Cricket 1909

120 CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M ay 13, 1909. H. GRADIDGE A n d S O N S , Manufacturers of all R e q u i s i t e s fo r C r i c k e t , L a w n T e n n i s , R a c q u e t s , H o c k e y , F o o t b a l l , and all British Sports. PATENTEES AND SOLE MAKERS ^ ^ Ob' THE Used by H all the ^ Leading1 yA Players. ^ Made In Men'f, Small Men's, or College, 6, 5, 4, * 3 •izes. P r l c c L i s t s F r e e o i l A p p l i c a t i o n . Of all First=Class Outfitters and Dealers. Reblading a Speciality. Factory; Artillery Place, WOOLWICH. Cvtcket: A IVEEKL V RECORD OF THE GAME. 168, UPPER THAMES STREET, LONDON, E.C. THURSDAY, MAY 1 3 t h , 1 9 0 9 . Pavilion Gossip. The abstract and brief chronicle of the time. — Hamlet. I t is officially announced tliat the following gentlemen have been nominated to represent the M.C.C. at the Cricket Conference, which, it is suggested, will be held at Lord’s on June 15th at 10.30. a .m .: The Eavl of Chesterfield (President of the M.G.C.), Lord Harris, and Lord Hawke. The AMERICAN CRICKETER. F ou n d ed 1877. Published by H. K. C ornish on beh alf o f The A ssociated Cricket Clubs of Philadelphia. An Illustrated Journal of Cricket, Association Football, Tennis, Golf, and Kindred Pastimes. No. 632, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa , U.S.A. p r ic e 10/- per annum , post paid anyw here. Specimen copies mailed on request. THE CRICKET YEAR BOOK. O N E P E N N Y . N o w R e a d y . CONTAINS : PHOTO GROUPS of the COUNTIES and PORTRAITS of all the MEMBERS of the 13th AUSTRALIAN TEAM. Of all Railway Bookstalls, Newsagents, or post free, ljd ., from Cricket offices, 168 Upper Thames Street, London, E.O. O n tlie whole the critics were very favourably impressed with the form shown by the Australians at Trent Bridge, but in some quarters recognition of their undoubted all-round strength appeared to be given somewhat grudgingly. It was surely unnecessary to state that the side owed their good score chiefly to a couple of partnerships, and that there did not appear to be a bowler in the team worthy of comparison with Spofforth, Palmer, Turner or Perris. The fact remains that the Australians headed their opponents’ score by 150 and dismissed their rivals twice on a hard wicket for an aggregate of 383. And, in winning the match by an innings and six runs, the side probably did as well as anyone expected, especially as their practice had been limited to three days. B a r d s l e y played a very sound innings and, to everyone’s delight, Trumper gave more than a glimpse of the form which made him so feared by bowlers seven years ago. But the honours of the game, so far as the Australians were concerned, were carried off by Armstrong, who played a faultless innings of 106 not out and took eight wickets for just over ten runs each. He showed that his wicket is still as difficult as ever to obtain, and, unless ' the very unexpected happens, he will probably be found one of the most pro­ lific run-getters on the side. His bowling possesses all its old accuracy, and last week he bowled far more on the wicket than he did on various occasions, and especially in the Test match at Notting­ ham, four years ago. T h e large innings by A. O. Jones was welcome for more reasons than one. It is always pleasing to see a keen player meet with success, and in Jones’ case it shows that he has fully recovered from the effects of his severe illness in Australia, and, furthermore, it should make his presence in the England team assured. His knowledge of the Australians should make him a valuable lieutenant to Mac­ Laren, and his presence in the slips should strengthen the side in a depart­ ment which otherwise- might prove disappointing. G e o b g e W o o t to n , the famous Notting- hamshire and England bowler of the sixties, was among those who watched last week’s match at Trent Bridge between his old county and the Australians. Wootton is now in his seventy-fifth year. W h il s t Cotter was batting on Friday he skied a ball between the wickets, and Oates waited for the catch but missed it altogether. The ball had so much spin on it that it twisted back to the wicket on to the leg-stump. Fortunately for Cotter, a bail did not fall: had it done, he would have been out “ hit wicket.” I n the second innings of Notts, on Saturday Hardstaff, when facing Arm ­ strong, drove a ball with great force full on to the ankle of the umpire. The spectators, out of harm’s way, were much amused at Harrison’s antics, whilst the batsman appeared to regard it as a very unfortunate piece of obstruction for himself. T h e Australians commence their first match against Essex at Leyton to-day, and doubtless many enthusiasts will journey to the ground for the Great Eastern Railway are running trains at frequent intervals from Liverpool Street, and the County generally manages to show its best form on such an occasion. Previous matches between the sides have resulted as follows :— 1893—Drawn. 1896—Australians won by seven wickets. 1899—Essex won by 126 runs. 1902 \ Drawn- I Drawn. 1905 i ®ssex won by 19 runs. 1 Drawn. O f the seven matches played Essex have won two and the Australians one, the remaining four being left unfinished. I h a v e heard on good authority that the Selection Committee—Lord Hawke, H . D. G. Leveson-Gower and C. B. Fry — will meet on Sunday next in order to discuss the constitution of the side which is to represent England at Edg- baston to-day fortnight. So far Mac­ Laren is the only certainty, but there are others who are almost bound to be chosen. Hirst cannot possibly be omitted, and Fry, after his two fine innings at the Oval, is assured of a place. Jones, too, after his fine batting at Trent Bridge, should be a certainty, and doubtless the form of J. N. Crawford, Hobbs and Hayes will be discussed. It would certainly be strange if the last-named, having toured through Australia with­ out playing in a Test-match, should be chosen to represent his country over here. Of other players who have not yet appeared for England, the most likely to be chosen seem to be Newstead and the Rev. F. H. Gillingham. The former enjoyed a very successful season last year both as batsman and bowler, whilst as recently as last week the latter played a particularly praiseworthy innings of 80 at Lord’s. C o n g r a t u l a t io n s to Mr. Charles L. Townsend upon his approaching wed