Cricket 1908

CRICKET : a w e e k l y r e c o r d o f t h e g a m e . AUGUST 27 , 1908 . “ Together joined in Cricket’s m an ly toil.”— Byron. No . 793 . v o l . x x v i i . THURSDAY , AUGUST 27, 1908. o n e p e n n y . A CHAT ABOUT L . C. BRAUND. The proceeds of the match between Somerset and Surrey which commences to-day at Bath are to be set apart as a benefit for Braund, who ranks as one of the finest all-round cricketers pro­ duced during the past decade. Braund has played so important an>Ze in cricket history during the last few seasons that it will be a thousand pities if the weather proves a spoil-sport, for it is only on the very rarest occasions that a player has a second match set apart in his honour. In selecting the Surrey fixture for his benefit, Braund made an excellent choice for it was as a member of the Surrey Eleven that he first came into note, and the match between the two counties has always been a popular one. Somerset folk have invariably flocked to see Surrey play, and this week a far larger attendance than usual may safely be anticipated, for it is some years since the match was played in the West, and the object for which the g;ime has been set apart is sure to appeal strongly to the cricket lovers of such a sporting county. Leonard Charles Braund was born at Clewer, near Windsor, on October 18th, 1876, and learnt his cricket as a member of the Richmond Town C.C. He showed such good all-round form for the club that it was not long before he came to the notice of the Surrey County authorities. The promise he held out was so good that, when only sixteen years of age, he was engaged on the grouna-staff at the Oval. That was in the summer of 1893, and two years later we find him playing regularly for the Second Eleven of the county. For one so young he did very well, averaging 26*81 for sixteen innings with the bat and taking twenty wickels for 19 45 runs each. In successive matches he scored 86 and 56 against Lancashire 2nd X I. and 118 against Hertfordshire, both games being played at the Oval. Under the watchful eye of Mr. W. T. Graburn his cricket steadily improved, aud in 1896 he received his first trial for Surrey. His early efforts were not very successful, and perhaps it was owing to the fact that he played in only four matches in 1897 which caused him to seek a county where there would be greater scope for his ability. His choice fell upon Somerset, but he continued to play for Surrey in 1898 and did so well that he would probably have made his place in the side secure at an early Photo by] [Hawkins «£• Co., Brighton. MR. L. C. BRAUND. date had he not severed his connection with the Oval. In 1899 his appearances in first- class matches were naturally strictly limited, but he added to his reputation by scoring 270 runs in the five innings he played against the strong Australian team of that year. In the match at the Crystal Palace, when playing for Mr. Grace’s X I., he scored 125 and with Alec Hearne, who made 168, added 242 runs for the third wicket, which then ranked as the longest partnership ever made against Australian bowling in this country. In the Whit-Monday match at Lord’s in 1900 between Middlesex and Somerset he scored 38 aud 1 and took a couple of wickets, but played no more county cricket that year as his period of qualification had not been completed. He had played, by residence, for Surrey as late as August 28th, 1898, and, although he had taken rooms in Somerset 111 the previous June, he did nol com­ mence his qualification until he had played his last match for Surrey. The facts of the case were brought to the notice of the Committee of the Marylebone C.C. by the Surrey County Club, and the High Court of Appeal had no option but to decide that Braund’s qualification for Somerset would not be complete until the end of August, 1900. During the remainder of the season he obtained some excellent practice with the London County C.C. at the Crystal Palace, making 482 runs wi h an average of 25 and taking 47 wickets for less than twenty-four runs each. The commencement of the second, and more brilliant, part of Braund’s career dates from the season of 1901, when his qualification for Somerset was complete. He had been known for a few seasons as a very useful all-round cricketer hut no one could have been prepart d for the very marked advance he showed in 1901. His batting became more reliable, he was recognised as one of the finest slips in the country, and his leg-breaks puzzled even the greatest players. He was chosen for the Gentlemen v. Players match at Lord’s and during the season scored 1,587 runs and took 120 wickets : had he belonged to a side which arranged a longer pro­ gramme his record would have been even more remarkable. He played a leading part in the wonderful match Yorkshire at Leeds that year. The game was such an extraordinary one that the chief features may be briefly recalled. On the first day Yorkshire, in reply to a total of with