Cricket 1905

296 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J uly ! 27, 1905. Jim k i s i n i to. CRICKET BALL MAKERS, Supply all the Principal Counties and Clubs through- out the world with their well-known H. GRADIDGE & SONS, Manufacturers of a ll Requisites for C r ick e t , Lawn T enn is , R a c q u e t s , Foo tba ll, an d a ll British Sports. PATENTEE!; AND SOLI MAKER!- OF TH1 M a r v e ll o u s T e s t im o n y . The Inns of Court Hotel, 25th August, 1902, Messrs. J o h n W isd e n & Co. T)ear Sirs,—I have much pleasure in stating that your “ Special Crown ” Cricket Balls were used in the five Test Matches played, between A ll England and Australia this season. At the Oval the play was delayed on the first day until some of your “ Special Crown ” Balls were procured, as both teams preferred them to any others in the market. Your “ Special Crown ’’ Balls gave every satisfaction in all the Test Matches, and all our team always want them in all other matches in England and Australia. Yours faithfully, J. D a r l i n g . London County Cricket Club, Crystal Palace. Dear Sirs,—Your Cricket Balls (“ Special Crown ” ) AGAIN GAVE GREAT SATIS­ FACTION. Please send me half-a-gross for next season at your earliest convenience. I am, yours truly, To J o h n W isd e n & Co. W . G . G r a c e . Colne Bridge, Huddersfield, Sept. 14th, 1903. John Wisden & Co. Dear Sirs,—We have used your “ Wisden’s Special Crown ” Balls in our matches for the last few years, and I fiDd it quite the best ball on the market, very seldom getting out of shape. Yours truly, W . R h o d e s . Kirkheaton, Huddersfield. Sept. 14th, 1903. John Wisden & Co. Dear Sirs,—I think the “ Wisden Special Crown ” Match Ball now used on nearly all County Grounds is quite the best ball on the market. They are not so hard to the hands when fielding as others. Yours truly, G. H . H ir s t . A Wonderful Record made with a Wisden's “ Special Crow n ” Ball. 1,297 runs were scored in eight matches by the St. George O.O. Bristol, with a “ Special Grow n ” Ball, presented to the dub by Dr. K. M . G b aob. Used by all the ^ Leading ^ V* Players Price lists Eree on Application. r» O f all First=Class Outfitters and Dealers. the championship again, for they have only been defeated once, whereas York­ shire, Surrey, Middlesex, Sussex and War­ wickshire have each lost three matches. But surely it is nearly time that a drawn game ought to count for something,_for it is absurd that a side which just manages to wriggle out of a defeat should indirectly profit largely by its good fortune, whereas the side which has out-played it gains nothing at all. For example, Lancashire have been morally beaten by Warwick­ shire, Worcestershire, Essex and Middle­ sex, but do not lose even a single point, while the other four counties are no better off, as far as the championship table is concerned, than if the matches had been abandoned without a ball being bowled in them. If they should be com­ pletely outplayed in every other match this season Lancashire would still be champions if they managed to escape defeat. I n five of the seven matches played at the end of last week over a thousand runs were scored, viz.:— Hants v. Worcestershire, 1424 for 31 wickets. Sussex y . Essex, 1306 for 21 wickets. Kent v. Notts, 1127 for 36 wickets. Middlesex v. Lancashire, 1114 for 36 wickets. Leicestershire v. Warwickshire, 1103 for 26 wickets. The record total for a three-day match is 1492 for 33 wickets iu Worcestershire v. Oxford University at Worcester, July, 1904. This is followed by 1427 for 21 wickets in Surrey v. Sussex at Hastings, July, 1902, and the 1424 for 31 wickets in Hants v. Worcestershire last week comes third. For matches which have lasted more than three days the record is 1739 in February, 1898, between Mr. Stoddart’s X I. and New South Wales. Factory, ART ILLERY PLACE. WOOLWICH. C r i c k e t : A W E E K L Y R E C O R D O F T H E O AM I. 168, UPPER THAMES STREET, LOUDON, E.C. THURSDAY, JULY 27 th , 1905. The Balls to be nsed in Test Hatches are now settled. W ISD EN ’S are the only makes permissible. From Dealers all over the world, and 21, CrantKmni St., London, W.C. City U u t i : BM B IFH K * CO., OHBUglDB. ^ a \ ) t i to n Gossip . The abstract and brief chronicle of the time.— TTamUt S om e time ago it was announced that K. S . Ranjitsinhji was on his way to England, and would be able to play for Sussex in the second half of July, but according to the Sussex Daily News, he has had an attack of malarial fever, which will in all probability prevent him from reaching England before the cricket season ends. Apparently he has not yet left India. It is only when one sees the Sussex team without C. B. Fry that one realises how tremendously strong it would be with both Fry and Ranjitsinhji in it. A t the present time Lancashire seem to have an excellent chance of winning I n the match last week between Hampshire and Worcestershire at Bourne­ mouth, Hampshire declared, leaving their opponents to make 277 to win with two hours and a half before them. Worces­ tershire set about their work with deter­ mination, and won in the last over of the day by five wickets. It was hard lines on Hampshire to be defeated, especially as they lost the services of Captain Greig at a time when, having made 187, he might reasonably have been expected to place his county on an absolutely secure footing, but it was a sporting declaration, and Worcestershire are to be greatly congratulated on their victory. The pity of it is that Hampshire, with one victory to their credit, could not afford to lose a match. T h e Notts v. Kent match had a some­ what similar finish to that between Hants and Worcestershire, although the declaration did not come into play. Kent had to make 258 to win in two hours and three quarters. They lost two wickets for 38, and although Day and Seymour played a splendid game, five wickets were down when a hundred runs were required, with an hour remaining for play. But Blaker and Marsham hit with great determination, and ten