Cricket 1905

C R IC K E T , A W E E K LY REOORD OP THH GAM E. MAY 18, 1905. “ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.” — Byron. no. 688. voi. xxiv. THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1905. p r i c e aa. A C H A T A B O U T MR. L. C. H. P A L A I R E T . The announcement made by Mr. Palairet a short time ago that he would not be able to play regularly for Somersetshire this season, and per­ haps never again, must have come as a great disappointment to every crick­ eter, while to Somersetshire men it must have been as a thunderbolt. For although he has not had a very long career as a first-class cricketer, Mr. Palairet has been a commanding figure for ten years, and it is one of the curiosities of cricket that he has so seldom represented England against Australia. Ever since he came into notice his beautiful style in batting has attracted general attention, and just as W. G. has always been re­ garded as possessing, of all cricketers, the most business-like style, so Mr. Palairet has stood first among them as the possessor of the moBt graceful Btyle. He never makes an ugly stroke; he perhaps could not make one if he tried. Unlike many men whose style is attractive, he is a powerful player, and when he is at the wickets no spectator ever has occasion to yawn because he finds the game tedious. By birth Mr. Palairet is entitled to play for Lancashire, for he was bom at Grange-over-Sands on May 27th, 1870, but after he left Oxford Uni­ versity he played for Somerset under the residential qualification. He was regarded as an exceedingly promis­ ing player when he was at school at Repton, and before he left Oxford his reputation was assured. In a few years he was recognised as one of the greatest batsmen of the day, and Dr. Grace says of him in his “ Reminis­ cences,” published in 1899, “ He is now in the front rank of amateur batsmen, and usually makes a thous­ and runs each season. Combining defence with spirited hitting, and always playing with stylish finish, he is an attractive batsman to watch, and a formidable rival to oppose.” At the present time he is just as attrac­ tive a batsman to watch as he ever was, and he has lost nothing of his skill. Henoe his loss to Somerset will be irre­ parable. He is one of those batsmen whom spectators do not watch with a nervous feeling of apprehension that they will get out before the next over; he seems to play every kind of bowling with ME. L. 0. H . PALAIBET. Photo by Hawkins & Co., Brighton'. such consummate ease that his dismissal seems a far-off thing to a spectator. In 1886 Mr. Palairet gained his colours at Repton, and until 1899, when he went to Oriel College, Oxford, he was the mainstay of the school team, although C. B. Fry and his brother, R. C. N., were contemporary with him. In 1887 he made scores of 114 and 64 against Marlborough, and already great things were prophesied of him. He was cap­ tain of the school eleven in 1888 and 1889, and nearly always distinguished himself, both as a batsman and a bowler. As a schoolboy he played for Somersetshire at Lord’s, in August, 1889, against the M.C.C. and Ground, and his first experience of important cricket must have been interesting, for the match was finished in one day, M.C.C. scoring 67 and 60, and Somerset 64 and 64 for one wicket. But his first county match for Somerset was in the following year, when he played against Leicestershire at Taunton, and made 158. He went in first with Mr. H. T. Hewett, and the two men put up 115 in an hour and a half before they were separated, while Palairet and Nichols added 170 for the second wicket. For the Oxford eleven Mr. Palairet was generally successful, although in his^ four matches against Cambridgeshire his only two important scores were 71 not out and 32. But in College matches he did not shine as much as most other fine players, and in his first season for Oriel he could only boast of an average of fourteen, and was absolutely last on the list—a detail whioh may interest other well- known players who often fail in small m&tcliss• It was at the end of August, 1892, that Mr. Palairet’s name suddenly became famous. Yorkshire were play­ ing Somerset at Taunton, and ran up a total of 299, which in those days seemed large enough to promise vic­ tory. But Mr. Palairet and Mr. Hewett upset all calculations by scor­ ing 346 for the first Somersetshire wicket. Referring to this remarkable stand, the Cricket Field said, “ The Somersetshire score was 78 for no wicket at the end of the first day, and Palairet had been missed at the wicket. On Friday the two batsmen at once began to hit every bowler who tried his hand, and for about the next three hours there was such a display of batting as has never been seen on the Tannton