Surrey, 512, of which Hayward scored 229 not out. Many of the displays given this year by Surrey, it must be candidly admitted, have been very disappointing, but every county at one time or another passes through a period of depression, and there is reason for believing that Surrey’s dark days will very soon come to an end. In the absence of an Australian eleven, the meeting of the Gentlemm and Players at Lord’s is always regarded as the match of the season. Into the history of the game there is no necessity to enter here, beyond stating that the sides first met as far back as 1806, and that they have faced each other regularly at Lord’s for a period of seventy-five years. The match which ended yesterday will always be remembered on account of the large scores made by Hayward and King, the former being, strange to say, the last man chosen to assist the Players, whilst the latter came into the side solely on account of the inability of Tyldesley to participate owing to recent injury. For some years King has been justly regarded as a very useful all-round man, but the idea that he was capable of playing a three-figure innings in a Gentlemen v. Players match at Lord’s was not entertained. The fact, too, that he so distinguished himself on his debut in the historic match, causes him to join a very select group of batsmen. In fact, only two other men can claim to have accomplished the feat in the Lord’s match, Mr. R. E. Foster scoring 102 not out and 136 in 1900, and A. E. Knight 139 in 1903. On other grounds, however, the performance has been done thrice, F. W . Marlow making 100 at the Oval in 1895, Mr. C. J. Bumup 123 on the same enclosure five years later, and G. J. Thompson 125 at Scarborough in 1900. During the last few years of his life it was generally understood that “ Bob ” Thoms made many notes which would have furnished material for his reminiscences. It will, there­ fore, come both as a surprise and a disap­ pointment to all cricket enthusiasts to learn that after his death no papers could be found which would in any way have proved of assistance in the writing of such a book. This is extremely regrettable, for the famous “ umpty dumpty,” as he liked to call him­ self, was as entertaining a writer as he was a conversationalist, and a volume from his pen would, in consequence, have been hailed with the greatest delight. The literature of the game would have received a most valuable addition had R. T. been able to complete the work. During the last few years of his life, however, Thoms suffered far more than he would allow anybody to guess, and this doubtless prevented him from undertaking the task. 8UNNINGDALE SCBOOL v. WOODCOTE HOUSE.—Played at Sunningdale on June v2. W o o d co tb Housa. Chamier, c Proud, b |Anderson, c Parring- b Hubbuck ..........68 | ton. b Hubbuck ... 2 Parkes, run out.......... 4 Williams, not out ... 4 jMcCausland (mi), b B 14, Id 3, w 5 ... 22 Egrerton-Green ... 26 | — Griffith (ma), not out 9 j Total (4 wkts)*125 McCausland (ma), Bell, Fendal, Griffith (mi), and Greig did not bat. * Innings declared closed. • SllNNINGDAL* 8CHOOL. Scrimgeour, b Griffith 1 D*mant, c Anderson, b McCausland ......... 94 Proud, b McCausland 23 Parrington, not out... 9 B 6, w 1 .......... 6 Total (3 wkts.) 134 Ebden, Graham, Leslie Smith, Egerton Green, Hubbuck, E. Eaatwick-Field and L. Eastwick- Field did not bat. MILL HILL SCHOOL v. ALDENHAM.-Played at Aldenham on July 2. A ldenham . E. St. G. Hewetson, not out ..................148 L. J. Reid, c Spicer, b Peill .......... 42 W. A. Gray, c Grind­ ley, b Kemsley ... 81 W . L. Whitaker, A. P. Gray, F. H. W. Hirsch, K. C. Buss, A. H. Sale, R. Worsatn, and K. Thomas did not bat. *Innings declarea closed. M ill H ill S chool . A. G. Seymour, not out ........................ 34 B 4, lb 1, w3 ... 8 Total (2 wkts)*313 G. S. Brown, c Reid, b Thomas .......... .34 D. L. Morgan, c W. A., b V h Gray ... 31 N. A. Dore, lbw, b Whitaker..............40 R. Spicer, b Whitaker 0 C. W. Bywaters, b Thomas ................. 7 H. H. Grindley, c Sey­ mour, b W. a . Gray 3 R. E. F. Peill, lbw, b Thomas ... ... io H. Walker, b Thomas 7 H. E. Snell not out . 4 B 14, w 1, nb 3 ... 18 Total L. Buck and M. H. Kemsley did not bat. .. 164