Cricket 1910

CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME. J u n e 2 , 1 9 1 0 . personal record to stand long, for on Mon­ day last he scored 215 at Oxford against the University. The innings is also the largest ever played in a first-class match at Oxford, exceeding the 206 by H . H. Massie for the Australians in 1882 and the 201 by J. E . Raphael against Y ork­ shire six years ago. A t Cambridge the second hundred has been exceeded on five occasions in matches of note, M. Hathorn making 239 for the South Africans in 1901, N. F. Druce 227 not out against C. I. Thornton’s X I. in 1897, T. Hayward 220 for Cambridgeshire in 1859, Ranjitsinhji 215 not out for Sussex in 1900 and W . R. Gilbert 205 not out for an England Eleven in 1876. A c o r r e s p o n d e n t kindly draws my attention to some remarkable all-round cricket on the part of R. A. Harman, of W oodford House School, Birchington, Kent. In five matches he performed as follows :— v. West Cliff College scored 30 and took 6 wkts for 30 v. Laleham, Margate ,, 126* ,, 8 ,, 19 v. Birchington ... ,, 110 ,, 5 ,, 19 v. Herne Bay College „ 113* „ 9 „ 51 v. Margate Wesleyans , , 6 0 — — He hit twenty-two 4’s in his 110, and two 6 ’s off consecutive balls against Herne Bay College. F e w things in connection with yester­ day’s cricket will be more popular generally than the success with which A. C. MacLaren met at Edgbaston. At a time when an enterprising display on somebody’s part was necessary if Lancashire were to pull off the match he proved equal to the occasion, scoring, by admirable and rousing cricket, 100 in an hour and a-half and carrying out his bat. Only occasionally during the last few seasons has he shown more than a glimpse of his best form, but his innings yesterday was nothing less than a triumph. It is of interest to note that until this week he had not made a three-figure score since 1907, when he obtained 107 against Warwickshire at Old Trafford. I t is not, I believe, generally known that two kinsmen of Ranjitsinhji are at Malvern College. Their names are K. S. Raisinhji and K. S. Rajendrasinhji. I f they should possess any of Ranjitsinhji’s skill, Malvern College cricket should be pretty good in two or three years time. F o r their success over Nottinghamshire at Brighton yesterday, Sussex were in­ debted chiefly to the brothers R elf who, between them, made 182 runs and brought about the dismissal of eleven of their opponents. For the first time this season the younger player was seen at his best, scoring 10 1 in his second innings by stylish and faultless cricket in a trifle over a couple of hours. His form means a great deal to the side, and the fact that he has proved so conclusively that he retains all his old skill will cause far more than usual interest to centre in the doings of the eleven, which is a team of the great­ est possibilities. I t hardly seems gracious to gird at the “ Lancashire rule ’’ while it is sub judice, as it were, and I will make m y one or two remarks connected with it as moderate as I can. But, by the way, ought not the new rule to be properly dubbed the “ Pun c h ” one? I seem to remember it first being suggested in the columns of The Chari­ vari as an improvement on the “ Jessop” scheme of reckoning, which was to have left things as they were after complicat­ ing the means of arriving at them — a scheme that, it is interesting to re­ member, the County Captains assented to as readily as they did to the Lancashire proposal. A g o od deal of fun can be got out of the new table if one “ tries it on " a friend who approves of the new rule because he admires its motive — to eradicate the drawn game— without having examined the thing itself. Last Thursday there were eight unbeaten clubs in the list who all had a win or more to their credit, but their various percentages ranged from 100 down to 50 because they had been the victims of differing numbers of drawn games for which none o f them was to blame. When I pointed out to a stout Lancashire friend how the new rule has put this premium on luck he exclaimed, “ Why, yes, it is rotten ; they might as well toss up for the Championship.” T h e honourable way in which the Counties are “ playing the gam e” in spite of the new rule is very gratifying —but, o f course, not surprising in cricket. How magnificently Yorkshire and Leicester went to martyrdom on Saturday week in starting a game they had not a ghost o f a chance of finishing! Tabular result (practically) a severe defeat for each of them. And how sturdily clubs still play “ to save the game ” (as even supporters of the new rule continue to express it) when nothing is to be gained thereby. When, for instance, Sussex so splendidly saved their match against Warwick they (tabularly) succeeded only in back- marking their opponents as well as themselves. Generosity would have prompted them to lose, under the cir­ cumstances, but they “ played the game,” just as did Surrey by drawing stumps on the King’s demise, and Lancashire by standing idle while poor Hallows was buried. Y e t the counties are giving the new rule so fair a trial that before the season closes I expect to see a match played in which neither side will have completed an innings. And, if that happens, what will it prove ? H a v e r f o r d C o l l e g e will have a short tour this summer, this being their fourth visit to England. They leave New York on the s.s. Baltic on June 11th, and may be expected at Liverpool about the 19th. As in previous trips, Mr. Henry Cope will be manager of the side. The fixtures given below have been arranged by Mr. F. E. Lacey, secretary of the M.C.C. JUNE. 25—v. Uppingham. I 30—v. Cheltenham. 28—v. Repton. JULY. 2—v. Clifton. 16—v. Eton. 4-5—v. Marlborough. 20—v. Tonbridge. 7 —v. M.C.C. at Lord’s. 22-23—v. Charterhouse. 11-12—v. Haileybury. 26-27—v. Malvern. 14—v. Harrow. 28-v . Slii'ewsbury. It is possible that two or three extra matches will be played. A t u m u l u s has been exposed during excavations in the College Cricket Ground at Scarborough. It is believed to have been the burying-place of a warrior 2,000 years ago. THE SPECTATORATE . I love to see a riDg well lined, When games of hardihood befall, With men whose cares are cast behind As, renovating brains with rest, They watch with wholesome interest The battle of the bat and ball. Your shallow critic pleads distress To see this eager multitude Passing its time in idleness. ‘ To play the game I understand, To watch it merely should be bann’d,” He ll say in witless platitude. Yet some who watch will play the more For having seen how worthies play; The day of play for some is o’er ; The rest, unfortunate, I own May never know such joys, unknown, But would you bid them stay away ? Would you persuade them join that throng, In cities, who make street their school, Or, with the halls’ last ribald song, In superficial smartness smear A character that’s all veneer, Yet scarcely covers beast and fool? Better to learn in open air To love fair play and meditate ; Vicariously keen sport to share, Letting the breath and pulse respond Unconsciously to deeds beyond A pow’r to ever emulate. I love to see the ring well lined With crowds as innocent as this. They typify an age refined When nature's secrets shall be won, Contention ended, labour done, And men have earn’d perpetual bliss. H.P.-T. LONDON SCOTTISH v. Playod at Brondesbury L on d on C.C.Powell,b Bamford 52 E. A. Bennett, run out 30 G. Batchelor, c Clarke, b Bamford ........... 8 L. Lienai'd, b Bamford 2 E. A. Homer, c Clarke, b Bamford ......... 0 G. T. Hoiford, b Bam­ ford .......................... 4 A. H. Read, b Lane ... 16 SOUTH HAMPSTEAD.— on May 28. S cottish . H.G.V. Homer, b Lane 3 R. A. Bennett, c Wal- ford, b Bamford ... 8 A. A. Thomas, not out 0 J. S. Law, c P. Broo- man, b L a n e ........... 0 Byes, &c. ... 21 Total ..144 S outh H am pstead . R. H. Moore, c E. A. Homer, b Read ... 46 C. H.Thornhill, c R. A. Bennett, b Read ... 17 N. S. Astley, c Powell, b Read .................. 6 R. W. Hughman, c H. G. V. Homer, b E. A. Bennett ... 12 G.H. Bamford, c H.G.V. Homer, b Lienard... 25 C. Clarke, c Thomas, b Lienard .......... H. W. Brooman, b Lienard ................... R. W. List, e Powell, b Lienard ........... P. Walford, not o u t .. P. Brooman, not ou t. Byes, &c. E.C. Lane did not bat. Total (8 wkts) 155