Cricket 1906

54 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A pbil 12, 1906. YOUNG CRICKETERS OF THE DAY . J. B. HOBBS. It is not often, even in these days of individual hundreds and season’d aggre­ gates of thousands, that a young cricketer comes to the front as quietly as did Hobbs last year, when he first appeared ia the Surrey eleven. Old cricketers who have so often seen precocity end in mediocrity were inclined to doubt whether the extravagant praise which was bestowed on him when he made a hun­ dred in his first county match for Surrey would not turn his head, and whether in a few weeks he would be found in the second eleven, trying hard to keep his head above water. But the fates were kind and the young cricketer made a name for himself, with the result that, although he was not as fine a player at the end of the season as at the beginning, it was recog­ nised by everybody that he had come to stay, and that in future years he would be as great as help to his adopted county as Abel, W. W . Bead and Hayward. He was not spoiled by flattery, nor was he disheartened when be failed. He has all the makings of a really great cricketer, so that everything is possible to him in the future. Now that “ Lillywhites’ Cricket­ ers’ Annual ” has ceased to appear, one turns to “ Wisden” to find the “ character ” of a player, and as “ Wisden” has naturally not much room for comments on styles and methods, a recognition in its columns may be described as the hall-mark of a young first-claes cricketer of the present day. If we turn to “ Wisden ” we find the following remarks about Hobbs. “ A Cambridgeshire man by birth, and the best bat for that county in 1904. Hobbs has duly qualified (for Surrey) by two years’ residence, and at the opening of the season it was known that a great deal was expected of him. His early play exceeded all expectations, and by the end of May he had firmly established hit reputation, his scoring for three or four weeks being extraordin­ ary. It cannot be said that he kept up his form, but inasmuch as he made 1004 runs in county matches alone, he may fairly be regarded as the best professional batsman Surrey have brought forward in recent seasons. Easy and finished in style, he is particularly strong on the on- side, scoring in front of short-leg with great skill and certainty. His compara­ tive falling off as the season advanced may have been due to the strain of having two first-class matches a week nearly the whole summer, but he certainly developed a tendency to play too much with his legs. He is a cricketer from whom agreat deal maybe expected,butheshould endeavour to brighten up his fielding. Though a safe catch, he is not at present very quick on his feet.” W.A.B. AUSTIN DIAMOND. Austin Diamond, who made an unex­ ampled success of his first appearance in Sheffield Shield cricket by scoring 164 for New South Wales against South Australia, has for some years been one of the ablest and keenest cricketers in the parent State. He was selected as twelfth man in a faw of the great con­ tests, but that barren honour was all that seemingly he could hope for, while the Trumpers and Duffs and Gregorys were available. He has, of course, figured with success against Queensland and Tasmania, and he made 204 not out against the second eleven of Yictoria last seascn a grand innings, which, nevertheless, failed to bring the reward of promotion a week or two later, when the return match against Victoria was played. He first represented New South Wales against Queensland in April, 1902, and has made 3, 4, 7, 0, 4, 54 (not out), 21, 39, 64, 46, and 22 against the Northern State. Diamond has played First Grade cricket iu Sydney with the Glebe, Lrichardt-Balmain, and Burwood Clubs, and has been quite a remarkably consistent rungetter for all three clubs. He has within the last three years developed the attacking side of his batting, and possesses a very sound defence. He is one of the most brilliant fields New South Wales evar had, and is even better known for his dexterity at mid-off and silly point than as bats­ man. There is no keener cricketer and greater fighter for his side i i the country than Austin Diamond, whos? success is immensely popular with cricketers in Sydney. Like H. Carter, he was bora in Yorkshire, but came to Australia at an early age. O .ving to the sad death of his brother, Mr. Harry Diamond, he retired at the clos8 of the second day’s play from the match ; otherwise, possess­ ing the stamina and grit that he does he Tiight have gone for records on the spectatorless Oval at Adelaide .—Sydney Referee. THE KEY E. P. WADDY. There is no possibility of a contradiction if the statement that the Rev. E. P. Waddy is one of the bast colts New South Wales has yet produce!. Early last year he played a capital innings of 77 igainst North Sydney, and on his batting he was chosen for the New South Wales southern tour. It was not the number of runs he got in the club match that put him in as much as the tradesmanlike fashion in which he got them. There was no stroke he was weak on, while he showed an intimate acq'laintanceibip with forcing strokes. Well, he was chosen for the Adelaide and Mel­ bourne tour. Some critics thought he got into the eleven rather easily, but doubts as to the foresight of the selectors were quickly dis­ persed. Prior to this, he was awarded a place in the New South Wales E'even v. Qieensland, but was dismissed for single figures in each innings. That match was an eleven aside interstate engage­ ment, but I for one am disinclined to treat it as a first-c’ ass fixture, and certainly not on the sam9 level with Sheffield Shield matches. The significance of the point lies iu this, that if his appearance against Queensland be not a first- class one, then by his success against South Australia the right is earned of being numbered with the select few who have made a century in their opening first- class contests. Anyhow, the honour applies as far as Sheffield Shield engagements are concerned. The Eev. E. P. Waddy against South Australia registered 129 not out, and in doing so he was associated with W. P. Howell, who also got the hundred, and at the same time obtained his record score. Indeed, it is rather remarkable that in several of Waddy’s stands at the wickets last season his companion was Howell. There is generally confidence in the associition of the players whose partnership has beea prolific of runs. The success that was quick in W aidy at Adelaide was followed up iu Mel­ bourne with a capital second-innings contribution of 63, and then when the Wheatfielders came to Sydney he again proved a thorn in their side by notching 57 and 43 not out, the latter being a win­ ning effort; and in the Anniversary Day engagement with Yictoria 35 and 17 cami from his bat. This was the close of what I consiler the first-class Australian season, and in that the Rev. E. P. Waddy, for his first appearance, was top of the batting averages with 70.2. In the con­ tests at Tasmania he was but partially