Cricket 1909

CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. MAY 27, 1909. Together joined in CricKet’s manly toil.”— Byron. No. 809. VOL. XXVIII. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1909. O n e P e n n y . A CHAT ABOUT MR. WARREN BARDSLEY. As recently as eighteen months ago the name of Warren Bardsley was unknown to the very great majority of cricketers in England : to-day few are more familiar. In Sydney he has been known as a good left-handed batsman for nine seasons, but of recent years New South Wales has produced so many fine players that it was necessary to possess the skill of a Trumper or of a Mackay in order to obtain a place in the State Eleven and retain it. There must have been very many young players in Sydney during the past ten years or so who would have developed into excellent cricketers if only they could have had a couple of seasons’ experience of first-class matches, but, so limited have been the opportunities of a promising colt being included in the State team, that a man might average anything from 60 to 100 for his club and then find himself picked for the second, or even for the third, eleven of New South Wales in a trial match. If Bardsley had been identified With an English county he would have made a name for himself some years ago, for he showed much skill whilst still a boy. He had, in fact, not long completed his seventeenth year when he played his first noteworthy innings. It was in a match at Hampden Park, Sydney, for Glebe against Paddington, one being almost the weakest club in the First Grade Competition and the other the strongest. Noble, upon winning the toss, did not fear to send Glebe in, although the wicket was in good condition. As it happened, the visitors remained in the whole of the afternoon for 227, Bardsley, whose first season it was with the first eleven, carry­ ing out his bat for 102. Paddington won with ease on the following Saturday, making 371 for four wickets—Trumper, 213 not out —but the fact remains that Bardsley early in his eighteenth year was sufficiently skilful to score a century with Noble among the bowlers opposed to him. That one feat stamped him as a player of unusual promise, and many sound judges of the game did not hesitate then and there to predict a great future for him. Bardsley was named after the town of Warren, N.S.W., where he was born on December 7th, 1883. He was educated at tho Forest Lodge Superior Public School, of which his father is head-master, and wheiv Albert Cotter also received part of his educa­ tion. In early years he was a very fine defen­ sive player, though little else, but gradually he built up his forcing strokes until he has almost come to share with Tlany Moses tbe distinction of being the best left-handed SIR. WARREN BARDSLEY. Photo by] [Hawkins 1 0 Co., Brighton, batsman ever produced by the State. In the field he is good anywhere, covering much ground, being a sure catch, and having a swift return to the wicket, but it is at point that he is seen at his best. He differs from the majority of players in the fact that he tries for catches that might seem impossible, rather than wait for the ball on the hop ; and, as a result, he brings off some sur­ prising catches. When standing at the wicket prepared to receive the ball, he takes an unusually high grip of the bat-handle, which enables him to play the “ long-handle ” game very effectively. His timing is so precise that he can generally clear the ring, even on the largest ground, without much apparent effort. He possesses many fine strokes all round the wicket, but is especially strong on the on-side. Although still quite youDg when first tried for Glebe, he quickly proved himself one of the most valuable members of the side, and his form in 1903-4 was so good that he was given a place in the New South Wales team which met Queensland at Brisbane. In that game he made 19 in the only innings he had, but in First Grade matches he averaged 47*78 for the whole season, his highest score being 161 not out against Paddington. During the first few years of his association with Glebe, the club was very weak and defeats consequently more numerous than victories. A. L. Newell, Coniugham, and others had left the side, but the club possessed a keen captain in Tom Duggan, and under his leader­ ship a very good team was gradually got together. During the years of depression Bardsley remained faith­ ful to the club, which has, in fact, been the only one with which he has been associated during his career. Good as his record in 1903-4 was, he was destined to sur­ pass it during the following season, when his average for Glebe was a trifle over sixty. In the match with University he made 189, which was at that time the largest innings ever played for the club, exceeding . Coningham’s 176 against North Sydney eight years before. His 175 in the match with Redfern was, however, a better display,seeing that he did not make asingle mistake dur­ ing the three hours he was batting : the fact, too, that he hit as many as twenty-five 4’s is proof that he had already developed his hitting powers to no small extent. The same season he made 113 for the Third Eleven of New South Wales against the Fourth Eleven, and, later, 44 for the Second Eleven against the First At the end of December he made 21 against Queensland at Sydney, and in the first week of January scored 19 on the same ground for New South Wales 2nd XI. against Victoria 2nd XI. It is somewhat remark­ able, taking his form into consideration,