Cricket 1905

J u n e 29, 1905. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 227 GEO. G. BDSSEY &CO, 36 & 38 , QUEEN VICTORIA STREET , E .C. Manufactory—PECKHAM, S.E. TIMBER MILLS— ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK, a g e n t s a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d , AT TH E SIGN OF TH E W ICK ET . B y F . 8. A rhley -C oopeb . One of the most pleasing items of news published in the sporting papers during the past week was to the effect that Dr. E. M. Grace (bom in 1841) had, on Thursday last, taken his 100 th wicket during the present season. Such a performance, achieved so early in the season, would have been distinctly creditable had it been accomplished by a man whose age was one-third that of the “ Little Doctor’s,” but, when done by a cricketer who played his first great match fifty years ago, it must be regarded as altogether remarkable. Dr. Grace’s success alluded to has been achieved in good-class club matches in Gloucestershire, and as, in addition, he possesses a batting average of 2 1 , it is evident that he is still a man to be feared with both bit and ball. Old William Lillywhite and William C'arke were regarded as patriarchal during the last few years they played, yet “ E. M.” is older than either of those two famous bowlers lived to be, and, judging from the activity he still displays in the field, he will probably continue playing with success for another quarter-of-a-century. His experience of cricket and cricketers has been so unique—in his early days he played against Bickley and Willsher, and in his last year of first-class matches numbered Clement Hill and Darling amongst his opponents— that all who follow the game at all closely mu'-t hope that before long he will be induced to give his reminiscences to the world. In all matches in which he par­ ticipated last year he obtained 277 wickets at a cost of 9.71 runs each, his record at the end of the season for the whole of his career being 75,625 runs and 11,092 wickets. On five occasions he took over 300 wickets in a year, obtaining 312 in 1862, 339 in 1863, 370 in 1864, 312 in 1874, and 369 in 1876. Except in 1868 (when he took 128) and 1885, when he was prevented from playing owing to a bad knee, he has obtained not less than 150 wickets in every season since 1859, and each year from 1859 to 1894 (that of 1885 alone except) he scored over 1,000 runs. In 1883 he made 3,166 runs, and 3,074 in 1863, whilst on thirteen other occasions he exceeded 2,000 during the season. These are extra­ ordinary figures, but they can give no idea of his marvellous fielding and snap-catching at point at a time when the position of point was regarded as of much more importance than it is to-day. So far as the actual number of wickets captured is concerned, E. M. Grace’s record is far behind that of Charles Absolon, who, between the ages of 51 and 76 alone obtained as many as 7,439 wickets, in addition to 24,178 runs, and, as he commenced playing in 1831 when but fourteen years of age, it is only natural to suppose that his record during his earlier years, which is, unfortunately, lost, was even more remarkable than during the period alluded to. Even allowing for the fact that Absolon played in matches of a most inferior description, his performances with the ball must still be regarded as marvellous. He took 519 wickets in 1872, 500 in 1874 (aged 57), and over 400 when a septuagenarian ; in 1893, when 76 years of age, he claimed 209 victims at four runs apiece each, on one occasion taking all ten wickets in an innings. Many of the old-time cricketers, by playing against X V lII.’s and X X II.’s, often obtained wonderful figures, e.g., Wisden in 1851 took 4 55 wickets, whilst three j ears later William Clarke (possessing but one eye, and 55 years old) claimed 476. For the first Australian team—that of 1878—Spofforth obtained the enormous number of 764 wickets at a cost of 6.08 runs each, taking 281 during the pre­ liminary Colonial tour, 326 in England, 69 in America and Canada, and 88 during the final Colonial tour. Dr. E. M. Grace’ s record as an all-round cricketer, seeing that it was obtained in good-class matches, will doubtless remain unapproached for many years to come. CONTROL OF CR ICKET IN AUSTRAL IA . The decision of the New South Wales and Victorian Associations to act without the co-operation of South Australia in the matter of the new Board of Control, has created a ferment in Australia. Tbe following extract from the Melbourne Age of May 23rd points out some exceedingly curious points which seem to have been overlooked. It will be seen that the storm is likely to increase instead of to subside. The refusal of the South Australian Cricket Association to join the Board of Control which the Associations of New South Wales and Victoria proposed to bring into existence must have the effect of blocking the move­ ment completely. The eager sponsors of the board have announced that they have sent an invitation to the Marylebone Club to send an English teamto Australia next season, but the English M.C.C. will assuredly be surprised to find that the invitation was sent by a body which, under the terms of its own proposed constitution, has actually no real existence. That constitution, as authoritatively set forth, provides that the “ hoard shall con­ sist of two representatives each of the States of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia ” ; and as South Australia has declined to come in, it is manifestly evident that the board does not exist. The second clause in the proposed constitution of the non-existent board provides that “ the association of any State not on the board for the time being may, with the consent of the associations, become repre­ sented on the board ” ; hut it does not pro­ vide that two of the three associations can give the necessary authority, therefore Queensland and Tasmania cannot join the board until South Australia has done so, and united its invitation with that of New South Wales and of Victoria. The fiasco which has resulted will not surprise anybody outside the two bodies which, in their anxiety to assume authority, precipitated it; hut it is to he feared that it may place Australian cricket in an invidious and undesirable light in the eyes of the English authorities, and the speedy setting right of the position is demanded. SOUTHGATE v. HON. ARTILLERY CO.—Played at Southgate on Saturday, June 10. H on . A rtillery C o . J. D. H. Watts,notout 9 G. E. Bromhall.c Paige, b Jacob ... ......... g H. Keen, b Jacob ... () H. J. Sharpe, lbw, b Paige ... .................84 F. L. Nightingale, c Bevington, b F. S. Lewis........................28 L. J. Couves, c Paige, b Cranfield.................84 R. W. Neumegen, c Levich,b F. S. Lewis 19 H. W. Bell, b Jacob ... 9 B 8, w 3, nb 1 ... 12 Total (7 wkts)* 153 L. M. Leggatt, A. R. Shield, and Rev. R. D. Mertons did not bat. * Innings declared closed.