Cricket 1909

J u l y 29, 1909. CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 2 9 5 OBITUARY. Mr. F . S. F rankish . Mr. F. Stanley Frankish, at one time one of the best-known cricketers in New Zealand, died at Wanganui oa May 30th, after several years of ill-health, in his thirty-sixth year. He was educated at Christ’s College, Christ­ church, wherehe was in the Eleven, and was afterwards identified for a few seasons with the United Canterbury C.C. His first appearance for Canterbury was in 1896, against Wellington, and for almost'ten years he continued to represent his Province. He played for New Zealand against Queensland in 1896, against the Melbourne C.C. in 1900, and against Lord Hawke’s team three years later. In 1898-9, also, he visited Tasmania and Australia with the New Zealand team, but failed to meet with much success. He averaged 14 with the bat for five innings, but his four wickets cost as much as 81 runs each, Victoria scoring 602 and New South Wales 588. When the Melbourne Club visited New Zealand in 1905-6 they played a match against 15 Canterbury Colts for his benefit, which realised about £100. The deceased was a fast left-handed bowler. M r . W. N icholson . It is with much regret that we announce the death, at 2, South Audley Street, London, on the 25th inst., of Mr. William Nicholson, D.L., J.P., of Basing Park, Hants, a Trustee of Lord’s Cricket Ground, and one of the oldest members of the M.C.C. He was born at Upper Holloway on September 2nd, 1824, and was in the Harrow Eleven for three seasons, commencing in 1841, and captain in his last. Scores and Biographies (iii-39) says of him:—“ Height, 5 ft. 10 in., and weight, 11 stone 7 lbs. Has been a most successful batsman for several years, getting his runs exceedingly fast and well in the best matches, especially about 1852, when he was not to be excelled. Is one of the best wicket-keepers in England, standing up pluckily to the fastest bowling, and has at that important post in the field received many a severe blow. Also an exceedingly fast runner between wickets, a capital judge of a short run, and is altogether an energetic cricketer. Was Captain of the HarrowEleven in 1843, when, by his strict management and fine play, he helped much to win both against Winchester and Eton. . . . His elder brother, Mr. John Nicholson, played for Harrow in 1840 and. 1841, and for Cambridge in 1845.” Among his contemporaries at Harrowwere E. M. Dewing, Arthur Haygarth, and J. Marshall. In the matches with Eton he scored 4 and 9, 7 and 35, 11 and 0, whilst against Winchester his innings were 4,1, and 52, 21 and 6. He became a member of the M.C.C. in 1845, and appeared for the Gentlemen against the Players from 1846 to 1858 and in the Canterbury Week from 1847 to 1869. For many years he played for the celebrated Clapton Chib, of which Messrs. Craven, Gordon and Key and the Walker brothers were great supporters. His best scores in matches of note were :— 56 M.C.C. and Ground v. Sussex, at Lord’s ... 1840 M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridge Uni­ versity, at Cambridge .......................... 1850 M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridge Uni­ versity, at Cambridge ... .................. 1851 Gents, of England v. Gents, of Kent, at Canterbury .......................................... England v. Kent, at Lord’s .......................... Gents, of England v. Gents, of Kent, at Canterbury.................................................. M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridge Uni­ versity, at Cambridge .......................... M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridge Uni­ versity, at Cambridge .......................... Gents, of South v. Gents, of North, at Lord’s * Signifies not out. 71 70 60 75 1851 1852 1858 1S62 His most successful season was that of 1852 when he made the highest score (39 and 70) in each innings for England v. Kent at Lord’s, and made 86 for Gentlemen of England v. Gentlemen of Kent at Canter­ bury. In the former match his side were set 156 to win and obtained them for three wickets, which was exceptional scoring for those times, especially against such bowlers as Mynn, Martingell and Willsher. Few men atttended the Canterbury Week more regularly than did Mr. Nicholson, who was an enthusiastic Old Stager and one of the oldest members of I Zingari. As a curiosity it may be mentioned that, when keeping wicket for M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridge Universityat Fenner’sin 1853, he stumped the three first men off Mr. F. Walker’s bowling. Great as Mr. Nicholson’s skill as a player undoubtedly was, it is probable that he will always be best remembered for tbe unstinted support he was always ready to accord the game. In Cricket of January, 1886, it was told how, when the fate of Lord’swas almost in the balance, before the sudden increase of wealth fromEton and Harrow and University matches, Mr. Nicholson stood in the gap, and after all England had been drawn for subscriptions to save the ground—for few escaped Mr. Roger Kynaston and his red book—he advanced the money as mortgage on a security which the outside public would not take. Little was said about it, as men who do such things do not talk about them, but there is no doubt he saved Lord’s from the builders. The celebrated Mr. William Ward did a similar thing many years before. He drew a cheque for £5,000, and gave it to Lord for the lease, and as it happened this turned out a good investment; as indeed did Mr. Nicholson’s mortgage also, though he ran the risk for the love of cricket, and the sum advanced was a large one—a very long way into five figures. This action on his part should cause his name always to be gratefully remembered, not only by members of the Marylebone Club, but by all English cricketers in whatever part of the world they may be domiciled. His generosity enabled the old Club to purchase the freehold of Lord’s : but for him the ground might have been built over and the M.C.C., the recog­ nised head of the game, have been rendered homeless. In 1879Mr. Nicholson was elected to the presidency of the Club. Although he led a very busy life his interest in the game and his old School was always of the strongest: in fact fifty years after he had led the Harrow XI. he purchased a large piece of ground at Harrow and presented it to the School. Mr. Nicholson became M.P. for Petersfield, Hants, in 1866. He lost his seat at the General Election in 1874, but regained it in 1880, only, however, to be unseated again five years later. At first he was a Liberal in politics, but subsequently a Conservative. His portrait can be seen in the large picture published last year by Messrs. Dickinson, of NewBond Street, entitled “ Eton v. Harrow.’’ As a mark of respect the flags at Lord’s on Monday, during the match between Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, were at half- mast. F.S.A.C. Mr. E. A. T hornton . Mr. Edward Archibald Thornton, at one time a well-known club cricketer in South Australia, died at Adelaide on June 22nd in his sixty-fifth year. He was one of the earliest members of the Kent (S. A.) C.C., which was founded in 1866, and for several years served on the Committee of the Club. By profession he was a solicitor. NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK (2) v. YOKO­ HAMA SPECIE BANK.— Played at -Lower Sydenham on July 24. N a tio n a l P r o v in c ia l B a n k (2)/ H. Trattles, st H. March, b Millward 2 G. R. Gardner, b Mill­ ward .......................... 4 J. Price, c March, b C r o ft......................... 2 G. J. Driver, c John­ son, b Sutton........... 6 J. Manners, b Mill­ ward .........................20 II. E. Ingall, c John­ son, b Millward ... 2 J. P. Stanley, b Sutton 8 W.Densham,st March, b Millward .......... 6 W. H. George, b Sutton ..................25 J. Wright, c Bates, b C roft.......................... 0 G. Morgan, not out ... 1 B 6, lb 2, w 1 ... 9 Total , 85 Y okoh am a S pecie B an k . Johnston, b Price ... 26 Brewer, b Manners ... 10 Croft, c Trattles, b Price......................... 9 Millward, b Price ... 33 McNamara, c Trattlcs, b Price ...............22 March, c Trattles, b P r ic e ............ ......24 Bates, c and bDriver 0 Windsor, st Gardner, b Price .................. 0 Ayers, c and b Driver 0 Neil, st Gardner, b Price . Sutton, not ou t... B 1, lb 2, w 1 Total ... NEXT SEASON’S FIXTURES AT LORD’S. The following fixtures have already been made for next season at Lories :— June 23.—M.C.C. v. Cambridge University. June 27.—M.C.C. v. Oxford University. July 4.—Oxford v. Cambridge. July S.—Eton v. Harrow. July 11.—Gentlemen v. Players. Playing for Wimbledon Y.M.C.A. v. Denmark Institute, at Freeman’s Ground, Champion Hill, on July 24th, Owen J. Lusk took nine wickets for 15 runs in an innings of 47. The tenth man was run out. Y.M.C.A. won by 5 runs. STUART SURRIDGE&Co. CRICKETBATS CAN BE PURCHASED AT L ords, Oval, and th e Principal Colonial C ricket Grounds throughout th e World. STUART SURRIDGE’ S PATENT R A P I D D R I V E R AS MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THE P rinces Edw ard and A lb e rt o f W ales. Highest Score By E. HAYES AND THE Biggest Hit By M r . J. N. CBAWFORD WERE MADE WITH STUART SURRIDGE’S P.R.D. BATS. Highest Score of the Season, viz., 2 7 6 B ig g e s t H it, 7 P ra c tic a l M a n u fa c tu re rs. m 1 1 jif! i " 1'1 175, Borough High St., LONDON, S.E. Send far Price Lists.