Cricket 1906

THE FINEST BAT THE WORLD PRODUCES , J u n e 7, 1906, CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 179 BUSSEY’S * - c o CO P O H BUSSEYS AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F. S. A shlbt -C oopbh . The result of this week’s match between Lancashire and Yorkshire— the 79th between the two sides—will probably have an important bearing upon the destination of the Cham­ pionship. That the better side won can scarcely be questioned, the Yorkshiremen, although deprived of the services of Jackson, playing a winning game from the very com­ mencement of the match. Those who were fortunate enough to witness the play could not but realise that spectators are as thoroughly, if not more, appreciative of fine bowling as they are of heavy run-getting. This week’ s meeting between the two sides took place upon a wicket on which hat and hall were upon an equality, and the result was an ideal game. A synopsis of results of all matches played between the rival counties is appended:— Date of Won Won first by by Ground. Match. Yorks. Lancs. Drawn. Total. Sheffield ... 1849 . . 10 .. 6 .. 4 .. 20 Manchester... 1819 . . 16 .. 14 .. 9 .. 39 Whalley ... 1867 .. 1 .. 0 .. 0 .. 1 Middlesbro’.. 1867 . 1 .. 0 .. 0 .. 1 Holbeck 1868 . . 1 .. 0 .. 0 .. 1 Bradford ... 1874 . . 2 .. 2 .. 3 .. 7 Huddersfield 1877 . 1 .. 3 .. 1 .. 5 Dewsbury ... 1886 . . 0 .. 0 .. 1 .. 1 L eed s.......... 1893 . 1 .. 1 .. 2 .. 4 In Yorks. ... 1849 . . 16 .. 12 .. 11 .. 39 In Lancs. ... 1849 . . 17 .. 14 .. 9 .. 40 Totals... 1849 . . 33 .. 26 .. 20 .. 79 No matches took place between 1851 and 1867, whilst three were played in 18S7—at Whalley, Manchester and Middlesbrough. It is good to hear an authoritative state­ ment to the effect that Ranjitsinhji will shortly again be seen on England playing- fields, for, in the enforced absence of Fry, his presence in the Sussex team would make a tremendous difference to the side. Had the elev3n included either of the great run-getters in this week’s match against Kent, it is most improbable that the side would have exper­ ienced so heavy a defeat as by an innings and 117 runs. Meetings between Su-sex and Kent are always interesting, for not only are they neighbouring counties, but Sussex v. Kent is the oldest inter-county match which has been playod at all regularly. When the two sides first met it is impossible to say, as particulars of all the early contests have not been preserved, but it is known that as far back as 1728 Kent three times proved too expert for Sussex. Sir W illiam Gage and the Duke of Richmond were the great sup­ porters of Sussex cricket in those remote times, whilst the interests of Kent were well looked after by Mr. Edwin Stead, of Maid­ stone. Kent were all-powerful in those days and in 1729 met the combined forces of Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire, but scored only three more runs in both their innings than their opponents did in their one, owing to the “ extraordinary agility and dexterity ” of a groom of the Duke of Richmond. “ So the Kentish men threw it up,” and, presumably, forfeited the stake of 100 guineas for which the match was played. During recent years we have, owing; to the huge scoring which has been characteristic of exhibition cricket, heard a great deal con­ cerning the so-called deterioration in bowling, but events which have occurred lately have clearly Bhown that, given a wicket not wholly in favour of run-getting, howlers are still able to obtain victims at a pleasantly-reasonable cost. Despite Hirst’ s fine analysis at Bradford this week, the most remarkable bowling during the past few days stands to the credit of Wass, who obtained as many as 27 wickets in a single week at a cost of 159 runs. His performance in taking 16 wickets in a day against Lancashire, at Liverpool, is unique in the County Championship Com­ petition, and had, in fact, been accomplished only twice previously in a first-class match, to wit, by Emmett, for Yorkshire v. Cambridgeshire, at Hunslet, in 1869, and by Southerton, for South v. North, at Lord’ s, in 1875. Walter Mead, also, will have good reason to look back upon the opening days of June, 1906, with considerable satisfaction, seeing that his analysis of seven wickets for 13 in the second innings of Derbyshire, at Leyton, is the best thing— from a statistical standpoint —he has yet done in a first-class match. (Against Sussex, at Hove, in 1902, he took seven for 20, and, in the Essex v. Yorkshire match at Sheffield thirteen years ago, four for 8.) JJayes’ hat-trick perform­ ance, too, although done at the expense of the youngest of the first-class counties, must not be overlooked. Tom Hayward, who has had another very good week, has again shown how reliable a player he is when a great effort is required of him. His first hundred against Notts, at Trent Bridge, was a most masterly display, and of the utmost value to his side. Of the 218 runs obtained by Surrey from the bat he claimed 144, going in first and remaining undefeated when the innings closed. Some of his most serviceable scores have been made when he has succeeded in carrying his bat through the innings. Last year, for example, he Bcored 129 out of 246 from the bat against the Australians at the Oval, whilst in 1904 he hit 188, out of 313 from the bat, against Kent at Canterbury, and in 1903 obtained 156 out of 272 from the bat against the Philadelphians at Kennington. Those who can recall these innings will know that they were played when Surrey had to fight an up-hill game, and were therefore far more meritorious than if they had been played at a time when runs were of little value. The success which has attended the efforts of Essex this year is very pleasant, for the county has had a long struggle for existence. The Leyton public are loyal to the side so long as things go well, but, should a series of disasters overtake the eleven, it is to be feared that their patronage would be withheld. That the Essex team is very strong at the present time cannot be doubted: in fact, some critics have even gone so far as to predict that the side will be found at the head of the Championship table when the season termi­ nates. Perrin and Mead, the two greatest players on the side, are just now at their very best, and, should they maintain their form throughout the summer, Essex will assuredly occupy a very high position among the counties. The easy manner in which they overcame Derbyshire and Gloucestershire will cause their future doings to be followed with more than ordinary interest. Playing for Camberwell Grammar School 2nd X I. v. Manor House School 2nd X I., at Clapham, on the 23rd ult., E. P. Martin performed the extraordinary feat of obtain­ ing all ten wickets in an innings without a run being made off him. The total of the side, including 10 extras, was 29. Martin’s analysis appears thus in the score-book :— This feat of taking all tenwickets without a runhad previously been performed in Surrey