Cricket 1910

J une 30, 1910 CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 227 The construction of the Demon Drivers is fully described in 7 he Evolution of a Cricket Baty which may be obtained free upon applica­ tion. .CRICKET IMFROVED MAKE-KEEP THEIR SHAPE LASf LONGER IMPROVEDMAKE-KEEPTHEIRSHAPE-LASTLONCERlS C A T A L O G U E U PO N A P P L IC A T IO N . E Q g i i j j Q g l .D E M O N D R I V E R S 7 / ^ j ARE OUT AND OUT THE BEST. / Q ...OTHER GRADES 7 -6-S'~ A 'e-^ '-3 f6 - 3 rS liS~Zf~ I^LOGUEiONTftPPLLICATIO n M|| k jC A T A L O Q U F U PO N A P P L IC A T IO N TO GEO. G. BUSSEY & Co.. L td . 36 & 38, Queen Victoria St., LONDON. Manufactory — Timber Mills — PKCKHAM, S.E. ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK Agents all over the world. AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. By F. S. A sh ley -C ooper . Last week’s match between Eton and Winchester was the eighty-first between the two sides of which the score has been pre­ served. It is known that more games have been played, but the particulars have yet to be unearthed. The earliest match between the sides to be found in Scores and Bio­ graphies took place in 1826, and it was due solely to the fact that H. E. Knatchbull - of “ Knatchbull’s Corner”—had preserved the score that the game finds a place in Mr. Haygarth’s magnum opus. The match was not recorded in the M.C.C. books, perhaps because it was not then considered “ the thing” for young men to play in public, for much money was still lost aud won over crickct and bookmakers had not then ceased to attend important matches in order to offer and accept the latest odds. Furthermore Keate, the Headmaster of Eton, viewed the game with disfavour, and anything which he forbade had, at least in those days, to be renounced, for he was a stern disciplinarian. It is not, I think, generally known that Harrow were to have played Eton in 1821 on the Eton ground, and that the Harrovians had even gone so far as to order the post- chaises to drive them over when a messenger informed them that Keate had forbidden the match. “ But times are changed, and we are changed, And Keate has passed away.” Except in 1827, 1828, 1831 and 1837, when there were no matches, Eton and Winchester have met regularly every year since 1826, although they have not played at Lord’s since 1854. The last fifty-six games have taken place at Eton and Winchester alter­ nately, and the eighty-one matches of which particulars have been preserved have resulted as follows:— Date of First Ground. Match. Lord’s ... 1826 E to n ........... 1855 Winchester 1856 Won Won by by Win- Eton. Chester. Drawn. Total. 14 10 1* 25 17 7 4 28 15 7 6 28 Total ... 46 24 11* 81 * Includes a tie-mach. Eton, it will be seen, have won almost twice as many matches as Winchester, but the latter did not prove successful between 1843 and 1851 or between 1853 and 1870. It is worthy of mention, when one recalls the fact that four of the last six games have been unfinished, that only one match was drawn before 1885—in 1865, when rain prevented a definite result being arrived at. Last week’s match also was interfered with by the weather, but the game will always be remembered on account of the excellent bowling of A. I. Steel —son of Mr. A. G. Steel—in the Wykehamists’ second innings. That the seventy-sixth University match should commence on Monday brings home to one the fact that the season is almost half over. This vear there are several fine players in each team, but their cricket has, on the whole, been very disappointing. Perhaps they havj been reserving their best for tbe Lord's match, and should such prove to be the case much may be forgiven them. Oxford have been more disappointing than their rivals, having quite failed to approach the standard which their success over Kent appeared to suggest that they might attain. On paper form they should prove a good run-getting site, but their performances C A T A L O Q U E U PO N A P P L IC A T IO N . C A IA L O G U E U PO N A P P L IC A T IO N . have been such as will cause them to take the field at Lord’s a team of possibilities rather than of probabilities. A. J. Evans, who showed such promise last year, has yet to do himself justice, but as he is a cricketer who generally does well on important occasions he may strike his bist form against Cambridge. In the all-important match last year he scored 79 and 46 and took a couple of wickets—Ireland’s and Prest’s—for sixteen runs, after Gilbert, Robinson, Le Couteur and Lowe had tried in vain to separate them. Oxford’s hopes centre chiefly in Le Couteur, who can bowl admirable leg-breaks: he keeps a good lenrth and gets plenty of spin on the ball, but, although he varies hi* break well, he is not, as has been so frequently stated, a “ googlie ” bowler. On his day he is deadly, and many things would be less surprising than for him to pull off the match for his side, for he is beyond doubt the best bowler in either eleven, and is particularly effective on a wicket affected by rain. The all-round cricket of Vidler, the Repton Freshman who is qualified by birth for Sussex—he was born at Rye, —may have an important bearing on the match, but, taking everything into consideration, a win for Cambridge appears most probable. The Light Blues work better together in the field than their rivals, and, unlike Oxford, possess a really fast bowler. Cowie’s pace may very possibly work havoc, and his bowling forms a splendid contrast to Lockhart’s. And, lastly, Cambridge is the better batting side, and therefore one is forced to the conclusion that, if form count i for anything, a win for Oxford is a very unlikely event. THE COUNTY TOURNAMENT. (Continued from page 109.) All are unhorsed ! The County Talatine, So steadfast in his saddle, bites the dust Beneath a foeman’s Knox : the White-horse Knight Has scarce remounted from as fierce a thrust: The Lord of Matiy-acres has collapsed More times than erst a full j ear oft could te 'l: So has the Fride of Kennington lain prone And every other combatant as well. Some are sore-bruised aid scarce have heart to rise : Some seem to like it - hearts of larger size — Treating the'r misadventures as a joke Where nothing worse than recjrds can get broke. Others with hopes of victory in store Like Olivers return and ask for more. But now a warrior, mightier than all, Enters the listsunbiddei—i 1 bred bounder! — Greases the turf, and m ikes the rUers fall Because their horses impotently flounder. And so, unstruck by foes, they get dismounted (Iu this Gilbertian year of queer decisions;) Incapable of striking out they're eounte 1, And have to lose their harJly-fought positions. 0, Sol, shine out and save the situation! This ugly monster with a stick or brick h it: Jupiter Pluvius ’twere humiliation To have to own as Champion at Cricket! P ott . 28 June, 1310,