Cricket 1907

J une 27, 1907. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 227 Full details of the construction of the Demon-Drivers and other information of interest to GricKeters, w ill be found in the booklet entitled The Evolution of a Cricket Bat, which m ay be obtained upon application, and from which the following extracts are taKen D OUBTLESS buyers frequently wonder why it is that some bats are sold as low as 5 b., while others cannot be bought for less than 27s. 6d., both being made of similar material. The reason is very simple. The higher-priced bats, which must relatively be few in number, have to provide for the loss incurred in manufacturing the lower- priced bats, which are necessarily numerous. The figures here given approximately show the proportions of the various grades for 1,000 bats. They are based upon the average results produced in the ordinary course of manufacture. First or Best Division. 1st grade 2nd grade 3rd grade 4th grade 20 60 100 150 Second or Common Division. 5th grade Lower grades 250 430 1,000. It will thus be seen that the manufacturer who intends to meet the ever-increasing demand for really good cricket bats must carry an enormous stock of timber. The stock held by Geo. U. Bussey & Co., Ltd., represents 100,000 bats. The question is sometimes asked why the “ Demon Drivers” are not more associated with the names of leading cricketers. It may be said, without presumption, that the answer involves a question of ethics which it is not intended to enter into beyond mentioning the fact that Geo. G. Bussey & Co., Ltd. (or their predecessors, Geo. G. Bussey & Co.) have never published a testi­ monial relating to a cricket bat not purchased and paid for in the ordinary way of business. Cricketers all over the world are informed that orders for Bussey’ s goods should be placed with Dealers on the spot. Their manufactures are graded according to a properly devised system, which provides for cricketers purchasing from the dealers in the provinces or colonies receiving the same selection as if sent direct from the Factory, which is the largest and most up-to-date for the manufacture of Requisites for Sports and Games. GEO, G, BUSEY& CO,, LTD, 36 & 38, Queen Yictoria St., LONDON. Manufactory : Timber Mills : PEOKHAM, S.E. ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F. 8. Ashlby-Coopbb. James Seymour, who created a record for Kent by making 204 against Hampshire at Tonbridge last week, was born at Brightling, Sussex, on October 25th, 1879, but has lived at Pemburv for nineteen years. In 1900 he was engaged by the London County C.C., at the Crystal Palace, and it was owing to an innings of 66 not out made in that year for Kent Club and Ground v. Gravesend that he was offered a place on the ground staff at Tonbridge. He accepted the engagement and made such rapid improvement under the tutelage of Captain McCanlis that in 1902 he played in twenty matches for the County. Since then he has always been a regular member of the side. His chief triumph prior to Friday last was to score 108 and 136 not out v. Worcestershire, at Maidstone, in 1904, this being the only instance of a batsman obtaining two separate hundreds in a match for the County. At one time it appeared most unlikely that he would succeed in obtaining his second century, for when Fielder went in, last man, he had scored only 70; the latter, however, rose to the occasion by making 37 (his highest innings for the County) and helping Seymour to add 103 for the last wicket in 35 minutes. Last year he made 62 out of 85 in 50 minutes v. M.C.C. and Ground, at Lord’s, and 71 out of 106 in 100 minutes v. Gloucestershire, at Tunbridge Wells. He is a fine field at slip and, whilst in that position, made six catches in the second innings of the match against the South Africans, at Canterbury, in 1904. In 1903 he visited America with the Kent team. His highest innings for the County are 204 v. Hampshire, at Tonbridge, in 1907, 136 not out v. Worcestershire, at Maidstone, in 1904, and 131 v. Somerset, at Taunton, in 1905 ; whilst making the latter score Mr. Dillon (124) helped him to put on 261 for the second wicket. His brother, John Seymour, has appeared in the Sussex X I. during the last few seasons. The improved form shown by Kent in their last two matches has been one of the most noticeable features of the week’s cricket. Following their defeat at the hands of Middle­ sex, they thrashed Hampshire handsomely in a manner which recalled their numerous triumphs of last year. Hutchings’ fine innings, coming after a series of small scores, was particularly pleasing, and raises hopes that, when he has quite recovered from the blow he received on the hand from Kotze’ s bowling on Monday, he will delight all followers of the game by a series of displays like those which caused him to be generally admitted as the most brilliant batsman of 1906. When at his best, no player excels him in power of driving, and, as he makes his runs at a good pace, a characteristic innings on his part is always bound to be appreciated. Good as was the form shown by the Eleven against Hampshire, however, perhaps what the side did on the first two days of the South African match will have provided greater pleasure to Kent enthusiasts. On Mon­ day morning, with Burnup, Mason, Blaker, and Dillon all away, it appeared as though the whole side would be out for about 120, especially when the sixth wicket went down at 98. But the side very characteristically played a great game and, following an example appropriately set by the captain, retrieved a bad start in splendid fashion and succeeded in making the highest aggregate score yet obtained off the tourists’ attack. Mr. Mar­ sham had previously not quite played up to expectation, but his 46 on Monday should compensate for previous short-comings. Fairservice and Blythe also made runs briskly against the South Africans’ bowling, and strengthened one’s opinion that in previous matches Englishmen had failed to score well against it through over-estimating it some­ what. One can say this without in any way detracting from the merits of their attack. Marsham, Fairservice, and Blythe plainly showed that the bowling could be hit, and this fact will no doubt be borne in mind by the Englishmen in next week’ s great match at Lord’s. The splendid up-hill game so successfully played by the South Africans should do much to cause them to take the field with confidence on Monday. It is at all times a noteworthy feat for a side to win after following their innings, but in tbe latest instance it was especially so, as they were obliged to play their second innings on a wicket which assisted the bowlers. It would be impossible to accord too much praise to the visitors for their success, the manner in which they turned an almost certain defeat into a two-run victory being meritorious in the extreme. Notwithstanding this, how­ ever, it will probably come as a surprise to most people if they succeed in winning at Lord’s next week. A short time ago I became acquainted with a fact of which students of the game will be interested to hear. Conversing with G. F. Hearne, of Lord’s, about the many cricketers his family had given to the world, he told me that the late William Hearn, of Hertford­ shire, was also a relation. This information was, of course, quite opposed to what Mr. Haygarth wrote in Scores and Biographies , but “ G. F.” elucidated matters by explain­ ing that the final “ e ” in the name was dropped by W . Hearn’ s grandmother, that both branches of the family came from Buck­ inghamshire, and that the facts had been verified by reference to registers of births, marriages, and deaths and to inscriptions upon tomb-stones. The relationship between William and the better-known players was rather distant, but it is interesting to know that one existed. C R I C K E T I N N O V A S C O T I A . A L L H A L IF A X v. B R IT IS H F L E E T . This match was played on the Garrison G round on June 8th, and resulted in the defeat of the Eleven drawn from the British Cruisers by 64 runs. S core:— A ll H alifax . Pte. Harrison (P.A.S.O.), b Horsey ... 20 Pte. Brown (R.C.R.), c Horsey, b Pelly 18 M. F. Jemmott (Carribeans), b Pelly 26 Mr. Wright (Wanderers), c Reed, b Coleridg ...................................... 4 Lieut. Willets (R.C.R.), b Coleridg ... 5 Opl. James (R.O.E.), c andb Gibbs .. 35 Oapt. Roberts (P.A.S.O.), b Gibbs ... 57 D. S. Dauld (Wanderers), b Baroy ... 0 W. Torrie (Wanderers), b Baroy ... 5 Mr. Gaskin (Wanderers), b Baroy ... 6 Gnr. Dunstan (R.O.G.A.), not out ... 1 Byes, etc.......................................15 Total ......................192 C ombined F leet . Lieut. Horsey, c Robert, b Jammott... 0 Lieut. Coieridg, c and b Wright ... 37 Lieut. Pelly, b Jemmott ................. 5 Lieut. Gibbs, b Jemmott ................. 1 Lieut. Roe, b Gaskin ........................ u Lieut. Punnett, run out ................. 0 Lieut. Baroy, b Jemmott ............... 10 Lieut. Reed, c and b Willetts ........24 C. Writer Dyer, b Jemmott.................41 Lieut. Brougham, c Torrie, b Willets 0 Lieut. Parsons, not out........................ 0 Byes, etc.......................................10 Total ....................128