Cricket 1905

M a y 11, 1905. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 123 O ur spring poet, whom it is impossible to keep quiet at this time of the year, writes about Cotter. It is pretty clear that he has been studying the methods of some of the amateur reporters whose mixed metaphors are their strong point. He says:— “ I have seen Cotter. Cotter is like a young war horse, eager to grapple with his prey. He strains at the leash with the impetuosity of a thunderbolt, andin Ms desire to win the match at one fell swoop, he soars so high that he loses some of the electricity which, when properly stored up, enables a bowler to sweep the decks. He has yet to learn that it is a mistaketo keep steam always at high pressure.” C lem ent H i l l had an exciting time with his first four balls in the second innings of the Australians against Gentle­ men of England at the Crystal Palace, the last four of an over from G. W. Beldam. The first ball was rather faster than he anticipated and he nearly over­ balanced himself in reaching at it. The second also surprised him a little, and he did not know what had become of it when it hit his bat. He played the third nearly as possible on to his wicket, and completely missed the fourth. After this he was Clement Hill at his best. I t is not often that a man scores a “ niner” even in these days of progress, and therefore Duff may congratulate him self, for he counted a nine in his score in the second innings against the Gentlemen at the Crystal Palace on Friday afternoon He made a beautiful cover point hit which nearly reached the boundary. Warner ran for the ball at a fair pace, but threw it in badly to Jessop who had backed him up to within about 60 yards. When Jessop picked up the ball he saw that there was just a chance of running Duff out in his fifth run, and banged at the wicket accordingly, with the result that the ball was at the boundary in no time. A clergyman, every inch of him an old cricketer, was explaining to a pretty young lady why this hit of Duff’s counted as nine runs. The lady was delightfully ignorant of the game, but most anxious to learn. “ But ” she said, “ the ball did not even go to the boundary, and even if it had done it would have only counted four, would’nt it.” The clergyman smiled and said, “ Yes, but you see, this was an overthrow.” “ An overthrow ? Why, the little man who ran after it only threw it ever such a little way.” ‘ ‘ Ah ! but did’nt younoticethatitwas picked up by the other little man—Jessop, you know—who threw it hard over to the boundary ? ” The lady was puzzled. She sighed and said “ Well I don’t see how you can call that an over throw, for it went very fast all along the ground.” The clergyman gave it up. A n over by Brearley in the Australians second innings produced seventeen runs, of which fourteen came from Noble’s bat. Noble placed the first ball neatly to the leg boundary, made a beautiful old- fashioned cut to the boundary of the second, such as Charlwood might have envied, and placed the third for a single. Hill made a three on the on-side off the fourth ball. Noble made a fine on drive to the boundary off the fifth, and an on drive for a single off the last. T h e centre part of the cricket ground of the Kenley C.C. has been relaid during the winter by Apted, the Oval superin­ tendent. Last year the freehold of the ground, which adjoins Kenley Station (35 minutes from London), was acquired by the Kenley Sports Company, Ltd., at cost of £4,000. The greater part of this sum, under conditions which prevent the land from ever being built upon, was subscribed by owners of property in the neighbourhood. The Sports Company have leased the ground to the Kenley C.C. for a period of 99 years. From The Morning Leader '.— It is never wise to tell a great batsman that he cannot do a certain thing, as he generally his teeth and brings it off. Some years ago Middlesex were playing Sussex at Brighton. Playwasstoppedbyrainattheendof the first day. During the evening Warner was incautious enough to say that Banji was not equal to Fry on a sticky wicket. “ What’s that, Plum P ” was heard, and there was E a n ji looking rather aggrieved. He didn’t say anything, but proceeded to make 200 next day on a really difficult wicket, the next highest score being 17 ! Th e first run to the credit of the Australians in the tour of 1905, came from a leg-bye off Trumper’s pad. The first run made against the Australians was off a full pitch from Cotter, hit by W.G. in the direction of third man. A t the Crystal Palace on Thursday last:— First Spectator: “ How do you pro­ nounce that Australian chap’s name — the one that isn’t playing—Gairs or Gurs ? ” Second Spectator: “ I fancy its Gair— German stock, he’s sure to be, and they don’t pronounce the final ‘ s ’ in German.” First Spectator: “ Don’t they, I thought it was only in French that they did that ? ” Second Spectator : “ Ah! perhaps it is.” Tbird Spectator: “ Excuse me, but I know a family of the same name. They call themselves ‘ Jeers.’ ” Fourth Spectator: “ I happen to know for a fact that the Australians themselves call him ‘ Jera.’ ” —Enter a member of the Gentlemen’s team in quest of the ball which has been hit to the boundary. First Spectator: “ Excuse me, sir, but would you kindly tell me how to pro­ nounce the name of the Australian, G-e-h-r-s ? ” M. of G. T. (politely): “ Gears.” Spectators look at one another, and wonder to what the world is coming. F o r New Beckenham against the Chartered Company on Saturday S. F. Prior took nine wickets for no runs, eight of them clean bowled. He also accomplished the hat trick. The match was played on the ground of the New Beckenham C.C. M r. F. L ee, the honorary secretary of the cricket club which is connected with the firm of Reynolds & Co., Swindon, writes :— A veryrare performance was accomplished by the team of the above firm on Saturday. They compiled a total of 30 and then dis­ missed their opponents for two byes. L. Dunford captured seven wickets and S. Waite three wickets, each of course for nothing. The only fieldsman to touch the ball save the wicket-keeperwas L. Sargent who brought off two magnificent catches.” M a job C. H e a to n - E llis writes to the Field as follows:— A young friend of mine, Eabodo von Dalwijk, son of Baron von Dalwijk, of Ellerslie, Canterbury, told me the following experience. Young Dalwijk is at King’s School, Canterbury, and on Saturday, March 25th, was playing stump cricket in the yard of the school. In the middle of the yard are some very tall trees, and in the tallest were three or four rooks’ nests. He skied a ball above the tallest tree, and as it fell it dis­ lodged an old rook sitting on her eggs and settled in the nest. Almost immediately the old bird returned and took up the ball in her beak—it is about the size of a golf ball—and flew with it round the yard and dropped it. All this took place during the time the boys were watching for the ball to fall. T h e team of the Liverpool C.C. which was beaten by Sefton on Saturday in­ cluded B. H. Spooner, H. G. Garnett, A. F. Spooner, and H. B. Steel. When Garnett, B. H. Spooner, and C. S. Hannay were all out for 43 the spectators became interested, and the Liverpool Daily Post says :— “ Here comes ‘ H. B .,’ went round the ring of spectators; ‘ he is sure to do something.’ He d id ! He went back first ball, Kitchener’s initial delivery to him going bang through his defence with his Btumps. Not a sound other than ‘ O h ! ’ from the crowd, who felt the disappointment just as keen as did the batsman marching back.” | In a mock classification of players a correspondent of Lawn Tennis includes G. W. Beldam and G. L. Jessop, thus :— Class 7, /Mr. G. W . Beldam.—For his ser- 15. vices in photographing Mr. Yaile and other “ Great Lawn Tennis Players ” in character- Class 1, istic (and sometimes graceful) attitudes. ( Honoris\ Mr. G. L. Jessop.—For having Causd). started the novel theory that a ball can be made to swerve in its flight without the aid either of spin or of air resist­ ance. From Lawn Tennis :— An advantage lawn tennis can fairly claim over cricket is that a player, although en­ gaged in professional or other pursuits during the greater part of the day, can still enjoy the thrill and fascination of real match play —a boon which is ordinarily quite out of the range of possibility for the less fortunate cricketer. It is true that such a one has his practice nets at which he can indulge in