Cricket 1905

34 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M ar . 30, 1905. present between the two. The father is not able to move as quickly as the son ; on the other hand he generally stops everything that comes in his way.” W. A. B e t t e s w o r t h . S om e R e m in is c e n c e s o f W . G . G r a c e , Jim. The death of a bearer of one of Eng­ land’s great names always seems to me to evoke something more than the mere “ passing tribute of a sigh.” It stirs us to memories of great deeds wrought by B ire or son (or both), inevitably leads us into the paths of retrospective compari­ son, and generally brings our imagi­ nation into play upon the respective parts played by the twain on this world’s stage. In the case under notice our imagina­ tion—speculative or otherwise—will not be greatly exercised. No one for a moment will admit that Grace, jun., ever approached his father’s excellency in the cricket field, or argue that he would have attained to it had he lived. Indeed it would not be startling to hear people say that, if the senior Grace had never been, the junior Grace would not have come into the prominence that he did. But the latter for all that was no mediocre cricketer. If defective eyesight and the consequent wearing of spectacles handi­ capped him—as undoubtedly they did— in first-class games, he was more than useful in second-class cricket, as the score books of the Oundle Rovers and the London County Cricket Club would testify. In this sphere he excelled as an all-round man. His batting, though spasmodic and jerky, and therefore un­ gainly to look at, was often effective, as also were his bowling, with its peculiar dropping action, and his fielding at mid- off, which was always brilliant. Hia keenness for the game at all points was intense, and it was ever a sore disap­ pointment to him whenever he failed to do himself (or his father) justice in a match,— particularly in a first - class engagement. How the old Grace zealously watched and furthered the young Grace’s interests in the game ! I well remember how at Cambridge in 1894, in his son’s first season there, he came down with the M.C.C., and insisted not only on the youngster being played in the match, but also on taking him in with himself to open the Club’s first innings. And what a tragedy followed ! Grace, jun., out for 0 in his first over! But the revenge of Grace, sen.—that was terrible! An innings of 4J hours, and totalling 130 odd, and a capture of six of the Light Blue wickets ! Nor was this the only occasion on which the “ old man ” demonstrated his chagrin at his son’s non-inclusion in the ’Varsity team, or atoned for the filial failures in the field. In the same year at Lord’s, and for the M.C.C. v. Cambridge Univer sity again, a cypher from Grace, jun., in the first innings was followed by a score of 196 from the elder’s bat, and the customary wily “ bagging ” of the under­ graduates’ wickets 1 And at Bristol in 1896 the memorable 301 v. Sussex was (if I mistake not) in the nature of a “ m a k eu p ” for family shortcomings. “ Exoriare aliquis nostris ex osiibus ultor ” seemed to be the outraged father’s motto. Yet (be it noted) these first wicket partnerships between Grace pere et fils were not always fruitless in their results, and I recall to mind—to quote only two instances—a prosperous stand in the Middlesex v. Gloucestershire match at Lord’s in 1896, and another in the Notts match at Nottingham in the same season. But the combination, whether success­ ful or not, was a sight as interesting as it|was unique. The two men were almost of identical stature, and the similarity of gait in their walk to the wickets, and of their running between the wickets was amusing to watch. And so, too, the similarity in some of their strokes. That little shove or “ push” to the on, that little late tap in the slips, and the half- cock stroke, were as characteristic of the son as they were of the father, albeit they were somewhat clumsily executed, and savoured rather of a forced or unnatural response to the parent’s coaching. We felt when looking at the two Graces in together, and without too critically examining the batting merits of the younger man, that we were witnessing a batting performance at the one end of the budding champion of the ’60’s, and at the other of the matured champion of the ’90’s, so exactly did “ W. G.,” jun., reproduce in figure, if not in form, the once slim, lithe person of his illustrious parent. W. G., jun., made many friends by reason of his unaffected modesty and simple kindliness of heart, and his un­ timely removal from the cricket as well as the scholastic world, in which he was pursuing a profi snonal career, will cause unfeigned regret among all who knew him, and it is certain that the sympathy of these friends and of a large circle of others will go out in fullest measure to the great cricketer and his family, who now mourn him. C l au de S. B u c k in g h a m . INDOOR CR ICKET IN AM ER ICA . The best indoor cricket pitch in America is the one at Haverford College. Here a separate building is set apart purely for winter practice. It is known as the ‘‘ cricket shed,” and is a long, low structure, made entirely of wood, with the exception of a large skylight in the roof. Tnis Bkylight gives all the neces­ sary light iu a natural manner. The shed is never used at night, although supplied with electric lights. Inside, it is fitted up with two alleys, separated by a hanging net. The tides and top are also netted in with white canvas as a background. The wickets are pitched on cocoauut matting stretched over a sur­ face of clay. This gives a perfect wicket at all times. A row of windows on each side can be opened in warm weather, giving additional light. One end of the shed is separated from the rest by a large hanging canvas. In this end there stands a stove which heats the whole shed. The introduction of steam heat is being contemplated. Lockers containing bats, balls, gloves, etc., are also placed in this end. Composition balls are used until spring, when regular leather balls gradually take their place. The cricket shed was built in 1896, and since that time has been in charge of George Wooley. The excellence of Haverfords’ cricket teams may be ascribed entirely to this system of winter practice. Nearly all the players learn the game from the very rudiments, and some men have made the ’Varsity eleven who did not know what a cricket bat looked like before they came to Haver­ ford. The Freshman class is always given a chance to learn the game in the early winter months. Up to Christmas they have the shed entirely to themselves, and get all the benefit of Wooley’s coaching. After Christmas, the most promising men are retained and given regular periods for practice with the other candidates. Usually about fifty men are at work throughout the winter. In spring, these men are divided into squads and are gradually weeded out till the three representative teams are left. Haverford’s system of winter practice is a good one, and should be followed by all our cricket clubs. The standard of American cricket would certainly be raised if indoor practice were to become a regular feature. The building of a special shed, like that at Haverford Col­ lege, is a matter of no tremendous expense, and is certainly worth while. At Haverford, Wooley has undoubtedly the best opportunity for studying the faults of his charges, since he is with them for a certain period each day throughout the winter. The perfect pitch, the perfect light, and the white background make it a comparatively simple matter to learn all the strokes in the best style, and once this style is acquired it is not difficult to become adjusted to the varying pitches of the outdoor season. Several other institutions around Phila­ delphia possess tome facilities for indoor practice, but none of them has anything equal to the Haverford cricket shed. There is a space set apart for cricket in the gymnasium of the Haverford School, but, as the wicket is composed of the mere wooden fLor, the conditions are by no means perfect. The University of Pennsylvania candidates make use of the Export Exposition buildings, which are also used by the baseball men. This is only a make-shift, however, and cannot be used through the whole winter. The only way in which the project can be carried through in a satisfactory manner is by having a special shed built, or a special hall set aside for cricket alone. The players must have plenty of room, they must be undisturbed, they must have good light and a good wicket. With these advantages once introduced into our cricket clubs we may look for an immediate advance in the American game. —American Cricketer.