Cricket 1904

A u g. 18, 1904. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME 339 BUSSEY’S “DEMON DRIVERS. < c c a « GEO, G. BUSSEY & CO 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 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 “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 o f 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 ^ c * ^ The Finest Bat the World produces. GEO.GBUSSEY&CO., 36 & 38, QUEENVICTORIASTREET, E.C. Manufactory— PECKHAM, S.E. Timber MilU—ELMBWELL SUFFOLK. AQENT8 ALL OVER THE WORLD. A T T H E S I G N O F T H E W I C K E T . By F. S. A shlky -C oopee . The many successes achieved by Mr. J. R. Mason during the past few weeks make one regret that he does not participate regularly in first-class cricket. He is probably the finest cricketer now before the public who has not appeared in a test match in this country, and is certainly the finest all-round player Kent have had since the days of the “ kind and manly Alfred Mynn.” Whilst still at Winchester he plainly showed that he possessed no ordinary skill, his performances both with bat and ball stamping him as a cricketer of most unusual promise. When he is able to assist Kent his presence probably strengthens the side thirty per cent, which is saying a great deal considering the many fine players there are in the team. The Somerset eleven probably have as high an opinion of his powers as any side in the country, seeing that in each match against them this year he scored a century and obtained ten wickets. But he always has done well against that county ; thus, at Blackheath in 1894 he made 31 and 183 and took five wickets for 30 runs ; at Tonbridge in 1899 he took ten wickets for 122 runs and scored 41 and 7 ; at Blackheath in 1900 he made 72 and 85, and in the return match at Taunton 66 in addition to securing eight wickets; in 1901 he scored 40 and 81 at Catford and took six wickets for 44, and in the return at Taunton played an innings of 145 and dismissed twelve men at a cost of 55 runs; whilst at Taunton two years ago he took eleven wickets for 113 runs. The South Africans have proved themselves so good a side that it iB impossible not to regret that Lancashire and Nottinghamshire should have thought it necessary to place only weak elevens in the field against them. There is, however, some consolation in know­ ing that Lancashire would undoubtedly have been beaten had time allowed a definite result to be arrived at, whilst Notts were handsomely thrashed. As soon as the names of the players chosen to make tho trip were announced it was everywhere recognised that the team would prove a very strong one, and in no quarter was any doubt entertained—as a writer in a contemporary states was the case—that their matches would, as in 1901, be reckoned first-class. The tourists defeated with ease a weak M.C.C. team, and so main­ tained the good form they had shown in their previous matches in London. When next they visit us it is probable that at least one match against a side fully representative of England will be arranged, and it is to be hoped that the various county clubs will then pay the side the compliment of placing their best men in the field against them. The South Africans have plainly shown that they are equal to giving even the strongest of the counties a close game, and therefore they have a right to expect that good elevens will be chosen to oppose them. Everywhere it is acknowledged that the wicket at Trent Bridge is the best in the whole country from a batsman’s point of view, and, therefore, the most heart-breaking so far as the bowlers are concerned. The manner in which red marl is used in the preparation of the wickets accounts for their stability. The ease with which runs are obtained at Notting ham causes the batsmen who play there frequently to possess very flattering averages, but statistics (without elaborate juggling) prove that visiting teams benefit more than the home county from the run-getting properties of the wicket, and also that Notts would win more matches—or, at least, gain a far greater advantage over their opponents than they do in the present circumstances— if they invariably played on natural, instead of prepared, pitches. A simple analysis of the matches played this year by Nottingham­ shire on all grounds will prove the truth of this statement:— \ a ) B uns fo b a n d a g a in s t N o tts , on t h k T re n t B r id g e G rou n d {i.e. on w ic k e ts p r e p a r e d w ith MARL) : — For Notts ... 4,780 runs for 141 wkts. ... Av. 33*90 Agt. Notts ... 6,007 runs for 132 wkts. ... Av. 37*93 Or 4*03 runs per wkt. in favour of Notts’ opponents ! (t>) R u n s f o r a n d a g a in st N o tts , on op p on en ts' g ro u n d s (i.e. on w ic k e ts n o t p r e p a r e d w ith m a rl) :— For Notts ... 3,977 runs for 164 wkts. ... Av. 21*25 Agt. Notts ... 3,8>1 runs for 186 wkts. ... Av. 20*70 Or 3*55runs per wkt. ia favour of Notts. By thus playing on the marl wickets Notts lose over 7-50 runs per wicket, which means as much as 150 runs in a match in which all forty wickets fall. Each of the last six matches played at Nottingham has resulted in over a thousand runs being obtained, and in only one of the matches were more than thirty wickets lowered. Essex is a county which, favoured by fortune, would probably occupy a very high position in the cricketing world; in fact it is not overstating the case to say that the side would make a bold bid for the championship, if all whom the committee might select to play could appear regularly. But Essex have been in a poor position financially ; and only those who have been connected with a leading county in that condition can have any idea how greatly the side can be affected on the field as a result. Professional aid has, to a certain extent to be dispensed with, and, unless the vacancies thus created can be filled by really capable amateurs, the side is bound to suffer severely in consequence. If the Essex County C.C. had never been in a serious state financially, it is more than pro­ bable that Mead, Young, one of the Hussells, and Sewell would have appeared for the side in match after match. Until he met with his recent accident, Mead was the best bowler of his kind in the country, Young is still capable of rattling amongst the stumps of his opponents, and Sewell, in addition to being one of the finest fieldsmen in England, is a batsman who, by his determined hitting, might change the whole course of a game in a very short time. The latter was reserve man for the Leeds match, but as the wicket was not soft or difficult he was excladed from the side, as he was against Notts and Lanca­ shire, when runs were so easily obtained. At the present time Essex are severely handi­ capped owing to the absence of a reliable wicket-keeper. The Russell brothers have performed well this year behind the wicket, and why they have both been dropped is known only to the Committee, unless it be for financial reasons. The manner in which Middlesex outplayed Lancashire in the match which ended at Lord’s yesterday, can hardly have come as a surprise to those who have followed the performances of the two sides at all closely. Middlesex, who are yet a side to be feared, despite the wagging heads of a few loquacious wiseacres, met Lancashire after their splen­ did display against Yorkshire, and an eight- wicket victory at the expense of Notts; whilst Lancashire, whose bowling had been just previously punished to the tune of 408 for five wickets and 559 for nine, in consecu­ tive innings, had to take the field without Hallows, their best all-round man. The latter had been showing such fine form that