Cricket 1909

J u l y 8 , 1 9 0 9 . CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 2 4 9 The only other cricketer who has equalled this performance is Clement Hill, who has made 2,380 runs with an average of 3G-70. In some quarters it has heen suggested that, as Jessop was disabled almost at the very commencement of the match, the Australian captain might well have pro­ posed that another pla 3 -er should take his place, with the right to bowl as well as to bat. But whilst Law 37 remains worded as at present it would not be possible to make such a graceful con­ cession and enjoy “ the rigour of the game ” at the same time. Until the Law mentioned is repealed or altered it must be upheld, and the more important the match in which it is felt to work injustice the more necessary is it that its terms should be respected : the law­ makers are far more likely to amend it in the event of a great hardship having been undeservedly sustained than if an agreement were come to by the captains to regard the law as a dead letter. I n the early days of the game, when betting on matches was tho rule rather than the exception, the Laws relating to substitutes wore very strict—perhaps necessarily so. In the code of 1744 it was laid down that the umpires “ are ti e sole judges of all outs and ins, of all fair or unfair play, of all frivolous delays, of all hurts, whether real or pretended, and are discretionally to allow what lime they think proper before the game goes on again. In case of a real hurt to a striker, they are to allow another to remain, and the person hurt to come in again ; but arc not to allow’ a fresh man to pLay on either side on any account.” The last clause is very precise, and here it may be said that the early codes are in many respects less ambigu­ ous than that in force to-day. In the Laws revised by the M.C.C. in 1798 we read that “ If the striker is hurt, he may retire from his wicket, and have his innings at any time in 1hat innings. If a striker is hurt, some person may he allowed to stand out for him, but not go in.” Here there is some lack of clear­ ness, and one wonders whether the distinction between “ the ” striker in the first sentence and “ a ” striker in the second was intentional. By 1828 it had, in addition, been enacted that “ No sub­ stitute in the field shall be allowed to bowl, keep wicket, stand at the point or middle wicket, or stop behind to a fast howler, unless with the consent of the adverse party.” This remained in force until May 15th, 1854, when a Law regarding substitutes was drawn up very much on the same lines as the one in force to-day. “ N e r v e s seem to have played their part in the Test match,” says the Even­ ing Standard. “ They supply a con­ venient, indeed the only satisfactory, explanation of the curious first innings played by both Englishmen and Aus­ tralians. The batsmen, if observation did them no injustice, were mortally afraid of getting out. And when a bats­ man is afraid of getting out, more often than not ho does get out. That nerves should have such an influence in Test cricket, or important cricket of any kind, is not surprising. It is a severe test of self-possession and confidence to walk to the wickets under tho eyes of thousands of spectators, to feel, as one waits for the first ball, that every movement is being closely and critically watched, that no least mistake will escape notice. The deliberation of the whole proceedings intensifies the trial. How many batsmen must have wished the bowler would hurry up, as they have watched him walking slowly to the spot whence be begins his run ! The fates being aus­ picious, the feeling soon wears off'; but if one knows that runs are urgently needed, and that one is expected to make them, it is unpleasant to have a multitude of fellow-creatures boring one’s body with their eyes.” MR. C. G. MACARTNEY. In last week’s Test match he took eleven wickets for 85 runs. C. L. T o w n s e n d , who captains the Norton Club in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League, has enjoyed a very successful season so far with the bat. In nine innings, eight of which have been completed, he has made 425 with an average of 53‘12. His presence a little later in the Gloucestershire team will be more welcome than usual, oh account of the great handicap sustained by tho county owing to the accident to Jessop. “ L o r d ’s nowadays only seems the elysium of our youth in the ’Varsity and Schools matches; it is the re-reaching of the Happy Valley ; the sides are out for sport and chivalry; old stagers re-live their own times in the enthusiasm, the keenness, and the real spirit of the game everywhere dominant,” says the Observer. “ And our Schools and ’Varsity elevens are endowed with the virtue of true sportsmanship—they know how to lose.” A n o t h e r chapter has been contributed to the history of the 1Tarrant incident ’ in the shape of the following letter from Mr. A. O. Jones to the Times :— “ I should have beenwell content to let tbe Tarrant incident drop until the powers at Lora’s bad piven their decision, but as Mr. Warner has thought fit to give his version of the affair, I thiuk, on behalf of the Notts County Cricket ( lub, that I oupht to give mine, which differs considerably from Mr. Warner’s.” ‘ •I was fielding at ‘'silly’’ third man. and perhaps had a better view of tbe incident than anyone else on the field. Iremonger, the bowler, and Oates, the wicket-keeper, both appealed for leg before-wicket; Eoberts put up bis hand, giving the batsmau out; Tarjant immediately (not, as Mr. Warner says, after walking five yards towards mid-i ff) said in an undertone, ‘ I hit it,’ and walked towards the pavilion. On passing the other wiclet he apain said, ‘ I hit it,’ and Eoberts then altered bis decision. “ Mr. Warner makes a strong point of tho fact that Bnberts states that he was net influenctd in any way by Tarrant’s remark. Does Mr. Warner inftr that the decision would have bfen reverse! had Tarrant walked to the pavilion without sayirg any­ thing? Myobjec ion is to the principle of the decision. The object of the rule allow­ ing umpires to alter a decision is only to enable them to cornet a slip; but a slip, if n ade, should be correctcd instantly, and not after a batsmjin has left the wicket and has given his veision of the incident to the umpire.” Anti all this time Boberts, like a wise mail, says nothing—at least, in print. J. H o w a r t ii took all ten wickets for 49 runs in an innings of 100 for Hastings Kovers against Clapham Bamblers on the Central ground, Hastings, on Juno 30th. A m e e t in g is to bo held at Carlisle shortly to make definite arrangements for the formation of a county cricket club for Cumberland. It is stated that the leading clubs of the county are in sympathy with the movement, and the scheme is expected to receive influential support. On their arrival in Chesterfield on the eve of their match with Derbyshire, some of the Surrey players, being in frolicsome mood, amused themselves by kicking an india-rubber ball from one to the other on their way to the hotel. A policeman asked for their names, and took them to the police-station. The names taken were Strudwick, Marshal, Lees, Rushby, Smith, Ducat, Harrison, and Davis. The affair was regarded by every one as a joke, and the cricketers were soon released. T h e closing stages of last Saturday’s match between Hampstead and Upper Tooting on the former’s ground were full of excitement, and provided an ideal finish to a finely-contested game. In response to a total of 233, Upper Tooting lost nine wickets for 144 and the game seemed over. At that point, however, D. 0. Bartley, the last man, partnered