Cricket 1909

CRICKET : a w e e k ly r e c o r d o f t h e g am e . APRIL 22, 1909. “ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. No 804 . v o l . x x v i i i . THURSDAY, APEIL 22, 1909. o n e p e n n y . CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. M r . C. P. HUEDITCH. To American cricketers few names will be more familiar than that of Mr. Charles Percy Hurditch. For several years he has been very prominently identified with the game in the States, being a member of the Belmont C.C. of Philadelphia; of the New Jersey A.C., Staten Island C.C., andKnickerbocker A.C.of New York; and of the Los Angeles C.C. of California. He was bom at St. John’s Wood on February 1st, 1869, and there can be no doubt that had he made his home in England he would have proved a valuable member of the Middlesex Eleven. Business, however, has compelled him to spend his last eighteen years in all parts of the West Indies, United States, Canada, and California, but wherever he bas been located he has kept up his cricket, and to-day is as keen as ever on the game. Twice he headed the batting averages of the M etropolitan D istrict Cricket League of New York, and in another year missed doing so by *01! He is the holder of the record average and aggregate in Kingston, Jamaica, and as recently as last summer headed the Cali­ fornian averages with the high figure of 57*75 an innings. When it is added that he is a skilful wicket-keeper, it will be recognised that he is a cricketer whose services more than one countywould be glad to possess. It will interest Cricket readers to know that he is a nephew of the Rev. Robert Stratten Holmes, whose “ Cricket Notches ” were so delightfully prominent a feature of this journal from 1892 to 1895. He was educated at the North Western College and St. Paul’s School, where he obtained his colours for cricket, football, and fives. As an all­ round athlete he has an excellent record, for in addition to distinguishing himself at the games mentioned he has won many prizes for the 440 and 880 yards, the mile, hurdles, long jump, and tennis. At the present time he is looking forward with the keenest anticipation to the visit of the Australians, and also to playing with the Wanderers, of which well-known club he has just been elected a member. “ Do you remember the visit of the English cricketers to the West Indies ?” MR. C. P. HURDITCH. “ I do, especially as two rather unusual episodes occurred during the occasion of the first visit of an English team, under the captaincy of R. S. Lucas. I was visiting Jamaica at the time, after being away from the Island just about a year, and the interest in this visit was tremendous, especially when it was known that one of the openingmatches against Barbados had produced some remark­ able scoring on both sides. Knowing the interest I took in the local cricket, after a residence of over two years there, I was approached by an enterprising reporter of The Daily Gleaner for my views of an eleven for the Test games. Now I had kept closely in touch with cricket form and thought I had a fair idea of the best talent for the two matches, but, alas! in omitting the name of Toone from the list, brought down a strong protest from this player in a lengthy com­ munication to the paper the following morning. He point­ ed out my audacity in daring to select a team in the first place, and in the second my ignorance in leaving his name out of the list in view of the premier position he held in the bowling averages that year. The selec­ tion Committee, however, iu spite of his personal protest, saw fit to coincide with my ‘ ignorance,’ and the first Test team was selected minus the services of my friend Toone. Jamaica was beaten — badly beaten—on this occasion, and when the time came for the selection for the final match, I was again invited to play (having declined tho honour in the first game) and also to serve on the Committee. The Toone matter again came up, and this time I made amends for my former shortcomings by proposing the name of the year’s champion trundler, and it was duly accepted unani­ mously. To cut out all minor details, Toone bowled better than he had ever done before, and he will forgive me when I say than he will ever do again. His exact figures I have not by me, but I think he got seven victims in the first innings and six in the second at a low cost, and ‘ I told you so’ came off with a vengeance. Jamaica had only some twenty odd runs to make to win, and we got them for the loss of my wicket when the game was a tie, Lohmann, a brother of George, giving me out lbw to Bromley- Davenport, for which I have never forgiven him. The second noteworthy incident in