Cricket 1909

A pr il 22, 1909. CRICK.ET A WEEKLY RECORD OE THE GAME. 71 A PICTURESQUE REPORT. I At the Plaza-del-Toro at Port Limon 0 ^ March 6th a match was played between the Central and St. Mark’s Clubs in a competi­ tion for a silver cup presented by Melsrs. S. Hart and Son. So much interestlwas centred in the game that before play <km- menced “ the extensive Plaza was thr&jged with eager eyes.” How St. Mark’s won the toss and sent their opponents in is thus described by the Jamaica Times (27th March, 1909) :—“ One o’clock arrived. Nation, captain of the St. Mark C.C., called the coin correctly, but ah ! a sour sauce it was when, very unwisely, he sent in his opponents to bat on a bumping, thumping, bullfrog-leaping ground, and his field, composed of young lads and men unaccustomed to a broiling, tropical sun, experienced on that memorable day, collapsed so badly. Cox (skipper), of the Central C.C. (a true sportsman), gave a half-laugh and a three-quarter smile, having got by sheer good luck what he had lost, ‘ The Toss.’ Truly, the Goddess of Cricket was in his favour, whilst Nation lost his head completely, for no one who was present and had his equilibrium set, would have given away his toss and selected to go on the field. His mistake was Captain Cox’s gain, and light well did he deserve the victory, and the applause he got from the general public. I may here mention that Nation's action on that occasion was much against the wish of a few of his men, and to the majority it was not known that he had won the toss and had given it away.’' Five wickets fell for about 30 runs, and then “ Pollard, a giant hitter, was sent in with Cox, who was wielding the willow in fine style. Every good ball was played, the Captain telling the bowlers, ‘ No ! and no passage.’ The crowd sent back the strain ‘ No passage ! ’ Pollard made a boundary for 4 and was clean bowled by Franklin.” This is stmewhat mystifying, and to the average Englishman must appear to be one of those things which would require a County Committee to explain. Eventually St. Mark’s were set 79 to win. “ To many the only chance open was to play for a draw, but could they do it? ‘ Wait till the game begins,’ said an ardent admirer of the Central. Goode (of Clarendon) and Eobinson (of St. James) were entrusted with the leather, whilst two youthful pairs of St. Mark’s took the willow. Their innings begins. ‘ Play,’ said the Umpire, and Sandy Goode rushed down like a thunder-tolt on Spencer, who hooked it right to Eobinson at slip. 0. 1. 0 was shown on the tins. Stewart, the Jessop of St. Mark’s, was sent in and he made a boundary off Robinson. Goode sent up another fast one to Corbett who lodged it safely with Hardwells at leg. 7. 2. 1. The crowd yelled out, ‘ That can’t beat 78.’ ” The collapse continued, the ninth wicket falling at28. “ ‘ Could thelnvincible St. Mark’sC.C. win now,’ asked the anxious crowd? ‘ No! lor Gus ia no batsman,’ said an old member of the once Independent C.C. Eobinson went hard and fast after Sinclair, who made a dig at him, and Gus looked surprised to see his pins still standing. At last he hit one and Nation took his end, hitting Eobin­ son for two. Sinclair took the end again, and iu attempting an impossible one was stumped by Cox (wicket-keeper). The crowd shouted, hats were thrown up, boys yelled, women danced. One may ask, ‘ What was all this for? ’ and the answer would be ‘ Ihe Invincible St. Mark’s, The Darling of the Eepublic, is beaten at last.’ Tins showing 33. 10. 1. Nation played a safe and reliable game. His score of 10, not out, was a display of sterling cricket and endurance under adverse circumstances, many of which he has only to blame himself for. Say, Captain Nation, is that your best show for the Cup? Can that? Will that? win it. You have already lost a point; the Trades­ men are chaffing you on the “ sly.” Look out. Horton is a persistent chap and he never says fail, until he is beaten, yet he is game to the last. It will be good for Captains in this Eepublic on playing a match to have a few minutes’ talk with their men ere the game begins. Remembering that two heads are better; a hint to the wise is enough.” A PROMISING CRICKETER, The last Australian mail brought nWs of a score of 3561by Eric Pitty Barbour for Sydney Grammar School against Sydney Church of England Grammar School on March 20th. For the past three seasons this young player —son of Mr. G. P. Barbour, ex-President of the Australian Board of Control—has been recognised as one of the most promising colts in New South Wales, his doings both with bat and ball for Sydney Grammar School having been little less than remark­ able. He was born at Sydney as recently as January ‘27tb, 1891, and is therefore only in his nineteenth year. Fortunate in possessing a father whose whole-hearted enthusiasm for the game is almost proverbial, E. P. Barbour received sound coaching whilst still a mere lad with the result that he has proved a tower of strength to the S.G.S. Eleven and more than once has set up a new Public School record. During the season of 1906-7, in the first part of which he was only fifteen years of age, he scored 1,726 runs in thirty-two innings, averaging 53 93, and took 142 wickets at a cost of 12 runs each. In inter-school matches alone be made 1188 runs (average 914) and tcok 86 wickets (average 11-7). His form was so good that he appeared for Burwood on a few occasions in First Grade matches—a distinction rarely accorded so young a player. That it was not trying him too highly is evident from the fact that he averaged 42with the bat and took nine wickets at a reasonable cost. His highest innings for his School that season were 114 and 101. The latter score was made at the expense of the Scots’ College on February 16tli, when he and H. E. Gregg (163 not out) made 288 together for the first wicket. Upon his dismissal the innings was declared closed and the College, collapsing for 57 and 81, were defeated by an innings and 150 luns. Barbour followed his fine innings by taking eight wickets for 43 runs. During 1907-8 the subject of these remarks well maintained the fine form he had shown during the previous season, seeing that, in addition to making 1767 runs with an aver­ age*of 60 9, he took 105 wickets at a cost of 14*86 runs each. He made eight scores of over a hundred, the highest being 171 not out against The .King’s School, at Parra­ matta on October 26, when he and E. M. Fisher (184 not out) put on 323 together for the second wicket without being separated and then retired. u His record for the School during 1908-lr should make interesting reading, for it is known that he has been in capital all-round form from the start. In January, just before completing his eighteenth year, he was chosen to assist the State against Queensland at Sydney, when he showed proof of his ability by playing a sound first innings of 40 and taking three wickets for 80 runs. On February 3rd he took all ten wickets for 46 runs in one innings of 112 for Sydney Grammar School v. Callan Park Asylum on the latter’s ground, and also con­ tributed 77 to his side’s total of 236. At the end of the same month .he made 120 and took five wickets for 14 against Newington College, and in March played, as previously stated, an innings of 356 against the Sydney Church of England Grammar School. THE ATHLETIC NEWS ANNUAL.* This veryhandyand interestingpublication, now in its twenty-second year, consists of 167 pages of matter concerning practically every­ thing of note connectedwithlastyear’scricket. There are also the fixtures for the present season, an exhaustive list of records, secre­ taries’ names and addresses, a veryuseful list of birthdates and birthplaces of prominent cricketers, a statistical article dealing with Haigh’s career, and special chapters devoted to the members of the Australian team new to England and Test-match history. The last-named extends over eleven pages and should prove very useful for purposes of reference. Portraits of Carter, Kansford, McAlister, Carkeek, Bardsley, O’Connor, Hartigan and Macartney form the frontis­ piece. The book is edited by “ Tityrus ” and is capital value for the small sum asked for it. *Tkc 1 Athletic News' Cricket Annual, 1900. Edited by 1 T ity ru s M a n ch e s te r: Athletic ifews Offices, Withy Grove. Price, 3d; by post, 4d. STUARTSURRIDGE&Go. CRICKETBATS , CAN BE PURCHASED AT Lords,Oval,andthePrincipal i Colonial Cricket Grounds ; throughout the World. 5 STUART SURRIDGE'S PATENT R A P I D D R I V E R AS MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THE Princes Edward and Albert of Wales. FromLord Dalmen?/, M.P, S u r r e y C ounty C ric k e t C i . ub , K ennin ^ ton O v a l , S .E . I have •always used Stuart Surridge’s Bats and have 110 wish to use any other. D A L M E N Y . S u r r e y C ounty C ric k e t C lub , K ennim jton O vai ., L ondon , S.E. Dear Mr. Surridgc, I have made with this bat 2,500 runs, and quite endorse Mr. G. L. Jessop and Mr. C. B. Fry’s opinion that they contain all the points essential to a bats­ man, and I myself consider your bats the best I have ever used. 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