Cricket 1908

CR IC K E T : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. AUGUST 20, il 908. ‘ ‘ T og e th e r jo in ed in C r ick e t ’s m a n ly to il.” — Byron. n o . 792 . v o l . x x v i i . THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1908. o n e p e n n y . A CH AT ABOUT MR. C. H . B. MARSHAM . The announcem ent m ade in a recent issue of Cricket to the effect that Mr. Marsham, owing to claim s of business, will relinquish the captaincy o f the Kent E leven at the end of the present season, has caused expressions of regret to be beard on every side. It is not stepping an inch over the crease o f truih to state that no county possesses a m ore popular leader, or one who inspires more confidence in his side. H is value to the Eleven is very m uch greater than one would gather from a perusal of score sheets, w hich, although they recoid ihe number of runs he scores aud catches he makes, tell nothing of the influence his ability, judgm ent, and personality have upon the side. It was in March, 1904 , that he was asked to undertake the leadership of the E leven, and, in referring to the circum stance in The H istory 0f Kent County C ricket , he remarked, “ I remember I was in bed with the mum ps at the tim e and that it cured them alm ost imm ediately. I accepted with pleasure, and little did I think that my first season would be so successful, and that within three years I should have the great luck to captain the Champion C ounty.” The long series of brilliant successes which Kent achieved in their great year of 1906 must still be fresh in the m emory of all those who follow the game at all closely. 'Ih e form they then showed was little less than wonderful and it created enthusiasm wherever they went. They made huge scores by the brightest of cricket: Air. Hutchings was especially prom inent in this direction, his batting displays causing quite a furore. The popularity of the side was general throughout the country, and when they carried off the Championship congratulations from all sorts and conditions of men poured in upon the captain by the hundred. At the banquet given in honour of ihe team at the H otel Cecil in the follow ­ ing O ctober, Mr. Marsham , in replying for the eleven, stated that he had always been in the habit of asking for advice, and to three members of the side— Messrs. Mason, A lec Hearne and H uish— he was specially indebted in that respect. H aving won the Championship. Kent would not change their game, unless it R ectory at Harrietsham ,about ninem ilesfrom Maidstone, the father m ight often have been seen coaching his son and bowling to him with a lower action than is usually to be seen nowadays. Such tuition was naturally thoroughly sound, and Mr. Marsham would be ihe first to acknowledge that the parental advice he received must l.e held largely accountable for the success with which he has m et in first-class cricket. H e was for two years in tjie E ton Eleven, and for three seasons, comm encing in 1900 , played for Oxford. In the U niversity m atch of 1901 he played an excellent second innings of 100 not out, and in the follow ing year captained the side. H is doings for the University caused him to be tried for Kent, and. after doiug 1 ttle in the seven county m atches in which he look part in 1900 and 1901 , he enjoyed a very successful season in 1902 , when, am ong m any other good innings, he made 120 against Nottingham shire at Trent Bridge. In 1904 he was, as already stated, appointed captain, and since then he has played regularly. H o is a sound, painstaking batsman, who can score freely when set, a hardw orking field, and an excellent leader. Kent and cricket generally are to congratulated upon the fact that, although Mr. Marsham is retiring from the captaincy, it w i.l not m ean his com plete severance irom the side. H is appearances will be much fewer than during the past few seasons, but he m ay be relied upon to assist the county whenever circum ­ stances perm it. That he will be much m issed goes without sayin g,for the absence of ore who has becom e so thoroughly acquainted with every fibre of Kent cricket cannot but be regretted. It is generally believed that the leadership will be, if it has not already been, offered to Mr. D illon, to w hom the welfare of the side m ight safely be entrusted W hoever is appointed to the position, however, will find it no easy task to follow in the steps of such a popular and successful captain as the subject c f these remarks. There are many leaders of first-class counties who will envy Mr. Marsham the pleasant recollections he will be able to take into sem i-retirem ent with him . was to score 150 , instead of 100, runs an hour. It was perhaps only natural that Mr. Marsham should becom e intimately a c­ quainted with the game whilst still quite young, for his father, the Rev. C. D. Marsham, was not only a great enthusiast, but had been the finest gentleman bowler of his day. U pon the lawn in front of the