Cricket 1910

34 + CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A u g u s t i 8 , 1910. By W. A. B E T T E SW O R T H . (Author of “ The Walkeks of Southgate.” ) With Explanatory Notes by F. S. A shley -C ooper . The Volume (500 pages) contains Chats with over fifty Cricketers and is one which should appeal to Players and Supporters of the Game in all parts of the World. Price, 5s. net. Post Free, 5s. 5d. L ondon : MERRITT & HATCHER, L td ., Cricket Office, 168, Upper Thames Street, E^C. Cricket: A W EEK LY RECORD OF THE GAME. 168, UPPER THAMES STREET, LONDON, E.C. TH UR SD AY , AUGU ST 1 8 t h , 1 9 1 0 . |}iitrilion d n s s t p . The abstract and brief chronicle of the time. — Hamlet. B y beating Gloucestershire at Chelten­ ham at the end of last week, Kent made their position at the head of the counties for the rest of the season secure, thus gaining the Championship for the third time in five years. That they would have carried off the honours this season what­ ever method had been in vogue to deter­ mine the order of merit is almost certain, for they are beyond all doubt the strongest and best-balanced team in the country at the present time. On Monday last Mr. Carr, Blythe and Woolley occupied the first, third and fourth places respectively in the bowling averages, whilst three players—Mr. Hutchings, Humphreys and Seymour— could point to an average of over 36 with the bat. As a coincidence it may be pointed out that in the match— with Hampshire at Bournemouth—in 1906 in which they became assured of the Championship they made 610; last week their total was 607 for 6 wickets. “ W . G.” contributed 62 not out to Eltham’s total of 196 for four wickets against Blackheath at the Rectory Field on Saturday. Blackheath were dis­ missed for 186. During the latter part o f the G.O.M.’s innings the light was very poor. Two months ago, when playing Nottinghamshire at Old Tratford, Lanca­ shire were set 400 to make in five hours and a-quarter and obtained the number for eight wickets within ten minutes of time. This performance, which was a record of its kind in a Championship game, they actually surpassed on Saturday, when, left five hours in which to make 403, they won by five wickets with 30 minutes to spare. The result appears the more remarkable when it is recalled that at one point on Friday afternoon Hampshire were actually 299 runs on with all their wickets in hand. The chief factor in the triumph was the stand o f 242 for the fourth wicket by the Football Internationals, Sharp and Makepeace. The two counties met for the first time in 1870, and Hampshire have yet to obtain their first win in the series of games. The match has not been played regularly, however. I n the course of Hampshire’s match with Lancashire at Southampton last week, Johnston and Llewellyn (who had already obtained a hundred wickets) completed their thousand runs for the season, and Sprot and Stone made their highest score of the year. O n present form Stone, of Hampshire, is assuredly the best batsman among first-class wicket-keepers. The present is his tenth season with the County, and he has not yet completed his thirty-second year. It was in 1905 that he showed great possibilities as a run-getter, for that season he played an innings of 174 against Sussex at Portsmouth. Three years later, in the match at Canterbury with Kent, he and Newman showed wonderful presence of mind at a most critical time, and pulled off the game for their side by a wicket after coming together when nine men were out and 51 runs were still required. Against Lancashire last week he scored 80 in his first innings and 105 in his second, and twice during the season has made 193 for the first wicket with Mead— against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in July and in the match mentioned with Lancashire. This is the largest partnership ever re­ corded for that wicket so far as Hamp­ shire are concerned. H aedisty , of Yorkshire, is desirous of obtaining an engagement for next season. He expresses his willingness to qualify for another county. T he Wanderers and Tonbridge are old opponents, and the former, strong side though they are, have more than once been routed. But on Thursday last they were beaten in a manner to which the annals of the club can furnish few parallels. In response to a total of 470 for five wickets the Wanderers could make no more than 108 and 240, and were accordingly beaten by an innings and 122 runs. Har­ dinge ?et up a record for the Tonbridge ground by scoring 251 not out. He liit thirty-six 4’s and seven 3’s. I t was most unfortunate for Surrey that no play should have been possible at the Oval on Saturday, for they had obtained the upper hand in their match with Yorkshire and might reasonably have expected to win by a substantial margin. On the first day the visitors received convincing proof that they are still able to attract the public in large numbers, over 13,000 persons being present on the ground during the afternoon. In the circumstances it was to be regretted that they did not show more enterprising cricket: their batting was far more sedate than the circum­ stances demanded or indeed warranted, for the conditions were wholly in favour of rungetting. To Andrew Ducat fell the chief honours of the game. His innings of 153 was admirable in every way, his wrist work being perfect. He has already gained honours as an International Foot­ baller, and very many things would be more surprising than for him to be found assisting England at cricket in the Triangular Tournament the year after next. His participation in the highest class of football and cricket enables him to keep in splendid condition through­ out the year, and as he is still only N O W R E A V Y . “ Chats on the Cricket Field.” H. GRADIDGE And SONS, Manufacturers Used by all the Leading Players. Hade la lln 'i, Small Meai, »r Cells*•, 6, s, i, * I P r i c e I. lsta F r e e on ▲ p p l l c a t l o a . Of all First-Class Outfitters and Dealers. $ jt • Bebladlng a Speciality. o f all Requisites for Cricket, Lawn Tennis, Racquets, Hockey, Football, and all British Sports. PATEN TEE S AND SOLE M AKERS ^ OF THE Factory; A r t il l e r y P l a c e , WOOLWICH.