Cricket 1908

M a y 7, 1908. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. Surrey successes about that period was the one over Kent at the Oval in 1863. Set 192 to win, the runs were made for the loss of one wicket, Stephenson and Jupp being not out at the finish, the former with 78 to his name, the latter with 74. So strong were Surrey in batting at that time that in the first innings of the game referred to the last three men to go in were Caesar, Jupp and Pooley. After 1865 the County gradually declined in strength and in each of the next 17 years, with the exceptions of 1872 and 1877, lost more matches than they won, their worst season being 1871, when they were defeated 11 times and proved successful only once. Then, in 1883, began a corresponding advance in the for­ tunes of the side, and ever since that date Surrey has been one of the strongest of the counties. On nine occasions she has carried off the Championship—in 1887, 1888, 1889 (with Notts and Lancashire), 1890, 1891, 1892, 1894, 1895, and 1899—the year in which she was strongest being probably 1892, when her leading players were W. W. Read, Henderson, Abel, Lockwood, K. J. Key, John Shuter, Maurice Read, Lohmann, Brockwell, Richardson, and Sharp. To the late Mr. C. W . Alcock Surrey was very largely indebted for its return to the forefront of the counties. He worked hard in the best interests of the Club during many years of depression, and at last had the satisfaction of seeing the side again practically invincible. To Mr. W. W. Read the credit of the great revival is equally due, for by his wonderful bat­ ting he caused large crowds to flock to the Oval and to follow the fortunes of the side with keen interest. He played for Surrey from 1873 until 1897, making some huge scores and stamping himself as the finest batsman the county had produced since the days of Beldham and Lambert. Barratt, the slow bowler, came upon the scene in 1876, and the following year Mr. John Shuter, destined to lead the side dur­ ing many brilliant campaigns, assisted the County for the first time. Maurice Read appeared in 1880, Abel and W . E. Roller in the following year, Messrs. Key and Horner in 1882, and M. P. Bowden, Diver and Henderson in 1883. All these men rendered the County great assistance dur­ ing many seasons, and in 1884 Lohmann found a place in the side. The advent of the last-named increased the match-win­ ning powers of the team to a very con­ siderable extent, his matchless bowling bringing about many a victory which Mr. W. W. Read’s batting had rendered possible. Largely owing to the services of these two fine players, Surrey headed the •list of counties six years in succession, and missed premier honours only once during the nine consecutive seasons from 1887 to 1895. Brockwell came to the front in 1886, Sharp in 1889, Lockwood in 1890, Richardson in 1892, and Hayward in 1893. With the last-named we come to a link with the Surrey Eleven of to-day. During the past decade the County has always been strong, though the Championship has been secured only once during that period. Last year, however, the side would probably have come out first among the counties had cricketers enjoyed a fine summer. Despite the semi-retirement of Mr. Knox and Lord Dalmeny, the prospects of Surrey are certainly bright with such players as Hayward, Mr. J. N. Crawford, Hobbs, Hayes, Lees, Holland, Strudwick, Mar­ shal, Smith (W. C.), and Rushby avail­ able. SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET . Such a visit as we have had from Mr. Ivor D. Difford and his combination of cricketers is quite a red-letter day in the diary of Durban cricket, and we cannot let it pass without reflecting upon the good which has accrued from our association with gentlemen who are heart and soul in the dear old game of cricket. Additional interest should be centred in connection with this visit, because our cricketers have come in contact with at least two of the greatest artists in bowling South Africa has ever produced, and, in the opinion of very many who are capable of judging, and whose opinion may be highly valued, the w( 3 rld possesses. But the team also in­ cluded men who think a lot of cricket, and about the best means of elevating the stan­ dard of play, not only in Johannesburg, but throughout South Africa. Messrs. Ivor Difford, Reginald Schwarz, and Theodore Bell have thoroughly sound ideas upon practical methods of cricket government in South Africa, and I can vouch for the sincerity of their desire to see improvements made in .South African cricket legislature and the game. The ab­ sence of parochialism in their ideas struck one forcibly, and, although they may jeal­ ously guard the interests of the Transvaal, their own home, they are bent upon intro­ ducing ways of increasing public interest and standard of play throughout South Africa. The South African who has served his cricket apprenticeship in Johannesburg, i'nd the South Africa.! who has an intimate knowledge of the methods employed in Johannesburg to foster the game of games, can be in the position to talk of South African cricket as it should exist, and the three gentlemen I have named are amongst the many who find themselves in that posi­ tion. Does Johannesburg want to rule the roost? If the devotees of the game in the Golden City do, it is a noble desire, and if their right to do so can be successfully challenged, then it speaks well for the town which is in that proud position. Johan­ nesburg follows cricket with a devotional seriousness which is shared only by Cape Town. Johannesburg affords facilities to cricketers and would-be cricketers in such a way as not to be equalled by any other town in South Africa. A man who has cricket, football, lawn tennis, swim­ ming, or any other athletic exercise in him, and goes to Johannesburg, what is the result ? Can we not find it on referring to such Natal men as the two Cradocks, Gordon White, Heeley, Vogler, and others. But let those men get away from the facilities there afforded for cricket, and it is not surprising that they lose that thoroughness which characterised their at­ tention to the game in Johannesburg. Johannesburg is the richest city in the sub-continent, and it contains some very rich men who are devoted to cricket, and who back up the game for all they are worth, with money, and that which is* even more valuable— influence. We are inclined to think that Johannesburg’ attracts good men from other centres. If a successful man be so attracted, can he be blamed? But I do not really believe that Johannes­ burg attracts such men to enrich Johannes­ burg cricket, but for the good of South African cricket. Voglgr and Llewellvn were allowed to leave South Africa, but Johannesburg got at least one of ’them back, and nearly induced the other to re­ turn to the country of his birth. Now we hear that our own champion, “ Dave ” Nourse, is leaving his cricket country for the land of his birth. Of course, we have heard the same tale many times. And why does Nourse want to go to Surrey ? Not because he wishes to leave Durban. It is because the inducements offered are so much greater than can be offered in Durban. Johannesburg would be jealously dis­ posed to Surrey if that county secures Nourse’s services, and should Johannesburg intervene and make such inducements equi­ valent to those influencing him from Surrey, would Durban accuse Johannes­ burg of touting, of weakening other centres to strengthen their own ? I have it on excellent authority that if at all pos­ sible, Johannesburg, in this case as the mouthpiece of South Africa, will use their best endeavours to retain the services of the tower of strength to South African cricket, and I am sure, too, that Dave Nourse would always be “ allowed” to play for Natal, as Vogler was. Nourse, by play­ ing for Surrey, would be able to secure a thumping good benefit match at Kenning­ ton Oval, which would set him up for life. What has Australia done for some of their tip-tcppers? W’hat about Noble within the last week ? Cannot South Africa do the same for such men as Vogler and Nourse ? —“ Umpire” in The Natal Mercury. A BALLAD OF CRICKET. The muddied oafs have finished chasing- leather through the slime, Tho hockey sticks are safely packed aw ay; And tho men who have been longing- for the sunny summer time Are out again and ready for the fray. Then it’s 01 for the sight of the sunlit sward, And the snap of the catcher's call. And the lusty shout at the cry “ He's ou t!” And the music of hat and ball. The Cricket King is calling on the hills and in the dales, His serfs are stepping gladly from their lair; There are lazy watchers sprawling near the low- topped bound’ry rails, And tho crimson ball is cutting through the air. Then it’s 0 ! for the ring of the rousing drive To the far imvilion rails . And the hurried heat of the outfield’s feet. And the click of the flying bails. So, sing a song of summer, for the bowler’s on the run, The wicket-keeper's statuesque and calm. There are eager fingers itching when the over has begun, And the willow-blade is moving with the arm. Then it’s 0 ! for the swing of the su.ipe to leg , And the daring , w risty chop. And the cunning curve of the lightening swervo, And the m ystic donkey-drop. The boundaries are com ing and the score is m ounting h igh ; For the fielders there is never any rest: You can feel the tense excitement, for the century is nigh, And the sun is slowly sinking in the west. Then it's 0 ! for the sight of the sunlit sward, And the snap of the catcher’s call, And the lusty shout at the cry “ Tie’s out!” And the music of bat and ball. _________ —Percy Rudd in The Athletic News. N etting for T e n n is B ort > k r in g .— Colour and specially prepared, with line attached to Net top and bottom throughout; easy to erect or take aw ay; 25 yds. long, 3 yds. wide, for 7s. fid.; standards for same, 10 ft. high, Is. each. Gar­ den Netting, 30 sq. yds. for Is. ; ear. paid on orders over 5s.—H *J- G asson , Net Works, Rye.