Cricket 1910

A u gu st i 8, i g i o . CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 339 The construction of the Demon Drivers is fully described in The Evolution of a Cricket Bat, which may be obtained free upon applica­ tion. AT THE SIGN OF THE W ICK E T . By F. S. A shley -C oopek . During the present week I visited ihe new cricket ground at Dover for the first and, I hope, not the last time. All those who are fond of the game and have an eye for tbe picturesque should certainly make an effort to go there during a county match. It must have been at the expenditure of much labour and money that the ground was formed, for it is levelled in the side of one of the many hills which abound around Dover, and one great advantage of its situation—unique, so far as England is concerned—is that in whatever part of the ground one happens to be one can obtain a fine view of the game. The work reminds one of that of the Zu-Vendis, of whom Eider Haggard tells in Allan Qualermain. A poet would be required to do justice to the beauty of the situation, and a civil engineer to its position, follower of the game, aged twenty-five or so, who confided to me that he possessed several books on the game, including some years of Wisden, a couple of volumes of Scores and Biographies and the first-class averages for about the last thirty years. “ An enthusiast, evidently,” I thought. Then, after remarking that he saw Cricket regularly, he added, “ With all respect for Mi;. Ashley-Cooper, I could beat him at statistics easily.” We were strangers when we met, and although some friends who were present were anxious to acquaint him with the facts of the situation, it will probably not be until he sees these lines in print that he will be aware of the identity of his companion for a short time on that sunny afternoon. And if he takes these remarks in the spirit in which they are written he will not experience the slightest feeling of resentment. The Dover Week, so far as it has gone, has been noteworthy for the innings of 114 by the Tonbridge school boy, F. H. Knott. CRICKET IMFROVED MAKE-KEEP THEIR SHAPE -TAS IO H C ER C BALLS - CATALOQUE UPON APPLICATION. CAlALOQUE UPON APPLICATION. THE TEN BROTHERS PARRIS OF CROYDON, SURREY. (Their match against Parkside was reported in last week’s Cricket.) and as I am neither the one nor the other I must content myself with urging enthusiasts to pay a visit to the ground. The only objection one can raise—and it is one of quite minor importance—is that the approach is not particularly pleasing. There may be more than one, but that along which I was directed took me through a rather narrow lane, a graveyard and a railway-tunnel in quick succession. One forgot such things, however, as soon as one reached the ground and took in the beautiful surroundings. Everything that could possibly be done for the convenience and comfort of visitors was done—unless I am mistaken it was the master-hand of Mr. Tom Pawley in evidence —and the accommodation and arrangements for the Press were excellent. And here let me publicly thank the Mayor for his courteous invitation to lunch in his tent on the ground—a suggestion, I am confident I can say, which was much appreciated by all to whom it was made. On the first afternoon, during one of the intervals, X had a conversation with a keen Although quite small he can hit very hard, his driving and strokes to leg especially being good. Furthermore, he played with all the confidence of aveteran, and I feel assured that, if he can devote time to first-class cricket his hundred on Monday will prove to be the first of many for his county. It is strange that Kent, at the time when they are by universal consent the strongest side in the country, should find the services of a new |player of such skill available. Several times recently it has been pointed out that the county could place two teams in the field which could be relied on to give a gool account of themselves against almost any other sides in England. At the Oval last week a friend—a Kentish-man—went even further, suggesting that, after his county has beaten England next month, another team could be chosen which might defeat the side successful at Kennington. I should hesitate to go quite so far as that, but the fact remains that at the present time Kent is wonderfully rich in cricketers. Rightly are they the Champions. CATALOQUE UPON APPLICATION TO GEO. G. BUSSEY & Co.. L td . 36 & 38, Queen Victoria St., LONDON. Manufactory— Timher Mills— PECKHAM, S.E. EI.MSWELL, SUFFOLK, Agents all over the world. CATALOGUE UPON APPLICATION. CATALOGUE UPON APPLICATION.