Cricket 1907

CRICKET : a w e e k l y r e c o r d o f t h e g a m e . JUNE 6, 1907. h - jg m e “ Together joined in Cricket’s manly to il.” — Byron. HO. 7 5 1 . VOL. X X V I. THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1907. f k i c e ad COLIN BLYTHE. Even an experienced novelist would find it a difficult matter to imagine a better bowling performance than that accomplished by Blythe on Saturday last. It rarely happens that a player takes all ten wickets in an innings, and more seldom still does he obtain seventeen in a match; yet Blythe not only did both these things, but secured his victims in a single day. The records of first-class cricket contain no parallel to this performance, but in minor matches, as is but natural, the feat has been equalled, and even surpassed, on a few occasions. Blythe was born at Dept­ ford on May 30th, 1879, and so, like the famous Mr. William Ward, credited him­ self with the greatest feat of his career in a match which commenced on his birthday. He learnt his cricket at Tonbridge, and made his dibut for Kent in the match with Yorkshire, on the Tonbridge Ground, in 1899. As if to show that coming events cast their shadows before, he marked the occasion by clean- bowling Mr. F. Mitchell with the first ball he sent down. As a alow l e f - handed bowler, he has proved an excellent suc­ cessor to James Wootton, who, in the 120 Keut matches in which he took part between 1880 and 1890, obtained 628 wicketa at a cost of 16 SO runs each. Wisden of 1904 described Blythe as a bowler of varied gifts, and though, of course, like all bowlera of hia class, saen to much the best advantage on wickets damaged by rain, he is often effective on a dry pitch. When the ground is favourable to run-gettiug he depends a good deal upon the ball that goes with his arm, and this he na'urally bowla with special Buccesa at Canterbury and Maid >tone where he has a alope to help him. On slow wicketa he breaks back very quickly, and is in Eanjitsinhji’a opinion more difficult to play than Rhodes, the lower flight of the ball making it a hard matter to go out and drive him. Bowling with a very easy action he can, despite the alightneaa of hia physique, get through a good amount of work without tiring. With a new ball he can bowl with a very distinct swerve without being aided in any way by the wind. Among his many fine performances for Kent with the ball have been the follow­ ing : - 8 for 42, v. Somerset, at Maidstone, in 1902 ; 4 for 16, v. Hampshire, at Cat- ford, in 1903; 12 for 67, v. Surrey, at the Ova1, in 1903; 13 for 61 (including 7 for 26), v. Yorkshire, at Canterbury, in 1903; and 4 for 14, v. Middlesex, at Catford, in 1904; whilst in the two matches with Hampshire in the last- mentioned year he was particularly effective, taking 13 for 91]at Southampton, and 15 for 76 (including 9 for 30) at Tonbridge. Very rarely indeed has his bowling received exceptionally harsh treatment, but such an instance was furnished by the Kent v. Surrey match at the Oval in 1901, when Mr. V. F. S. Crawford acored five 4’s and a single off one of hia overs. As a batsman Blythe has occasionally done well, bis highest score being 82 not out at Nottingham, iu 1904, when he and Faireervice put on 106 together for the ninth wicket. In the same year, going in laat man against Somerset, at Taunton, he claimed 70 of the 98 which he and Fairservice added in an hour. Last season, in the match against Sussex at Canterbury, he and Mr. C. H. B. Marsham put on 111 for the ninth wicket in 35 minutes, five consecutive overs at one pericd yielding 50 runa. In 1901-2 he visited Australia aa a member of Mr. A. C. MacLaren’a Team, but did not perform so well as was expected owing to the fact that he was handicapped by an injury to one of the fingers of hia bowling hand. In the first Teat Matoh, at Sydney, however, which the Englishmen won in so sur­ prising a manner by an innings and 124 runa, he took seven wicketa for 56. Although he haa, curiouaiy enough, never appeared in a Gentlemen v. Players match, he was chosen for England against Australia at Leeds in 1905. At tbe present time he is, unfortunately, suffering from a ohill, but all followers of the game will unite in wishing him a apeedy and complete recovery. Should the present inclement weather continues, his absence woul 1 haudicip K-nt greatly, for on a c. b ly t h e . [E. Hawlrinsd: Co., Brighton.