Cricket 1910

J u n e 2 3 , 1910. CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 2 1 1 The construction of the Demon Drivers is fully described in The Evolution of a Cricket Bafy which may be obtained free upon applica­ tion. m sm CRICKET IMPROVED MAKE KEEP THEIR SHAP E-LASLO N G ER CATALOQU E UPON APPLIC ATION . I A I ALOQUE UPON A P PLIC ATIO N . ^ S T l C K / l r . H I G H G R A D E =8yj2[ij! Wg M W CATALOGU E UPON APPLIC ATION . I^DEMON D R I V E R S |ARE OUT AND OUT THE BEST. >GRADES 7-6-5'- 4'e-4'-3'6-3'-2'6-2'- ■gsut;os application . ^ .jC A T A L O a U R UPON APPLICATION TO GEO. G. BUSSEY & Co.. L td . 36 & 38, Queen Victoria St., LONDON. Manufactory — Timber Mills — PECKHAM, S.E. ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK, Agents all over the world. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F. S. A siiley -C oopkr . Thursday last had, I have good cause to know, been keenly looked forward to by very many followers of the game in the South of England inasmuch as it was the opening day of the match at Horsham between Surrey and Sussex. The meeting of the sides there in the previous year had proved a pronounced success, the match being splendidly supported from start to finish and yielding a most welcome profit to the Sussex County C.C. History repeated itself last week, when the picturesque town was invaded from many quarters by enthusiasts who made the journey either by rail or motor. The decora­ tions, which gave quite a holiday aspect to the place, were on a larger scale than in 1909, and the impression which a visitor obtained before he had been there five minutes was that every resident wished the three-day carnival to be a success in every way. If it were so they had their desire, for the support accorded the match was exctllent, the weather was fine throughout and, last but not least, the home side pulled off the game with the last two men in. Doubtless the Sussex County authorities will consider before very long the advisability of having a Horsham Week. I feel sure that it would prove a popular move, and think that in course of time the Festival might come torank second to that of Canterbury. The ground is most picturesque, the wickets good, and all in the neighbourhood obviously most anxious to make things both attractive and pleasant: furthermore, Horsham can be reached by train from many directions, whilst the roads are good for motoring and cars can be taken on to the ground. It was a welcome change from Lord’s and the Oval, and each person present had evidently resolved to throw care to the winds and enjoy himself. Good­ nature prevailed everywhere, and none of it was dispelled even when I trod on a series of toes in returning to my seat after the fall of one of the wickets. “ Gentle and simple, squires and clerks, With many a lady fair ’’— and if it cannot be said that “ Fam’d Thanet, Fowell’s beauteous bride, And graceful Sondes were there "— it can be added that among those present were Mr. George Nixon Duck, with whom an interview appeared in Cricket last October, and Messrs. J. N. Pentelow and Alfred D. Taylor. The first-named, despite the fact that he is in his eightieth year, followed the game with all the ardour of a boy and seemed never to miss the smallest point of interest. Frequently his cheery voice rang out in encouragement to the players, and it seemed to me that whenever it did so the rooks in the trees beyond the far boundary flapped lazily from one branch to another, as though disturbed ; but I may have been mistaken. Messrs. Pentelow and Taylor, who met for the first time for a year, had much to say concerning cricket publications and the game generally. Perhaps some of those who read this column will remember that at Horsham last year I stopped a huge drive from Marshal — quite unintentionally—with my foot a few yards from the wicket. Strange to say a some­ what similar accident happened before the match this year to Mr. Pentelow. Vine, who had come on from Tonbridge, where he had batted nearly five hours for 57 runs, was hitting the ball all over the ground in some preliminary shoulder-opening, and “ J.N.P.” was unable to get out of the way of a huge drive, as he did not see the ball until it was close upon him. For a short time he saw about a dozen Joe Vines and Mr. Taylor seemed to have a twin brother with him, but ths effect of the blow was fortunately not so serious as it might have been. I almost forgot to say that he fielded the ball with his chest. Before the match started Mr. Duck introduced me to Mr. W. Stevens, whose brother, Mr. John Stevens, played occasionally for Surrey thirty-five years or so. ago. Mr. W. Stevens has himself been a very good cricketer, and he has an interesting reminiscence of the Horsham ground. When he first played there—it was for Com Merchants of Surrey against Corn Merchants of Sussex—the captain of his side told his opponents, rather boastingly, that his first two men were certain to get a hundred each, and that there was no doubt as to what the result of the match would be. Strange to say, Mr. W. Stevens and the player who went in with him scored over 160 for the first wicket—a good performance at that, or any, time - and the Surrey side won with several wickets to spare. “ And what of last week’s match ? ” One piece of cricket —Davis’s innings of 106—stood out beyond everything else, although the valuable stand by Hayward and Abel must not be forgotten. Davis frequently ran a long way out of his ground to drive the ball to the boundary, and whilst he was in the cricket was always lively. By that display his place in the side should be assured for some time to come. Near the end of the innings I heard an old gentleman say, “ I should like to sit here for ever and ever, watching Davis bat like that,” which was certainly a generous sentiment, coming, as it did, from a Sussex man. The cricket on the second day was unnecessarily and inexcusably slow, but the match was finished in an ideal manner—with the last two men in, and with a big square-leg hit for six. Two surprising results have been recorded so far in connection with the present week’s cricket, Yorkshire and Lancashire being defeated by Northants and Surrey. Remem­ bering what tbe beaten sides accomplished at Lord’s and Manchester on Saturday, their experience since must be regarded as quite remarkable, the “ glorious uncertainty” of cricket notwithstanding. Kent have now obtained a pronounced lead in the Champion­ ship table, and their position at the head of affairs for some time to come may be taken for granted. Lancashire, their nearest and strongest rival, is as many as seventeen points behind, and even if Kent should be beaten in their match against Surrey which commences to-day at Blackheath their per­ centage would only fall from 75-00 to 66 66. But Surrey’s record at Blackheath does not lead one to anticipate that, with a weaker side than they put into the field at the Oval on Monday, they will gain the verdict over the Champions. CRICKET HINTS.* An interesting little book, entitled “ Cricket Hints for Youngsters and Others,” has been prepared by Mr. J. Herbert Farmer, of the Norfolk County C.C. Committee, and for a quarter-of-a-century a member of the M.C.C. A copy will be sent to any address upon sending a stamped envelope to Mr. J. Herbert Farmer, “ Fairfield,” Mundesley, Norfolk.