Cricket 1906

C R IC K E T : a w e e k l y r e c o r d o t h e s a m e . MAR, 29, 1906. “ Together joined in Cricket’ s manly to il.”— Byron. n o. 7 1 2 . v o l . xxv. THURSDAY, MAR. 29, 1906. p r i c e 2 d. AN OLD SURREY CRICKETER. RICHARD HUMPHREY. Making his first appearance for Surrey in 1870, Richard Humphrey, whose death at the age of fifty-six was announced at the beginning of the month, was one of the most promising colts turned out by the county for many years. As a y ou n g e r brother of the famous Tom Humphrey, whose first- wicket partnerships with Jupp were as much talked about at that time as those of C. B. Fry and Vine at the present day, he was well known to the county authorities, and he had been kept under careful notice ever since he left school. He had, moreover, many opportunities ofleaminghow to play the game. Very soon after he began to play for the county, Surrey men, who were, happily forSurrey, as optimistic as their suc­ cessors of to-day, persuaded themselves that in him they had a young player who would be as good as his brother at the very least, and might be the greatest batsman ever discovered in the south. For a time Humphrey fulfilled expectations, but when a brilliant future seemed in store for him it was found that he had reached the height of his powers, and from that time hesteadilydeclined, although he was to the last a fine batsman. It may almost be said of him in the words of the old song, that “ When he was up he was up, and when he was down he was down.” The fact of the whole matter seems to be that he was born before his time, and if it had been bis fate to play in the later years when wickets were vastly improved, he would have gone from success to success, and would then have had no occasion to be disheartened by a few failures, for he had many fine strokes which would have told well in modern days, and, moreover, he could defend his wicket most stub­ bornly. As it was he had not the temperament of a greit cricketer of the seventies and eighties. His first great success for Surrey was not long in coming, and after appearing in a couple of matches without doing very much he played an almost perfect innings of 82 for Surrey against Cam­ bridge University at the Oval. The critics were loud in his praise, and he seemed to have the cricket world at his feet. For two or three years he was one of the foremost men in the Surrey team, and was considered good enough to represent the Players at Lord’s, the Oval and Prince’s. He onlylplayedjoneinnings of over a hundred in first-clats cricket during his career, but on the “ sporting” wickets of his time, against biwlers who were not tired out with overwork, it was only W.G. who made hundreds with the frequency that they are rn'ide now. But it is sufficient to point to Richard’s long list of fifties to show that he was a very fine batsman indeed. Mr. Fred Gale has told how greatly interested he was in the first appearance of Humphrey in first-class cricket, having long had him under notice. This was against Notts, at the time when Alfred Shaw, J. C. Shaw and Morley were the terror of all but the very best cricketers. Yet the new player managed to keep in for an hour and a quarter against their bowling, and although he only made a dozen runs, he showed clearly enough to a good judge like Mr. Gale that he had the makings of a first-class player. He has also told how a stranger at the Oval presented Humphrey with a sovereign when he made his first score of fifty for Surrey, being so pleased to find that the excitement which Mr. Gale had shown was not due to a bet, but merely to his interest in a village cricketer. Humphrey himself has told how when he made half a dozen runs in his first match against Gloucestershire Mrs. Grace, W. G.’s mother, said to him, “ You haven’t made many, but some day you will get a lot. A good field like you is bound to get runs ” —a cheering speech, which the lady followed up by giving him half-a-sovereign. In conclusion, 1 may add that in James Lillywhite’s “ Cricketer’s Annuil ” the “ character” of Richard Humphrey was given as follows:— “ One of the best cricketers in the south. A very fine bats­ man, possessing great freedom of style, with good defence; cuts smartly, and RICHARD HUMPHREY. (From a photo by R. IV. Thomas, Cheapside, London.)