Cricket 1907

J u ly 4, 1907. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME 243 AT THE SIGN OF THE W ICKET . B y F . 8 . A shlhy -C oopbr . F ull d eta ils o f the co n stru ctio n o f the D em on *D rivers and oth er in form a tion o f in terest to G ricR eters, w ill be fou n d in the b ook let entitled The Evolution of a Cricket Bat, w h ic h m a y b e ob ta in ed u p on a p p lica tion , and fro m w h ic h the fo llow in g ex tra cts are taKen : — D OUBTLESS buyers frequently wonder why it is that some bats are sold as low as 5a., while others cannot be bought for less than 2*8. 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 gradj 20 50 100 150 Second or Common Division. 5ih grade Lower grades T. .? 50 430 1,000. it will thus be seen that the manufacturer who intends to meet the ever-increasing demand lor really good cricket bats must carry an enormous stock of timber. The stock held by Geo. I t . 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 tor the manufacture of Bequisites for Sports and Games. 6E0, 6.BUSSEY& CO., LTD,, 36 & 38, Queen Victoria St., LONDON. Manufactory; PEOKHAM, S.E. TimberMils: ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK. It is extremely regrettable that the Test match, which had for so long been looked forward to with the greatest interest, should have been ruined by rain. But Englishmen will have the satisfaction of knowing that they practically had the game in their hands, and that the weather alone prevented them from gaining the verdict. At Ihe same time, the South Africans proved themselves fully qualified to meet the full strength of England, their uphill play when they followed-on being worthy of all praise. The batting and wicket- keeping of Sherwell and the bowling of Vogler were features of the match, and not less meritorious than anything accomplished for the England side. The captain’s three-figure innings was a superb display, and worthy to rank with almost anything previously seen in a match of such importance. He made his runs quickly in a delightfully attractive manner, and was never at fault. It is evident that he had not previously been estimated at his proper worth as a batsman, for only by a player of the very first rank could such an innings have been played. The manner in which he assisted in pulling one of the Test Matches against the M.C.C.’s team out of the fire by a wicket eighteen months ago stamped him as a good b.itsman, but probably not one Englishman in a thousand would have con­ sidered him capable of playing such a'fine game as he did the day before yesterday. Taking the condition of the game into consideration, his performance was no less remarkable than that of Jessop on the previous afternoon. As the latter’s innings is fully described on another page there is no necessity to comment upon it at length here: but it may be mentioned that it recalls his historic 104 against Australia at the Oval five years ago, and greater praise than that it would scarcely be possible to bestow. His fine innings provided a very emphatic reply to those who had criticised bis inclusion in the side, and it is somewhat curious that both he and Braund, who was also regarded in the light of an uncertainty for a place, should have done so well. Many will, per­ haps, remember how, 14 years ago, in another big match on the same ground, the two eleventh-hour choices carried off the batting honours, Frank Marchant scoring 103 and Flowers 130 for the M.C.C. against the Australian team of 1893. Although hit­ ting with such vigour and freedom Jessop never developed into wild slog­ ging ; he always bit with sound judg­ ment, and was never at fault. His dash­ ing methods provided a remarkable contrast to Braund’s steady play, and to some extent detracted from the m^rit of it. The latter’s innings, however, was simply invaluable, and the manner in which he refused to be tempted by Vogler was very commendable. He con­ tented himself with hitting when opportunity occurred, and made some capital drives all along the ground, and placed the ball skil­ fully to leg. Vogler’s bowling was certainly one of the outstanding features of a game by no means devoid of incident. He changed his pace very cleverly, and bowled his slow ball most judiciously. And after all the delightful cricket crowded into a couple of days, a drawn game resulted on account of rain! This state of affairs will, perhaps, serve to invest the second Test Match—at Leeds on the 29th inst.—with additional interest, for our visitors are sure to endeavour to make a closer fight then in order to com­ pensate for having been outplayed this week. The defeat Kent sustained on Saturday last at the hands of Essex practically de­ stroyed their last chance of retaining the Championship. That the better side won at Leyton cannot be disputed, the all-round cricket of Douglas and Buckenham and the batting of Fane being far better than any­ thing of a corresponding nature shown by Kent. The latter, however, were even more severely handicapped than in their match with the South Africans at Catford, for Burnup, Dillon, Mason, Blaker, Hutchings, and Fielder were all away. In the circum­ stances it was no mean feat for Kent to obtain a lead on the first innings, for before the match commenced it was generally recog­ nised that they would have to display very exceptional form if they were to evade defeat. In saying this I have no wish whatever to belittle Essex, who played well throughout, and thoroughly deserved their success. But the extent to which Kent were handicapped deserves to be emphasised. The match showed Douglas at his very best, see­ ing that he scored 22 and 67 not out and took thirteen wickets for 155 runs. In all first- class matches last season he only j ust failed to perform the double feat of scoring over a thousand runs and taking more than a hun­ dred wickets, his aggregates being 1,015 (average 26-02) and 93 (average23-05) respec­ tively. If be maintains his form he should be a certainty for the Gentlemen’ s eleven at Lord’s. In Mr. Lionel Holmes Wood Troughton, who scored 46 against Essex, at Leyton, last week, and helped Hardinge to add 108 for the fifth wicket, Kent appear to possess a player who will develop into a very useful batsman if he can spare the time for county cricket. He was born at Seaford, in Sussex, on May 17th, 1879, and was educated at Dulwich College, where he was in the Eleven. His best stroke is, perhaps, the off-drive, which be makes with much power. In club cricket he has proved useful as a medium-paced, right-hand change bowler, whilst in the field he is generally cover- point or extra-cover. Four years ago he played an innings of 203 for Gravesend against Cobham on the Bat and Ball Ground, and at the present time is captain of the Kent second eleven. His cousin, Mr. M. A. Troughton, was a fine player in his day, and appeared for Kent in thirty-nine matches between 1864 and 1873. It is many years since so little interest has been shown in the doings of the Uni­ versities, the reason probably being that each side is this season somewhat below tbe average strength. On the form shown in the trial matches, Cambridge is obviously the stronger team, and the general opinion is that they should win the Lord’s match somewhat easily. Oxford had many very promising young players in residence this year, but not so much has been heard of them as was expected. Each side has five old choices playing, but those of Cambridge are far better than the Oxford quintette. The Light Blues are stronger than their rivals in batting and bowling, and should not experience very great difficulty in pulling off the great match RIOKET Report Sheets, lOd. per dozen, post free Order of Going-in Cards, 7d. per dozen, post rree; Cricket Score Boots, 6d. and Is. each; postage extra— To be obtained at the Offices of “ Cricket,” 168, Upper Thames Street, London, E.O.