Cricket 1909

CRICKET: A W EEKLY RECORD OF T H E GAME. JUNE 3, 1909. Together joined in CricKet’s manly toil Byron, n o . 8 10 . v o l . x x v m . THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1909. A CHAT ABOUT TOM HAYWARD. In recognition of his long and valuable services to Surrey cricket during the years that have elapsed since his benefit, a testi­ monial, to which the County Club have voted a grant of two hundred pounds, will be presented to Hayward at the close of the season. It is greatly to be hoped that Surrey men, by subscribing liberally, will show their appreciation of his many successes, for time after time he has borne the fortunes of the side upon his shoulders, and the number of occasions upon which he has failed has been comparatively small. In some quarters the mistaken idea prevails that Hayward is habitually a slow scorer, but such is far indeed from being the case. When he feels that much responsibility rests upon his efforts he naturally plays a watchful and careful game, but when the welfare of the side is not en­ dangered he can hit as hard and score as fast as almost any­ one. Three years ago he caused some of the Leicestershire players considerable surprise by making as many as 125 runs before lunch on the first day of the match. Later in the season, against Warwickshire at the Oval, he hit two 6’s and three 4’s off an over, whilst in the match with Gloucestershire at Bristol he made 100 of the first 125 runs obtained from the bat. He possesses such a graceful style and has so many strokes all round the wicket, that to witness a long innings played by him is a liberal education for a young cricketer. His tim­ ing is perfect and his defence as sound as any man's in Eng­ land. Of him it may be said: “ You may bowl your best at Hayward, but what­ ever style you try Will bo vanquished by the master’s steady hand and watchful eye.” The words were written in reference to his famous uncle, Tom of Cambridge, but they apply with equal truth to the present bearer of that illustrious cricket name. Mr. D. L. A. Jephson, in the course of his very interesting contribution to Surrey Cricket: Its History and Associations, has said of Hayward: “ And then on to the stage steps a man well over middle height, whose head as he walks sways slowly back­ wards and forwards; in his hand there is a bat—a very picture of a bat. It is a worthy T. HAYWARD. Photo by] [Hawkins c t' Co., Brighton. tool of a more than worthy workman. It is an offensive and defensive weapon, whose face is clean and not too hard, whose sides are level as the day it left the maker’s hands. So unlike the ill-used sticks that so many of us for ever play with, smashed in at the edges by our brilliant snicks through the slips or in the direction of fine long-leg, bound at the bottom with thick black thread where we have in vain tried to drive the insidious yorker, or glued at the top when we have tried to play back with the shoulder. No, it is a perfectly clean weapon this bat of Tom Hayward’s; and this is as it should be, for if ever a player knew the right part of a bat to use, and also possessed the capacity to use it, surely it is the great batsman who is standing before us now. Asked, as I often am by fond parents and anxious guardians, whom I should recommend their sons and charges to study as a model of style and absolutely correct methods of batting, I invariably answer, ‘ Let them watch L. Palairet, A. P. Lucas, or Hay­ ward ’ — the two latter for choice, for this reason, that though not so brilliant, though not so perfect in style, yet I think that what they lack in these directions is more than balanced by their wonderful safety. Watch Hayward as he stands at the wicket, a fine up­ standing player, with a bat that never for a moment seems to deviate from the exact ver­ tical—a great stylist in the best sense of the word, with a curiously sound knowledge of defence.” In The Book of Cricket , edited by C. B. Fry, Hayward was admirably summed up in the words:—“ Surrey has al­ ways been lucky in its pro­ fessionals, but never more so than in the case of Tom Hay­ ward the younger. Not only is he a great batsman and a useful bowler and a brilliant fielder, but a cheerful, whole­ hearted worker, of thoughtful disposition and a level head.” Tom Hayward belongs to a family which has produced many famous players. His grandfather, old Daniel Hay­ ward, was born at Mitcham in 1808, and played for the village when only sixteen years of age. When he was at his best there was no Surrey Eleven - the County Club was not established until 1845—and it was perhaps for this reason that he removed to Cam­ bridge, where his skill was appreciated for many years. He was an exceedingly showy