Cricket 1909

' M ay 6, 1909. CR ICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 99 The construction of the Demon Drivers is fully described in 7 he Evolution of a Cricket Bat , which may be obtained free upon applica­ tion. IlllUftet m CRICKET IMFRQVED M AKE- KEEP THEIR S H A P E-LA S L ONGER CATALOGU E UPON APPLIC ATION . DEMON D R I V E R S 7 f ARE OUT AND OUT THE BEST. / Q ^OTHER GRADES 7 -6 -5 '- 4 6 - 3 '-2'Q~ s s CATALOaUE UPON APPLICATION TO GEO. G. BUSSEV & Co., L td ., 36 & 38, Queen Victoria St., LONDON. Manufactory— Timber Mills- PECKHAM, S.E. ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK, Agents all over the world. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F. S. A sh ley -C oo per . Inasmuch as the first Test match—at Edg- baston—is now only three weeks distant the choice of the England captain cannot be much longer delayed. There can be little doubt that, if the post were filled by the man most favoured by the public, the Hon. F. S. Jackson would be the one selected. He inspires such confidence in those under him, and has always done so well when leading the side in such matches, that no better choice could be made. But, unfortunately, it would seem that the old Harrovian has no intention of returning to international cricket, though no definite pronouncement on the point has yet been made public. It is true that he is now in his thirty-ninth year, but he showed such splendid form when last the Australians were over here as to make one believe that, like E. M. Grace, he is a cricketer who reckons not by years. Furthermore, he has repeatedly shown that —as was the case with A. G. Steel, W. H. Patterson and a few others—he can return to first-class cricket after a long absence and, with little or no practice, at once do himself justice. Failing him as leader, MacLaren would probably prove the most popular man for the position. It has been said that the Lancashire ex-captain has been practising assiduously of late and has regained a very great deal of the form which, within the last fouror fiveyears.madehimdreaded bybowlers. If this really is so—and there appears to be no cause for doubt in the matter—it is very welcome news, for he possesses the ideal temperament for a.great occasion, and his great experience of Test-match cricket would count for a great deal. Like Jackson, he would enjoy the confidence of those under him, and. if selected to represent England, would, failing the old Cambridge captain, be given the command of the side. Of that, I think, there can be little, if any, doubt. He led England in 1899 and 1902, and although he was willing to play under Jackson in 1905, he could hardly be expected to give way to anyone else. In the event of neither Jackson nor MacLaren turning out for Eng­ land, the captaincy would probably devolve upon A. O. Jones, provided his form was good enough to justify his inclusion in the side. A very great point in Jones’ favour is that he has already played against almost all the Australians, and would therefore take the field against them with some knowledge of their style of play, which would prove a valuable asset inasmuch as it would enable him to set his field to the best advantage in order to check the favourite scoring strokes of the batsmen opposed to him. It may well be doubted whether there is a keener cricketer in England than the man who has led the Nottinghamshire team so skilfully during recent seasons, and his enthusiasm is so infectious that the fielding is invariably of a high standard when he is in command. It is remarkable to what an extent opinion concerning the strength of the Australian team has varied. The players themselves are quietly confident of enjoying a success­ ful season, and when their tour is over I think it will be found that their defeats—if any—can be counted on the fingers of one hand. To attempt to appraise the strength of the team before the side enters the field for their first match is, to a very great extent, to indulge in mere speculation, but, after very carefully studying the matter, I have formed the opinion that they will prove a very for­ midable side—perhaps as well-balanced as any that has ever come over. Their batsmen are not likely to repeat on our wickets the huge scores which they obtained on the wonderful pitches in their own country, but, given fine weather, they are bound to make many runs, especially when (apart from Whitty) the weakest batsman on the side is quite likely to score 30 or 40. With so many men in the side new to England I am not quite sure how the team would fare if we experienced a wet season, though I note that so good a judge of the game as W. Bruce remarked that he thought the Australians would do best if the wickets were wet. Perhaps he considered that the advantage thereby accorded the bowlers would more than counterbalance the handicap on the batsmen. On the other hand Hugh Trumble fancied the side on fast, dry wickets ! “ When doctors disagree, who shall decide ? ” Concerning the Test matches, I shall be very surprised, though of course delighted, if England wins the rubber. There is no getting away from the fact that almost all the men who will represent us this season have already passed their thirtieth year : and when players have reached that age their work in the field cannot be expected to be quite so smart as could be wished. But those who anticipate England proving successful in the rubber will be more interested to hear what “ Felix” —T. Horan, of earlier teams—thinks of our chances. In a private letter written to me after the Australian side had been completed he remarked :—“ All working together, and in true form, the team will do well, but in my judgment, if the Test matches be played to a finish, England will win a majority.” And that is the opinion of one of the finest judges of the game Australia has ever pro­ duced, and of one who is always au courant in matters cricketical. I cannot he'p think­ ing that at the present time the strength of Australian cricket is greater than it has been for several years past. In some quarters it may be cl limed that the bowling is weak, but it must be remembered that bowling in Australia is one thing ani bowling in England quite another. Several men who have met with little more than ordinary success with the ball in Australia have per­ formed splendidly over here: Boyle, in 1878, for instance, proved far more effective on our slow wickets than he had ever been in Mel­ bourne or Sydney. Aud proof of the present strength of Australian cricket is shown by the number of good men left behind. Hazlitt, Gehrs, Mayne, Parker, Dolling, Saunders, Dodds, Woodford, Claxton, Simpson, Wind­ sor, Carroll, McKenzie, Barnes, and Vernon would make up a really good side, with seven or eight bowlers, two good wicket-keepers, and plenty of batting. To a great extent the success of the tour depends on O’Connor, and I do not think he will disappoint his companions, for he is a most untiring and willing worker and a bowler who uses his head well. Despite the number of catches missed off him, he has performed excellently in the big matches in his own country, and over here, supported (as he will be) by a good fielding side, and not called upon to bowl at the nets for an hour or so on end, he should do even better. At the moment it will per­ haps prove of interest if the doings in this country of the eight players who have visited us before are appended :— Times Most not in an Inns. out. inns. Total Aver. V. T. Trumper ... 152 4 300* 5,924 40 02 M. A. Noble ... 147 14 284 5,108 38 40 W. W. Armstrong 99 17 303* 3,089 37’67 * Signifies not out.