Cricket 1907

J u ly 4, 1907. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 251 T H E S O U T H AFRICANS . TWELFTH MATCH OF THE TOUR. ENGLAND v. SOUTH AFRICA. ( f ir s t test m a t c h .) Played at Lord’s on July 1, 2 and 3. Drawn. Considerably over five thousand spectators were present when the first ball of the match was bowled on Monday. The South Africans had shown such good foi-m in their previous matches—of the eleven played, they had won eight and lost three—that very great interest centred in their meeting with England, especially as it was the first occasion upon which such a match had been arranged for decision in this country. As was only to be expected, the constitution of the side chosen to represent England came in for some criticism, but, on the whole, the selection was approved. Most comment was caused by the non-inclusion of either A. O. Jones or P. F. Warner, it being pointed out that, in conse­ quence, neither of the two counties leading in the Championship competition was represented. Wass and Brearley were the two players destined to stand down, and a great deal of surprise was caused bytthe fact, it being felt that if, as seemed likely, the South Africans would have a hard wicket to bat upon, the bowling of the Lancashire amateur would have been almost invaluable. The visitors were represented by their best side, and it is of interest to observe that, with the exception that Kotze displaced Tancred, they were exactly the same team which gained such noteworthy triumphs over the M.C.C.’s Eleven in South Africa eighteen months before. The wind was rather cold, and, if the wicket were a trifle slow at starting, it improved as the day wore on. Among the numerous spectators—17,553 paid for admission during the day—were Their Royal Highnesses Princes Albert and Edward of Wales. Foster won the toss for England, and had no hesitation whatever in deciding to have first innings, Hayward and Fry commencing to Kotze (Nursery end) and Schwarz at 11.35. Kotze, who had the wind behind him, bowled at a great pace, and had the scoring opened off the last ball of his initial over by Hayward, who obtained a single. Schwarz opened with a maiden, and runs came so slowly that, at the end of half-an-hour, only 13 had been made off ten overs. The fielding was very keen, and the bowling required careful watching. Both the batsmen used their pads frequently to play the ball, and especially so whilst Schwarz was bowling round the wicket. It was off that bowler, however, that the first boundary—a fine leg-hit by Fry—was made, the match having then been in progress thirty-five minutes. The stroke seemed to give the Sussex captain confidence, for in Schwarz’s eleventh over he credited himself with a 2 aud two 4’s, all off-drives, sending the score up to 52 after play had been in progress fifty minutes. Without any addition to his total, however, he played-on to the last ball of an over from Vogler, who had just crossed over to the Pavilion end. The score was then 54, and Fry had made 33 of the runs in an hour. He played a sound, confident game,.and made some good strokos. Off the first ball of Vogler’s succeed­ ing over Hayward, drawing his too over the crease, was very smartly stumped by Sherwell. Of the 55 runs obtained during tho sixty-five minutes he was in he claimed 21. He never appeared to be quite himself, and was certainly never comfortable when opposed to Schwarz. Vogler, who had taken the two great wickets with consecutive balls, was getting much spin on his deliveries and was bowling his slow ball very well indeed. Foster then joined Tyldesley, and made one or two fine strokes which raised hopes that he would settle down to a good innings, but, after nearly running himself out, he was beautifully stumped with the score 79, eighty- five minutes from the start. It was at this point that Braund commenced his valuable innings, and by steady play gradually wore down the bowling. Tyldesley, after rather a slow beginning, played a free and attractive game, some of his off-drives being especially good. The hundred was reached in an hour and three-quarters, and with 7added lunch was taken, Tyldesley then being 33 and Braund 7. After the adjournment Kotze bowled a couple of overs and was then taken off, it being apparent that he would cause the batmen little trouble. Braund for some time was obviously uncomfortable against Vogler, and at the end of an hour had only made 16. When the fourth wicket had realised 01 in seventy minutes, Tyldesley provided Vogler with another victim. The fourth wicket fell at 140, and Tyldesley, hitting a 5 and five 4’s, had made 52 out of 8(3 in eighty minutes without a mistake. Hirst followed in, but was destined not to remain long, for, with only 18 added, he too fell to Vogler. The Yorkshireman made a good off-drive to the boundary off White, but did not appear to be quite at home whilst in. With half the wickets down for 158. and the possibility of the side being out for 225 or so, the situation was by no means promising from the English point of view. Jessop at this moment went in, and by his success­ ful hitting, recalled his historic innings of 104 in the Test Match against the Australians at the Oval five years ago. At first he contented himself with making a few hits of minor value, but very soon settled down in his best form, White being one of the first bowlers to suffer severely at his hands. When 25 he made a hit just a trifle risky off Vogler, which W'hite might (about once in a hundred times) have held, but off the same over he hit three 4 s. A little later he drove the same bowler on to the roof of the Pavilion—a truly magnificent stroke, which received, as it merited, great applause. In one hun­ dred and ninety-five minutes from the start Braund sent the 200 up by means of a hit off Faulkner past point, and with 18added Sinclair displacedVogler. All this time Braund was showing very strong defence, and playing a capital game, but interest naturally centred in the doing of Jessop, who reached 51 out 73 in forty-five minutes off thirty-nine balls. Changes in the bowling made no difference to the amateur, who was by now thoroughly warmed to his work and was treating all the bowlers alike with the utmost impartiality. Braund became a little brisker, and with Jessop hitting 13 in an over off Kotze as soon as he had displaced Faulkner at 240, the game became brighter than ever. After the pair had been together fifty-thx-ee minutes the stand had realised 100, and shortly afterwards Braund reached 51 out of 178 in two hours and a-quarter. After being in an hour Jessop had made 82 out of 11,6, and 8 later Vogler relieved Kotze. When the game had been in progress just over four hours, Braund sent up the 300, but 3 later Jessop, when he appeared almost certain to reach three figures, was well caught in the long field by Faulkner off Vogler, who had obtained all the six wickets. The Gloucestershire captain had scored 93 out of 145 in seventy-five minutes, had scored off thirty-nine of 'the sixty-nine balls received, and had hit fourteen 4’s, a 3 and ten 2’s. Such is briefly and statistically what he accomplished, but it gives no idea of the value his innings was to the side. In any circum­ stances it would have been a noteworthy display against such bowling, but taking the occasion and the fact that he went in at a critical moment into consideration, it must be acknowledged that he played a most valuable and remarkable game. He made excellent off-drives and swept the ball round to square-leg in his own inimitable fashion. To a greater extent than usual he kept the ball down, and during the whole course of his brilliant innings did notgiveasingle chance. His partnershipwith Braund for the sixth wicket resulted in 145 being added in an hour and a-quarter. Aftor his departure the cricket naturally appeared very slow, but Crawford, playing confidently, made some good strokes and looked like staying. When he had made 22 out of 32, however, he was caught at the wicket off Schwarz, and Arnold came in. The new-comer appeared quite unable to play the proper game in the circumstances—to hit—and was eighth out at 347. Braund and Lilley then further added to England’s fine total, and it was not until 54 had been put on that the former’s long innings wasclosed. He made his 104 out of 322 in four hours, hit a dozen 4’s, and played a practically flawless game. He was in during the whole of the time that the side had to be saved from a very possible collapse, and, although overshadowed by Jessop, played a game the value of which it would be difficult to over-estimate. Lilley, in hitting out, played the proper game, but was missed by Vogler in the long-field when hehad made 19. He did not appear comfortable against Schwarz, but scored so well that, of the 27 runs added for the last wicket, he allowed Blythe to score only 4. The innings realised 428, and it was generally considered that the total would prove sufficient to save England from defeat at least. More than a passing word of praise is due to Vogler, who bowled splendidly and untiringly during a long day’s cricket. He took seven wickets for 128 and thoroughly deserved his success. Quite ten thousand people were present when the game was resumed on Tuesday morning. The bowling was shared by Hirst and Arnold the former sending down the first over from the Pavilion end to Sherwell, who obtained a single off the first ball and a 4 to leg off the last. With only eight runs scored, Shalders was caught at the wicket in Arnold’s second over, and with the total unchanged Sherwell was run out, Fry throwing the wicket down brilliantly from third-man. Nourse then joined Hathorn, who greeted his arrival with a fine hit to square leg. At 18, however, the last-named was splendidly caught low down at slip by Foster, who took the ball with his left hand and lost his balance in making the catch. Faulkner followed in and, as the result of watchful cricket, 50 went up without further loss as the result of an hour’s play. Two runs later Jessop superseded Arnold, and commenced by bowling a wide. Shortly afterwards a change was made at the other end also, Crawford going on for Hirst at 66. When Nourse had made 29, and the total was 73, he was missed in tho slips by Hirst off Blythe, and when 31, was let off by Blythe at mid-off off Crawford. The latter mistake was doubly unfortunate, for Blythe in endeavouring to effect the catch, split his bowling hand rather badly and was obliged to retire to the Pavilion to have the hurt attended to. After some slight delay Tarrant, an Australian, came out as substitute—a not-too-happy choice of an understudy, so far as nationality is con­ cerned, for such a match. Braund bowled in Blythes place, and at 11(5got Faulkner caught on the bound­ ary by Jessop for a very praiseworthy effort of 44. which contained four 4’s. The stand fcr the fourth wicket had realized 98 in ninety-five minutes—a most invaluable performance as events proved. During the luncheon interval, when Nourse was 51, a slight shower fell, but it was not sufficient to affect the wicket. •Blythe resumed bowling after the adjournment, and at 134 dismissed Snooke, whohad been in fifty minutes for 5. With a single added White and Sinclair fell to successive balls from Arnold, who sent the middle stump flying in each case. Schwarz then went in (at the fall of the seventh wicket) and, curiously enough, did not receive a single ball during the rest of the innings. Nourse made a couple off Blythe, but was fowled off- stump by the following ball, being eighth out at 137. He made his 62 out of 129 in one hundred and sixty- five minutes, hitting only four 4’s ; he showed himself strong in placing the ball on the leg-side, but played a quiet game, nineteen of his last 25 runs being obtained in singles. Vogler made 3 and was then caught at the wicket off Arnold, and with the score unaltered Kotze was bowled by the second ball he received. The innings thus concluded summarily for 140, the last six wickets having fallen since lunch for 17, Arnold during that period dismissing four men for a single. The South Africans, 288 behind, were called upon to follow-on, and again they made a poor start, Shalders being bowled in Hirst’s second over with only a single scored. Hathorn then joined Sherwell, who at once made two fine 4’s at the expense of Arnold. The latter gave way to Blythe at 23, and after the visiting captain had cut Hirst for 4 and off-driven him for a similar amount, the 50 was chronicled in forty minutes. Arnold resumed in place of Hirst at 59, but allthe bowling came alike to Sherwell, who completed his 50 out of 67 in three- quarters of an hour. Fourteen a little later came from an over off Braund, and when the 100 was reached at the end of sixty - five minutes ho claimed 76 of them. The pace slackened somewhat when Crawford went on, but Sherwell, by means of an overthrow, completed three figures after a stay of ninety-five minutes, having then made 103 of the 139 runs obtained. One run later the partnership was dissolved by Hathorn being caught off Blythe, his share of the 139 runs added being only 30: his defensive display, however, was in­ valuable. Sherwell remained in until 153, when he played a ball from Blythe on to his wicket. He scored his 115 out of 153 in one hundred and five minutes without a mistake, and hit a 5 and eighteen 4’s. His performance was a most meritorious one, and stamped him as a player of the very first rank. If he never makes another run in first-class cricket, his innings on this occasion will prove sufficient for his name to be enrolled with those of tho immortals of the game. After his departure, play naturally seemed slow, but by a-quarter past six, when stumps were drawn on account of the poor light, Nourse and Faulkner had taken the score to 185 without further loss, the visitors then being still 103 behind with seven wickets in hand. During the day 19,730 people paid for admission. Yesterday, to the disappointment of everyone, rain commenced to fall as the umpires went out, and although for some time it appeared likely that play might be possible after lunch, it was decided at twenty minutes past four that there was no option but to abandon the match. Score and analysis :— E ngland . C. B. Fry (Sussex), b Vogler. .................33 Hayward (Surrey), st Sherwell, b Vogler 21 Tyldesley ( L a n ca ­ shire), b Vogler ... 52 R. E. Foster iWorces­ tershire),st Sherwell, b V ogler................. 8 Braund (Somerset), c Kotze, b Faulkner 104 Hirst (Yorkshire), b Vogler ................. 7 G. L. Jessop (Glouces­ tershire)^Faulkner, b V ogler.................93 J.N.Crawford(Surrey), cSherwell.bSchwarz 22 Arnold (Worcester­ shire). b Schwarz ... 4 Lilley(Warwickshire), c Nourse. b Vogler 18 Blythe ( Kent), not out ........................ 4 B 24, lb 6, w 2 ... 32 Total ...428