Cricket 1904

A u g. 25, 1904. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME 355 BUSSEY’S “DEMON DRIVERS. <CCB « 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 G e o . G . Bussey & 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 e o . G . Bussey & Co., in the interest of cricketers and their own repu­ tation, will not deviate from the system that has made the % v & The Finest BattheWorld produces. GEO.G.BUS EY & CO, 36 & 38, QUEENVICTORIASTREET, E.C. Manufactory— PECKHAM, S.E. Timber Mills—ELMSWELL SUFFOLK. AGENT8 ALL OVER THE WORLD. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F . S. A shlby -C ooper . The suggestion that Northamptonshire should he admitted to the select circle of first- class counties appears to have been kindly received in all quarters. During the past few seasons the side has accomplished many fine things against the minor counties, and there can be but little doubt that at the present time they are the strongest side in the country not participating in first-class cricket. Pro­ vided the secretary is successful in obtaining suflicient matches to qualify for inclusion in the county championship competition—and some difficulty may be experienced in securing the necessary number of fixtures, especially as in all probability a team will visit us next season from Australia—the side will be promoted to first-class rank. During the past twenty-three years the matches played by the county have resulted as follows:— Year. w . L. D. Year. W. L. D. 18S1 .. 3 . . 0 .. 2 1893 .. 1 .. . 2 .. 2 188*2 .. 3 . . 1 .. 2 1894 .. 1 .. 3 .. 3 1883 .. 6 . . 2 .. 2 1896 .. 1 .. 2 .. 4 I8S4 . 4 ... 2 .. 3 18 6 .. 2 .. 2 .. 7 1886 .. 3 . . 3 .. 0 1897 .. 2 .. t .. 10 18-6 ... 6 . . 2 .. 6 1893 . 3 .. 3 .. 7 1887 .. 6 ... 7 .. 1 1899 .. 4 .. 0 .. 1C 1888 . 0 . . 3 .. 2 190) .. 4 0 .. n 1889 ... 0 . 2 .. 6 1901 . 4 .. 1 .. 7 1890 .. 0 . . 1 .. 4 1902 .. 6 .. 0 • 7 1891 .. 1 . 4 .. 4 903 .. 7 1 •• 3 1892 .. 2 . . 2 .. 1 It will thus be seen that of the 212 matches played by the county during the period, 65 of the 110 completed have been won. At the present time they possess in Thompson a player who would have become famous had he appeared for a leading county. To the Kingston family, who have for many years worked hard in the best interests of North­ amptonshire cricket, the county is chiefly indebted for the position it at present occupies. Amongst the many players who have ap­ peared with success upon the cricket stage of Northamptonshire during the past two decades, in addition to the Kingstons, may be mentioned T. H. G. Welch, Colson, C. J. B. Wood, T. Horton, Thompson, C. J. T. Pool, Bowley, Potter (afterwards of Surrey), W. A. J. West, Mold, Coe, L. T. Driffield, East, Santall, Law, etc., etc. To Messrs. T. H. Vialls (*883-1891), J. Gaudern (1893- 1898) and A. J. Darnell (1899-1904), who have in turn acted as honorary secretary, the county is also indebted for much. Northampton­ shire cricket, it may be added, is not a growth of modern years, for as far back as 1741 the county and Huntingdonshire com­ bined their forces and twice defeated Bedfordshire, on the first occasion at Woburn, the seat of the Duke of Bedford, on August 10th, and in the return, near Northampton, on August 15th. It is, perhaps, not altogether surprising that the critics who have recently had the pluck to say very ungenerous things about every thing concerning, or connected with, the Sun-ey County C.C., in its time of mis­ fortune, should have failed to bestow much praise upon the eleven which played so good a game with the powerful Middlesex team, at Lord’s, at the end of last week. A club, and particularly a great club, like the Surrey County C.C., which has done so much for the good of the game, deserves sympathy, and not vulgar abuse (as has been so fre­ quently hurled at it) in its hour of depression. Honest criticism and friendly suggestions are always welcome, but during the past few weeks a great many hard things have been uttered which would have been better left unsaid. Those who cavil at the manner in which the club is conducted, should remember that the great majority, if not all, of the county clubs, are managed on a precisely similar plan, and should also bear in mind that it was under the style of management, which they are now so ready to condemn, that Surrey gained their greatest triumphs. The action of some of the critics referred to reminds one of a giant, who belabours a wounded dog with a bludgeon, but with this difference; that, whilst in the case of the giant, his murderous attack succeeds, the ravings of the critics will not affect “ the powers that b e” of the Surrey Club any more than a passing shower would inj ure a duck’s back. Hardly any of the unsparing critics, who hSVe been so lavish in their unnecessary strictures, have had any expe­ rience whatever in managing a club of good standing, and therefore the words of wis­ dom (?), which they gratuitously offer to men, whose efforts put their club at the head of all in the country a few years ago, can be readily valued at their true worth. At the present time the Surrey County C.C., is the victim of circumstances over which they have no control, and for which the Committee cannot be held responsible. Every club, at one time or another during its existence, passes through a period of depression, and it is only on account of the glorious past of which Surrey cricket can boast that so much attention has been drawn to the present difficulty the side experiences in distinguishing itself. In the last paragragh of “ At the Sign of the W icket” last week a typographical error occurred, which should be duly corrected. It was stated that “ it would be unfair to acknowledge ” that Warwickshire deserved their victory over Yorkshire. “ The word “ not ” should have appeared after “ unfair,” thereby causing a contrary opinion to be expressed. MARLBOROUGH BLUES TOUR. 1 st MATCH v. BLUE MANTLES. — Played at Tunbridge Wells oa August 8 and 9. B lub M amtlks . First innings. Second innings. H. M. Br&ybrooke, st Pres­ ton, b Thring ................ 10 o Lewis,b Thring 25 W. S. Guryun, c Lewis, b c Weeding.b Wile- Harvey ........................ 1 m an... ............. 36 G. fl. Kelsey, b Thring ... 1 b Slocock .............68 A. C. Hawes, o Preston, b Harvey ....................... F. B. Curtis, b Harvey ... 1 E. B. Alexander, b Thring 5 C. Bounes, e Harvey, b Thring............................... 12 S. S. Williams, b Harvey... 26 S. A. Parke, e Slocock, b Harvey ......................... 0 not out... J.M. HayGrant, b Wileman 40 S. H. Green, not o u t..........21 runout... o Lewis, b Thting 54 not o u t................73 o Preston, b Thring .......... 19 48 B 9, lb 8 ... 24 ,17 B 14,lb4,w l,nbl 20 Total........................ 172 Total (6 wkta) *367 • Innings declared closed, M arlbobouoh B lobs . First innings. Second inniDgs C.H .M . Thring, b Williams 0 b Braybrooke ... 2 F. E. Preston, c aud b Bjunes................ .......... 1 b Bounes ... 40 H. M. Rogers, b Bounes ... 2 c Sub, b Bounes 6 L. A. N. Slocock, b Williams 2 b Alexander ...48 G. B. B. Weeding, c Kelsey c Green, b Alex- b W illiams.......................14 ander ............ 89 W. H. Lindsay, b Bounes... 18 b Bounes ........... 43 B. Blackmore-Wileman, b Bounes ......................... 7 b Alexander ... 9 M. C. Lewis, not o u t..........63 c and b Hawes ... 42 J. C. Harvey, c Kelsey, b Williams .......................14 not ou t.. ... M. T. White, run out ... 0 b Alexander K. F, De Winton, c Green, b Bawes .. .................. 6 eGreen,b Bounes 27 B 1, lb 4 ................. 6 B 9,lb l,w 2, n b l 13 20 Total... ...Ml Total ..291