Cricket 1906

CR ICK E T : a w ee k l y r e c o r d o f t h e s a m e . JUNE 7, 1906. Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. No. 721. VOL. XXV. THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1906. PBICE 2d. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. MR. 0. J. T. POOL. No analysis of Northamptonshire cricket would be of any value if it ignored the important part one player has taken in the county’s development. Of course, I am referring to Thompson, the fine all­ round cricketer who has loomed so largely in the public eye during the last few years. There arepeople who go so far as to claim that to thehighreputation he has deservedly earned in a great measure has been due the promotion of Northants to the front rank of cjunty cricket. That is, of course, exaggeration pure and simple. The election of Northamptonshire to the list of first-class counties was the result of a combina­ tion of all-round cricket far above the average of that of the teams taking part in the Minor Counties Competition. Thompson was, of course, the central figure, and his success gave general satis­ faction far outside the limits of Northants as the success of athoroughly hard worker and an unvarying tryer is bound to do with an ap­ preciative and always grate­ ful cricket public. But, even granted that he has been, and is, the predominant partner, the Northampton­ shire firm includes other members of more than ordinary capacity. Though last season saw its introduc­ tion to first-claBS cricket, Northants has already more than justified its advance­ ment. Luck is a great factor in the national game, and luck has certainly not as yet showered its favours on theNorth­ amptonshire eleven. Personally, I am inclined to think them a better all-round side than they are generally regarded. They have certainly some very promising amateurs,'and more than one of them quite [young, who are likely to be of great service. The pity is that some of them are only able to appear fitfully. How materially such a batsman as Mr. C. J. T. Pool, for example, would strengthen the side if he were only able to play regularly,*the work he has already done for the county will prove forcibly. Bom in Northampton on January 21st, 1876, and educated fromhis MR. C. J. T. POOL* ninth year at the Grammar School there, the town has given him the double qualification he possesses for North­ amptonshire. As a cricketer he has had his natural aptitude and nothing else to thank for his development. Curiously enough he neverhad any cricket coaching. His only encouragement, indeed, came from his mother, a keen sportswoman : in fact it was she who taught him how to hold a bat, and who sympathised with him and helped him in his failures when quite a youngster. His career as a county cricketer has been longer than onemight imagine. He was only fifteen years of age when he first represented Northants. The match was against Bucks., at High Wycombe, and the boy had the satisfaction of being the chief run-getter with a score of twentyin the first innings. Nash, the old Lancashire bowler, who was then playing for Bucks., gave him particular encouragement in this match. When the young batsman made a good “ shot ” Nash would say “Well played,” and he con­ tinued to speak most encouragingly between the overs and after the innings was completed. In those days, the early nineties to wit, Northants was already making a repu­ tation among the Minor Counties. Circumstances prevented Mr. Pool playing much, though he retained his early promise fully, a« an innings of 105 for Northants against Notts in 1898 will show. Just about that time he was full of runs, and indeed his nearest approach to the double cen­ tury was in 1897. This was in a Hunt match for Mr. T. Horton, the Northants skipper, against Mr. Austen Mackenzie’s eleven. Though the latter side included Albert Trott and Rawlin, the young Northampton­ shire batsman just missed the double first by twelve runs, scoring 107 in the first and 88 in the second innings. Meanwhile he had acquired a qualification for Lancashire by residence. At the time he was in business at Bolton, and played a good deal for Little Lever, a side which included Tyldesley, Hallows, Paul and Smith, all Lancashire first eleven men. A consistent run-getter, his last season