Cricket 1904

S ept . 1, 1904. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME 371 BUSSEY’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 “ D em o n D r iv e r s ” that this difficulty arises in consequence of the ever-increas­ ing demand exceeding the supply. Headers 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 “ D em o n 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 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 Q TheFinest Bat the World produces. GEO.G.BUSSEYACO, 36 & 38, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET , E .C. Manufactory— PECKHAM, S.E. Timber M ill*- ELMSWELL SUFFOLK. AGENT8 ALL OVER THE WORLD. AT THE SIGN OF THE W ICKET . By F. S. A s h l e y -C o o p e r . All cricketers and enthusiasts will heartily congratulate Lancashire on having gained the county championship without having once suffered defeat. In these days of multi­ tudinous inter-county matches, such a per­ formance must be regarded as a very meri­ torious one. For several weeks to come there will doubtless be many comparisons made between the present Lancashire eleven and that led during recent years by Lord Hawke, and such a fact is in itself eloquent testimony to the wonderful all-round strength of the side which has j ust gained the highest position among the counties. Lancashire is, perhaps, as powerful in batting as the Yorkshire side was at its best, but, although their bowling is exceptionally strong, it lacks the “ devil ” which made the Yorkshire attack so feared for a few years. To an impartial mind it must be apparent that Lancashire hardly worked so well together as a side as did Lord Hawke’s men, and were, moreover, certainly not such great match-winners. It is somewhat unfortunate for the present champions that these inevitable comparisons should be made, but, as the side succeeded in going through their inter-county programme without sustaining a reverse, they should be able to bear criticism with a very light heart. R. H. Spooner and Tyldesley, who had previously been regarded as in quite the first flight of batsmen, undoubtedly added to their reputation during this season, but the latter was often extremely lucky. Hallows de­ veloped into a player of the highest class, and Cuttell, in his fortieth year, maintained his best form in a remarkable manner. Brearley proved of the greatest possible use to the side, and his magnificent fast bowling was quite one of the features of the season. Very few, if any, of Surrey’s most un­ friendly critics will complain of the form shown by the county during the past week. In fact their displays against Gloucestershire and the South Africans were almost worthy of the great Surrey team of about a dozen years ago. Members of the club, as well as the many thousands of the county’s well-wishers, will have noted that Goatly, McUonell, and J. N. Crawford, who so distinguished themselves in the two matches mentioned, are still quite young men, and should, therefore, in the ordinary course of things, prove of great assistance to the side for many years to come. Messrs. McDonell and Crawford have already shown their finest form, whilst Goatly will, if those who have been acquainted for some years with his cricket have not been deceived, develop into a batsman of far more than ordinary ability. He is a very bright player to watch, possessing many strokes all round the wicket, and is a fine field. A few years ago, owing to his engagement at the Oval, he was able to assist his club (the Twickenham Town C.C.) on four occasions only, but so well did he then play that each time he scored over a hundred, going in first and carrying out his bat! In the match against the South Africans Hayward, as on so many former occasions during the season, did more than his fair thare of the work. The many ex­ cellent displays he has given this year will always enable him to hark back to 1904 with much pardonable pride and satisfac­ tion. Ranjitsinhji, by general consent, is the greatest batsman now participating in first-class matches in this country, and to Hayward must be accorded the second place. There may be greater run-getters, and men who* possess a larger average, but in no Englishman is grace of style and effect so well blended as in the Surrey “ crack.” The abandonment of the proposal to play a match, at Scarborough, between the M.C.C. Australian Team and the Rest of England, whilst being regrettable, was undoubtedly the right course to adopt in the circumstances. No importance whatever would have attached to the game had the Rest X I been an un­ representative side, whilst it would have been ludicrous had the Anglo-Australian Team been compelled to play substitutes in the place of those who would have been unable to be present. On the return of future M C.C. teams from Australia—for the day of the private individual enterprise is assuredly over —dates will probably be set apart, when the county secretaries are arranging the fixtures, for a meeting with an eleven representing the full strength of the rest of the country. Such a match should prove a great attraction, if played at Lord’s in June or July. It has been suggested that teams selected to make the tour should in future play the Rest before they sail. But an awkward situation would then be created if the men choscn to visit the Colonies were defeated. Such an embarassing situation was referred to - not, of course, in connection with an Anglo-Australian visit— in a letter written by Robert Ord, Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Scotland, dated Petersham, August 13th, 1751, to Henry Howard, fourth Earl of Carlisle :—“ You see in the paper that Lord Sandwich has won his match at cricket against the Duke,* but what I think the best part of the story is not told there. The Duke, to procure good players on his side, ordered 22 who were reckoned the best players in the country, to be brought before him, in order for him to choos eleven out of them. They played accordingly, and he chose eleven. The other eleven, being affronted at the choice, challenged the elect to play for a crown a head out of their own pockets. The challenge was accepted ; they played before the Duke, and the elect were beat all to nothing.” * Duke of Cumberland (“ Butcher ”). A correspondent has written suggesting that the hours of play in inter-county cricket shall be laid down by law in such a manner that it will be impossible for the duration of play to be six hours on one ground, and only five or five and a half on another. Many excellent reasons could be given in support of the suggestion, which, if acted upon, would prevent captains from mutually agreeing to draw stumps an hour or so before the usual time as only a drawn game would probably result if play were continued. Of late years much valuable time has been wasted in many ways, e.g.y the two minutes allowed for a batsman to go in when one is out is fre­ quently exceeded, as is also the ten minutes interval between the innings. The time consumed in photographing the teams, and in tea intervals is often somewhat excessive and unnecessary. At Hastings on Monday last there was a tea adjournment from 4.20 until 4.40, although stumps were drawn at twenty minutes to six. Harold Barker, by obtaining nine wickets without a run being scored from his deliveries, in a match at Cambridge on Satur­ day last, caused an addition to be made to the bowling memorabilia of the year. Since the conclusion of the season of 1903 the following remarkable feats with the ball have been accomplished in minor matches :— 10 wkts. for 0 runs, 8. N. Priestley, Tewkesbury Grammar School v. Elderstitld School, at Tewkes­ bury, July 13th (taken in 27 balls). 9 wkts. for 0 runs, Timbury, for the Roma C,C, in Uueensland, April 2nd.