Cricket 1908

CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME.! JULY 16, 1908. “ Together joined in Cricket’s m an ly toil.”— Byron. N o . 7 8 7 . v o l . x x v i i . THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1908. o n e p e n n y . CHATS ON THE CR ICKET F IELD . E . G. H A Y E S. The proceeds of the match between Surrey and Lancashire which commences at the Oval to-day will be set apart as a benefit for Ernest Ilayes. one of the most deserv­ ing of cricketers. A Surrey man born and bred, Ilayes made his first appearance in the County Eleven at the age of nineteen. The match which marked his entry into firat-class cricket was against the strong Australian team of 1896, and, although it was trying him severely to pic him against Jones, Trumble, M'Kibbin, Giffen, and G. II. S. Trott, he came through with flying colours, scoring 62 in two hours and a-half without a mi-take of any kind. With ref rence to his display. Wisden remarked — “ So finely did he play that no doubt could be felt as 10 his class. It Mas agreed on all hands that Surrey had found a prize.” In 1897 and 1898 he scarcely came up to expecta­ tion, but in 1899 he made over a thousand runs for the first sime with an average of 26'45, this best performance being a superb innings of 131 in the return match with the Austra­ lians. The Coun'y were 53 behind on the fust innings, but Hayes’ innings quite demora­ lised the Colonial a tack, and in the end County won by over a hundred runs. From that day Hayes’ posi­ tion in the side was assured. His free and attractive methods speedily caused him to be one of the most popular players in the team, for whilst he was at the wicket the ciicket was always bright and the scoring brisk. Of the twenty-six three-figure innings he has played for Surrey three have exceeded the second hundred, the largest being 273 not out on the Derby ground four years ago i i compiling which he took part in three stands of 100 or more runs. lie never succeeded in making two separate hundreds in a match, but against Sussex at Brighton in 1906 he scored 97 not out and 105, and against Notts, at the Oval last year 95 and 104. As a slow leg-break bowler Hayes has also frequently proved of assistance to his County, his pace contrasting well with that of Richard-on and Lockwood, and, in later times, with that of Mr. Knox and Lees. Had he been accorded more opportuni­ ties he would probably have become one of the Photo by ] [Messrs. Hawkins Co., Brighton. E. G . HAYES. recognised chief bowlers of the side, but it was doubtless the best poiicy to use him only as a change for otherwise his powers of run getting might have been impaired. In 1905, when he scored close on 1 ,8co runs with an average of 35*88, he also took as many as seventy-six wicket?, bowling in twenty-nine of the thirty- four matches played that season by Surrey. Against Sussex at the Oval ten years ago he took five wickets for 22 runs in a total of 231, and on the Leicester ground in 1903 obtained three for ir . In the field he is very keen and reliable, t eing one of the best of slips and a sure catch in the long-field, where he covers a great deal of ground. Apart from County cricket Hayes has taken part in many matches of note. He has frequently been chosen for the Gentlemen v. Players match, in which he has invariably per­ formed with c edit to himself. At Lords’ in 1905 played an excellent innings of 73, driving vigorously and making some daring pulls in a characteristic minner, and in the correspond­ ing match of 1906 scored 55 against the bowling of Messrs. Brearley and Knox. In the latter year he also made 122 not cut in the match between the same sides at Scarborough. Ilayes has played the game in many parts of the world, including South Africa, the Weat Indies, and Australia. Ill- health prevented him from doing himself justice whilst touiing South Afiica as a member of the M .C.C.’s team in 1905 6, whilst last winter luck was against him through­ out his trip to Australia. As he is now only thirty-one years of age, he probably has several seasons of County cricket before him. This year his bowling his often secured w;ckets, whilst in the match with York­ shire at Leeds, on a pitch which just suited Hirst and Haigh, he scored more runs in his two innings than his companions did in t’-.eir twenty. “ Where did you learn your cricket ? ’ “ Chiefly with the Honor Oak Club, though in my school­ days I had made a lot of runs for East Dulwich College, but against inferior bowling. Upon joining the elub I obtained plenty of practice against good bowling and improved rapidly. It was whilst playing for Honor Oak and getting large scores that the Surrey authorities sent W. T. Graburn down to see me. Evidently I made a favourable impression, for I played one or two matches for the Surrey Colts and was then asked to become a professional.*’