Cricket 1904

CRICKET, A WEEKLY REOORD OF THE 0AME. NOV. 24, 1904. n o . 6 7 8 . v o l . x x i i i . THURSDAY, NOV. 24, 1904. p r i c e 2 a. A CHAT ABOUT J. T. BROWN. One of the most sturdy cricketers ever turned out by Yorkshire, Brown, who died two or three weeks ago, was greatly handicapped by rheumatism which first attacked him when he was a young professional at Perth, during a season which was more than usually wet even for Scotland. In later years he played some of his very finest innings when suffering severely, for, like nearly all Yorkshiremen, he had plenty of grit and determination. When he seemed in his prime he began to find more and more difficulty in playing, and finally had to send in his resignation to the Yorkshire committee on account of illness connected with his heart. From time to time reports appeared in the newspapers to the effect that the treatment which he was under­ going had been so effective that great hopes were entertained of seeing him take bis place again in the Yorkshire eleven. Every­ body had begun to look upon his complete recovery as only a mere questionof time, andtheannounce­ ment of his death came as a great surprise to most cricketers. At his best Brown was a great cricketer. He was a man whose nerves were not upset when a fine effort was required of him; if he failed it was because it was not his day. He was not amere billiard- table-wicket player; whatever the condition of the turf he was likely to make runs, but perhaps he was seen at his best on what is now universally known as an “ easy paced” wicket. He could make a cut as very few modern players canmake it; he had a good drive, and his leg play was irreproachable. Brown’s name will always be con­ nectedwith the great stand of 554 made by him and Tunnicliffe for the first Yorkshire wicket against Derbyshire at Chesterfield in 1898. His own share of the partnership was 292, and when he had made eight more runs he knocked down his wicket, as runs were no longer wanted. It will be remembered that on the same day Hayward scored 315 at the Oval. Brown’s highest innings was 311 these two men put on 210 runs, Brown at one time scoring 51 while his partner made five. Brown was decidedly a popular cricketer, both with the crowd and with his companions. He had a dry humour, like so many Yorkshire professionals. One of his peculiarities was that he never was satisfied with his performances. No matter how finely he had played, or how great had been the difficulty of making runs, he shook his head as he thought of what he might have done. And yet like many other cricketers he had something of the Calvanist about him; he thought that on any particular day he was either pre­ destined to make runs, or not to make them. Hence, perhaps, his indiffurence to circumstances. If the wicket was ever so bad, it might be that he was predestined to score well; therefore, why get excited or nervous ? But there was the difference between him and so many other cricketers that while, despite their belief in “ Kismet,” they still allow them­ selves to be influenced by their surroundings, he was consistent in his theories, and, therefore, never lost his nerve. As a slow leg-break bowler Brown was useful to Yorkshire several times during his career. Once indeed he took three wickets with successive balls, and thereby astonished himself as much as the other members of the two teams. This was in the first innings of Derbyshire against Yorkshire, in 1896, at Derby, and Brown, who went on last change, dismissed Storer, A. Marsden, and Hulme, his analysis being 5 overs, 4 balls, 1 maiden, 16 runs, and 3 wickets. Although his action was quite fair, he was once no-balled in an up-country match in Australii by the local umpire, who had previously ventured to asksome of the other Englishmen whether there was not a doubt about Brown’s fairness. The players, scenting an amusing scene, shook their heads sadly, and had their reward when Brown was put on to bowl, with the chief object of giving the local umpire an opportunity of distinguishing himself. It was not until Brown had for Yorkshire against Sussex, in 1897, at Sheffield. He will also be remembered for his splendid innings of 140 in the match between Mr. Stoddart’s team and Aus­ tralia, at Melbourne, in March, 1895. His name was not included in the list of players chosen to go on the tour, but at the last moment Abel decided not to accompany the team, and Brown took his place. He distinguished himself greatly during the tour, and his finest innings—one of the finest ever played J. T. BROWN. (Photo by R. Thiele de Co. 66, Chancery Lane%London). by a cricketer—was his 140. The match was the fifth of the series each side having wontwomatches. Australiawon tbe toss andmade 414, to whichEngland repliedwith385. Intheir secondinnings the Australians scored 267, and at the close of the fourth d»y had dismissed Brockwell with the total at 28. With 269 runs still required to win, and nine wickets to fall, England lost Mr. Stod­ dart on the next morning, l.b.w. to the first ball of the day, and then Brown joined Ward. In two hours and a-half