Cricket 1904

A p r il 21, 1904. CRICKET. A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 71 A NEW CRICKET BOOK * In his prefaca to the “ H istory of the Yoiksbire County Cricket Club,” the Rev. R. 8. Holmes says, with reference to the introduction by Lord H aw k e: “ So graceful a porch may cause some dis­ appointment when the building is entered, although it may induce many to venture inside.” With the latter part of Mr. Holmes’ remark we entirely agree, for Lord Hawke’s introduction is so good that the reader will naturally be in an excellent frame of mind to proceed further. It is not the least disparagement to Mr. Holmes to say that the intro­ duction is the best chapter in the book, for Lord Hawke is able to give his personal reminiscences, and to make his personal comments on Yorkshire cricket and cricketers, while the author of the book is pei force obliged to confine his attention severely to the history of Yorkshire cricket. While Lord Hawke disclaims any attempt to make his intro­ duction anecdotal, he tells one or two excellent tales, among them being a reference to two innings which he played against I. Ziogari. H e had made 171 in the first innings, and when in the second innings he only required three runs to make his hundred, the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, now the Colonial Secretary, went on to bow l lobs, with the intention of making sure that the batsman should have the honour of being one of the very few people who at that time had scored two separate innings of a hundred in a match. The result was the immediate downfall of the wicket. It is not very easy to criticise Mr. Holmes’ share of the book. He had an exceedingly difficult task, and the wonder is that in a hundred and seventy pages he has managed to give so much infor­ mation. With such a small space at his disposal, and such a vast subject ts Yorkshire county cricket to he dealt with, he must have had the greatest difficulty in making up his mind as to the best way in which to treat the materials which he bad collected. But within such narrow limits he has contrived to give an excel­ lent idea of the progress of Yorkshire ocunty cricket from its earliest begin­ nings, and also to enliven the history with anecdotes and interesting comments. Thus he mentions that in the matches with Surrey and Lancashire in 1868. “ So intense was the heat this summer that both in this match (Lancashire) and that against Surrey play was stopped for an hour.” One wonders what the spec­ tators at a match in these days would have to say if such a thing were done. Of the Surrey untch at Sheffield in 1871 Mr. Holmes relates the follow ing inci- n e n t: “ After one over had been bowled (in the second innings) H . Jupp, without consulting the umpires, left the wicket and called Tom Humphrey to follow ; and without waiting to see if the light improved the Surrey men dressed and left the ground. What made matters •'‘ History of Yorkshire County Cricket, 1833-1903.” By the Rev. R. 8. Holmes, wi h an Introduction by the Right Honourable Lord Hawke. Illustrated. London : Archibald Constable & Co. 5s. net. worse was that for the first time in county matches neutral umpires had been appointed.” Again, one wonders what the crowd would say if such a thing happened in modern days. Referring to the match at Sheffield in 1897 against Sussex, when Yorkshire made 681, and Brown and Tunnicliffe made a record of 378 for the first wicket, Mr. Holmes says:— “ I have a curious incident to relate concerning the Sheffield partnership. When it had reached a hundred two spectators near me decided that they would make for the bar when­ ever an additional fifty runs was added to the score, and most faithfully they carried out their bargain. When at length 350 appeared on the board, they got up, one of them somewhat dolefully remarking, ‘ But we shall be ruined if this pace goes on much longer ! ’ ” From the above extracts it will be seen that the author well knows how to brighten up his subject. The contents of the book are even more comprehensive than the title would indi­ cate, for they include chapters on “ Y ork­ shire Cricketers in Representative Matches,” “ The All England Eleven in Yorkshire,” “ The Scarborough Festival,” “ The Yorkshire Gentlemen,” “ Cricket Leagues,” etc. Statistical tables occupy a large share of the book—no fewer than 116 pages out of 294—but this is readily accounted for by the fact that by far the larger part of them are devoted to “ Form at a glance,” by Mr. Ashley- Cooper. This, as it shows the part played in the history of the county by every player who has appeared for it, will, of course, be of great value to Yorkshire ci icketers. To quote the words of Mr. Holmes, the compilation of these tables must have been “ a work of hercu­ lean proportions, which no man living could do as well.” The book is well bound, and is illustrated by reproductions of photographs of various famous men connected with the county, and many readers will be glad to find that they are not represented in the impossible actions so commonly seen in cricket books of the present day. We are glad to say that the author has not forgotten to give a comprehensive index. OBITUARY. M r . C. L. J ones . Mr. Charles L in gton Jones was b om at Liverpool, November 27th, 1853, and was educated at Carlton House in that city. He died most suddenly on April 2nd at 42, Falkner Street, Liverpool, of heart seizure. He and Mr. E. Roper (who assisted both Yorkshire and Lancashire) were a great first-wicket pair, especially as members of the Sefton Eleven. The two men put up over a hundred runs for the first wicket more than thirty times during their career. On one occasion they ran up over 200 together against Formby, and in two successive years put up over 150 for the first wicket against Manchester, in whose ranks were Watson and Crossland. Mr. Jones had two elder brothers, of whom “ H. P .,” the eldest, was a very good all-round man, being a good bat, excellent change bowler, mag­ nificent field, and one of the best men going as a wicket-keeper standing back. He had a great reach (standing over 6 feet in height), and could take anything in the slips or on the leg side within reason. He died some years ago of typhoid fever. H is other brother, “ F .F .,” was a very fine amateur fast bowler. For more than twenty years he captured over 100 wickets in a season, generally play­ in g only on Saturdays. He is still living. Mr. C. L. Jones was a very fair bowler in hi< younger days, and bowled with success against the first Australian team on August 8:h and 9th, 1878, taking four wickets for less than 30 runs. In a supplementary match played on August 10th 1 e scored 24 in one innings. In 1876 Mr. Jones assisted Lancashire against Notts at Old Trafford, scoring 0 and 12, and played once again for the county in 1882. For the above particulars the wiiter is indebted almost entirely to the kindness of a correspondent. A DAY OF REST. [Major-General Hart advocates the playing of healthy outdoor games on Sunday.] O General Hart, while there’s a bridge on The ’lhames, I think we all shall find That folk professing your religion Are not the Knox-cum-Calvin kind. For with no blush of guilty shame You dare suggest a Sunday game. You hold it not to risk salvation 'I hat day to play a cricket match, Nor deem theirs is assured damnation Who stop a drive or make a catch. Nor think man risks immortal souls With every sinful ball he bowls. You know not that the devil’s playthings Are footballs all the Sunday through, And that’ s why Sabbatarians say things I won’t repeat concerning you. All Sunday players, they foretell, Are booked to—you know where, quite well. You dare to hint a healthy change’ll Be tennis-playing on that day, Though knowing the Recording Angel Will hear the dreadful things folk say— You think for them he’ll find excuse Though they on Sunday do say “ Deuce ! ” For those who can’t recall the last time They had a week-day holiday, Some really healthful Sunday pastime Is passing good, you dare to say. This have you said - and, entre nous— I ’m glad that I agree with you. —Daily Chroniole. "C R IC K E T " is the only paper in the world solely devoted to the game. Weekly, April 14 to September 22 (inclusive). T erms of S u bscription :—6/- per annum. 7/- post free abroad. Payable in advance. 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