Cricket 1905

M a y 25 , 1905. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 147 BUSSEY’S “ DEMON DRIVERS. < C C B « GEO, G. BUSSEY & CO Desire to inform Cricketers all over the world w h o m a y experience a difficulty in o b ­ taining “ De m on D r iv e r s ” that this difficulty arises in consequence of the ever-increas­ ing d e m a n d exceeding the supply. Readers of Geo. G. Bussey & Co.’s pamphlet, entitled “Evolution of the D e m o n Driver,”are aware that a fea­ ture of the success of the “Demon D r iv e r ”is due to a special process, occupying a long period, that the bats under­ go before leaving the works, and although there are always a large n u m b e r of Bats under this treatment which could be placed on the market, Geo. G. Bussey & Co., in the interest of cricketers and their o w n repu­ tation, will not deviate from the system that has m a d e the The Finest Bat the World produces. G E O . G . B U S S E Y \ C O , 36 & 38, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET , E .C, Manufactory—PECKHAM, S.E. T im b e r M ills — E L M S W E L L S U F F O L K A T T H E SIGN O F T H E W I C K E T . By F. S. A s h le y -C o o p e r . The recent success achieved by Hirst at the expense of the Leicestershire bowlers deserve more than passing reference, for not only was it the means of one of the most popular cricketers in the country breaking several records, but it also afforded ample demonstration of the fact that one of the players upon whom England will chiefly rely for success in the series of test matches this year is in wonderful run-getting form. He made his score when runs were greatly needed—as did W. G-. when he made his 344 at Canterbury in 1876—and the fact that he gave no chance until he hadscored 258 testifies to the soundness of his display. His innings of 341, as is everywhere recognised, is the sixth highest ever played in first-class cricket, and ranks as the largest yet made for York­ shire. As will be seen from the short list appended, Hirst’s innings compares most favourably with the five larger ones alluded to, the figures in brackets denoting at which totals the scores of the players were standing when chances, which were unaccepted, were offered :— 424, A. C. MacLaren, Lancashire v. Somerset, at Taunton, in July, 1895 fat 262). 365*, C. Hill, South Australia v. New South Wales, at Adelaide, in December, 1900 (at 19). 357*, Abel, R., Surrey v. Somerset, at the Oval, in May, 1899 (at 224 and 237). 344, W. G. Grace, M.C.C. v. Kent, at Canterbury, in August, 1876 (chanceless). 343*, P. A. Perrin, Essex v. Derbyshire, at Chester­ field, in July, 1904 (at 152 and three times after­ wards). 341, Hirst, G. H., Yorkshire v. Leicestershire, at Leicester, in May, 1905 (at 258). * Signifies not out. Apart from the great W. G-., who performed the feat three times, and Hayward, Hirst is the only prominent all-round cricketer who has ever exceeded the 300 in a single innings. An idea of his true value to his side may be readily obtained by glancing at the work he has got through for his county. In all matches for Yorkshire he had, up to the 21st inst., made 15,478 runs and obtained 1,320 wickets. Bearing in mind that, prior to 1892, he had assisted Yorkshire on three occasions only, it will be seen that, on the average, he has scored considerably over a thousand runs each season in addition to taking a hundred wickets. Only three other players have made more runs for Yorkshire than Hirst:— Hirst, G. H. Brown, J. T. Tunnicliffe, J. Ulyett, G. ... Inns. .. 555 . .. 608 . .. 677 . .. 694 . Not Highest out. score. 341 ... 311 ... 243 ... 199*... 75 47 49 . 35 Total. 15,478 . 16,419 . 16,744 . 16,063 . Aver. . 32.24 . 29.23 . 26.66 . 24.37 And only Peel has obtained more wickets :— Peel, R. •• Hirst, G. H. Balls. 73,705 v 58,889 Runs. . 23,398 . ? . 24,493 Wkts. . 1,550 ) 4 i . 1,320 ... Aver. 1509 1855 (Rhodes had secured 1,278 wickets up to the 21st inst., whilst Emmett’s victims numbered 1,271.) Hirst, Peel and Wainwright have each made over ten thousand runs, and secured more than a thousand wickets for Yorkshire BATTING. BOWLING. AGENT8 ALL OYER THE WORLD. Runs. Aver. Hirst, G.H. ... 15,478 ... 32*24 ... Peel, R..............1U31 ... 21-28 ... Wainwright, E. 12,768 ... 21*93 ... As Hirst is still only thirty-three years of age, there would seem to be a probability that before he retires from the game he will have made himself responsible for twenty thousand runs and ' two thousand wickets whilst assisting his county. The match at1Lord’s between the Austra­ lians and the Gentlemen resulted in a great triumph for the tourists, who, except in wicket-keeping, were superior to their oppo­ nents in every department of the game. Australians have generally regarded Lord’s as a somewhat unlucky ground, so far as they themselves have been Concerned, but their latest experience there should certainly cause them to modify their opinion. The match was little less than a humiliation for the Gentlemen, and the fact that they were not the best eleven which could have been put into the field in no way atones for their failure whether they were over-awed by the importance of the occasion is impossible to say, but, be that as it may, the cautious tactics they adopted on the opening day were certainly not those generally associated with their batting. A few years ago the Players lost popularity owing to slow play, and the amateurs were distinguished for their bright and rapid scoring, but would any team of professionals to-day have given so lifeless a display as that seen on Thursday last ? The collapse of the Gentlemen in their second innings came as a sad surprise for those spectators who were unfortunate enough to be present, for it was inexcusable, despite the fact that some rain had fallen during the night and that Laver varied his pace with much cleverness. For Armstrong the match was a great triumph, inasmuch as his 248 not out ranks as the highest innings ever play6d at Lord’s by an Australian. Although always scoring briskly—his side made 502 runs for five wickets during the day—the only chance he offered was when he had made 188. Despite the fact that the Austra­ lians scored 555 for the loss of but six wickets, it would be erroneous to infer that present- day amateur bowling is, de facto , extremely weak, for it must not be forgotten that in the Hon. F. S. Jackson, J. R. Mason and B. J. T. Bosanquet, who did not participate in the recent match, we possess three men each of whom might at any time obtain several wickets, even in a test match, at a reasonable cost. Disappointing as last Satur­ day’s cricket was for Englishmen, too much importance should not be attached to i t : the Australian team of 1902, although-disposed of for 36 in the test match at Edgbaston, and for 23 by Yorkshire at Leeds, nevertheless won the rubber. CYPHERS (2) v. BRIXTON WANDERERS (2).- Played at Beckenham on May 20. C yphers . S. Rowe, hit wkt, b Benge .................17 F. J. Adye, hit wkt, b Mitchell ...............17 .. ........... J.R.Murley,b Gilligan 9 W. Pullen, b Mitchell 7 J.Radcliffe,cRussell, b W.Parry, b Benge ... 4 Benge ................18 C. Livett, not out ... 7 E. Adye, c Mitchell, b G.Radcliffe,stGlanvill, Gilligan ................ 0 b Benge .......... 0 M.Foulger,st Glanvill, B 3, lb 1 .......... 4 b Benge ...............15 — F.A.Barlow,stGlanvill, Total ..........104 b Benge ................ 6 B rixton W anderers . W. J. Benge, b Adye.. 0 A. J. Whyte, b Adye.. 3 C. W. Phillips, lbw, b Rowe........................ 8 S.Thurston, b F. Adye 26 A.V.Russell, c Barlow, b Rowe .................46 A.R. Whitley, b Livett 12 C.IIogg,cRowe,bAdye 15 W.A. Gilligan, not out 24 W. A. Mitchell, not out 13 Byes .................12 Total (7 wkts) 159 A. Harbert and B. A. Glanvill did not bat LONDON SCOTTISH v. MILL HILL SCHOOL.- . Played at Mill Hill on May 20. M il l H il l S chool . D.L. Morgan,c Chown, b Codd .................71 C. W. Bywaters, c and b P. Child ... ... 36 N. E. Dore, rim out ... 27 H. E. Snell, b Codd... 2 B. Briant, not out ... 27 B 6, lb 13 ..........19 Total (4 wkts)*182 A. P. Chalmers, C. G. Thackrak, G. J. Litham, W, D* HoJlis4A. T. Wait, and A. Q. Taylor did not bat. *Innings declared closed.