Cricket 1904

S ept . 22, 1904. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 421 THE ALL-MIDDLETON ELEVEN . t Being an extract from a local journal brought to light by M r . A lfred I). T aylo r .] It will be of interest to our numerous readers if we here insert the personnel of the All-M iddleton Eleven that intend to do duty to-day against the Quasham United on the latter’s ground. It w ill be readily recollected that the laurels of victory were unexpectedly snatched from the former’s grasp when the two mighty combinations met early in the season, ow ing to the somewhat unsportsmanlike action of the umpire who was suddenly taken Beriously ill ten minutes before the time for the drawing of stumps, and when Middleton required but one run to win with Bix wickets in hand. No time was loBt in substituting the official, but the village church clock had made re­ markable progress in the meantime, and although the Quasham skipper openly asserted foul play, ow ing to the unex­ pected absence of the verger, who was seen to run in the direction of the sacred edifice with remarkable agility, nothing could be definitely proved. All bets were declared off in consequence. (1.) Samuel George John Smith. One of the best of good fellows. Is now somewhat of a veteran, having received his early knowledge of the game under the tuition of the master of our village school sixty-two years ago. Is a liberal supporter of the club and consequently never misses playing for his side. Is captain of the eleven, and has a peculiar method of alwaj s sending in his oppo­ nents to bat first on winning the toss, in order that he can judge whether to go in to win or play for a draw. Is (or was) a good bow ler in his day, but when cff colour very simple. Objects strongly to getting out l.b.w . and invariably disputes all decisions. (2). “ W inkle ” Jones. Gives one the impression of being conceited as he walks to the wickets, but on knowing him and agreeing with him, a very decent chap. A very consistent bat, beiDg generally safe for 3. The slogger of the team. (3). Felix Wanostrocht. Thus de­ scribed on the score-sheet, but more familiar as Bill Brown, the village shoe­ maker. One of the mainstays of the batting department and a good change bowler on a sticky wicket. His batting average at present is 0-25 for four innings (once not o u t ); hopes soon to bring it up to at least 2. (4). Henry Charles Foster. The all­ round man of the side. A real Adm ir­ able Ciichton of cricket. Bats, bowls and fields well, but has a knack of retiring indisposed after completing his innings, and rallying to a remarkable extent when the luncheon arrives. A good change wicket-keeper. (5). George Richardson. One of the best ground sneakers ever produced since the Armada. D id the “ hat trick ” on es; not appreciated this season in bow ling. Yery good at throwing anywhere but at the wickets when batsmen are running. Splendid b a t; average at present 0 for four completed innings. Hopes to beat Felix Wanostrocht if he doesn’ t get sun­ stroke. W ill persist in sitting in front when the photographer arrives. (6). Percy Robinson. Holds the envi­ able position of coach, secretary, ground­ man and treasurer. A real good bat, the best in the team in fact, although not qualified in the averages ow ing to the fact that be has only had one innings in which he did not receive a ball. Bowls a splendid ball—the seventh in each over. (7). James Earlock. The regular wicket - keeper. R irely puts in an appearance owing to the exigencies of business. Has a good idea as to how the game should be played. Teaches ping- pong. (8). “ Bobby ” Wilson. The handy man of the team, being the village constable, sexton, grave-digger, pork- butcher, and local correspondent. Never known yet to get tired through walking too fast. Generally sends the stumps flying out of the ground—when he hits them. Is in excellent trim with the ball —at least, he was fifteen years ago. (9). Frederick Edward Richards. Antther good batsman; two runs in six innings. Wants to know what it feels like to be batting in the second over. Would doubtless be excellent when set. In style reminds one very forcibly of Richard Daft. (10). Albert Poore. M ight shine in the fourth eleven, but we very much doubt it. Fields behind the refreshment ten t; consequently very few balls pass him. (11). Frederick Johnson. The star of the eleven. Never yet bfen dism issed; at the same time has experienced great (mis)fortune at not having a ball bowled to him. Escapes being run out b y the skin of his teeth. MR. BRODRICK, M.P., ON CRICKET. At the annual dinner of the Cranleigh C.C. last week, tbe Right H on. St. John Brodrick, M .P. (Secretary of State for India), in response to the toast of “ Our Member,” made a most interesting speech about cricket. By far the best report of the speech appeared in the Sportsman, and, therefore, with apologies to our contemporary, we have annexed it. Some comments upon the speech will be found in “ Gossip.” Tbe report is as follow s:— Mr. Brodrick rem arked: That in addition to representing them in Parlia­ ment, he, with their president, Lord Alverstone, had the honour of represent­ ing them on the committee of the Surrey County C.C. (Hear, hear.) In the first place, he need not trouble them with any vindication of their president, and the committee of the Oval, with regard to the attacks which had been made upon them in a Lor don newspaper. Some extraordinary stories had been put together as to why the Surrey County eleven had not been so successful that season. It had been suggested that the proper players had not been got together, and, above all, that the captains were constantly changed, and that envelopes were constantly sent out from the pavilion to say who was to go on to bow l. He need not say that under the presidency of the Lord Chief Justice no Surrey County C.C. captain had ever received such a message. (Applause.) Nothing was easier to suggest than that someone in authority had altered the bow ling or taken steps to alter it. Certainly, if a captain of the Surrey County C.C. had been treated in such a way he did not think he would continue to officiate very long. He did not think the committee were to blame, but he thought there were two things to reckon—the strain of play­ ing so many matches as 8urrey played on the professional players was too great, and also the amateurs could not give the time. When they were constantly changing the members of the team the team did not play together so well. Surrey had played very good cricket for a great many years, and when they had so many county clubs they could not expect to be always at the top. (Ap­ plause.) He hoped that next year their eleven m ight do much better, and re­ minded them of the Surrey eleven of old they were accustomed to read about. (Hear, hear, and applause.) D id they not agree with him that it was a very distressing thing to see in first-class cricket matches, so many of which were not played out ? Did not everyone feel of such matches that a record like won six, lost three, and drawn fourteen needed some revision or some change in the con­ ditions to enable them to get the results of matches brought about more speedily ? Some years ago he had spoken at a cricket club dinner not far away, and from the fullness of his heart he had made a suggestion, for which he had been a good deal attacked since. H ow ­ ever, he was fortified by the fact Mr. Alfred Lyttelton had told him that he was on the right tack, and they would remember that he had been the best wicket-keeper in England. He ventured to suggest that the time had come when the batsman should not be allowed to have it all his own way. H e was not talking only of village matches and one- day matches. It was not very lon g since the number of balls in an over and the numbers for a follow on were different in one-day matches and three-day matches. He thought that on a country cricket ground, where the wicket was not so gocd, they m ight be quite right in going on with their present stumps. He had advocated before that the stumps should be raised one inch in first-class matches. The fact that the stumps had always been of the present height was a very good reason for changing them. (Laugh­ ter.) It sounded Radical—(laughter) — but the lesson of Conservatism was to make changes to suit the changes of the times. (Hear, hear.) In the old days the batsman had a very much worse wicket to play on. Now , in first-class matches he got an absolutely perfect wicket— almost like a billiard table. The second thing was that the batsman had had to run out his runs, and everyone knew that when he had run a four twice in an over he was not quite so ready to see the next