Cricket 1911

M ay 20, 1911. CRICKET : A W EEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 165 Club Cricket. Last year there was probably no heavier run-getter in club cricket than F. F. Boles, of the Spencer C.C. For the club mentioned he obtained 1,236 runs with an average of 56-18, and in all matches scored 1,830 and averaged 61. At one period of the season he actually made six hundreds in eight innings, three of them being obtained in succession and five in six innings. Last Saturday he was well to the fore against Beddington with a score of 56, which, curiously enough, just equalled the number he made against the same club last August. After his succession of large scores mentioned above, his companions affected to regard his dismissal for such a total with surprise, alluding to it— of course, facetiously—as a ‘ ‘ failure.” In last week’s match Spencer went in with 145 to win, and owing largely to the first pair—Boles (56) and E. L. Downey (55)—won with something to spare, their total reaching 185. In such an innings Gilbert Reay did well to take seven wickets for 19. The Crawford family, one is pleased to see, continue to make their presence felt in the cricket field, the absence of “ J. N.” and “ V. F. S.” notwithstanding. As recently as Saturday last the Rev. J. C. Crawford, with 46, was top scorer of the day in Cane Hill’s match with Middlesex Hospital, and “ R. T.,” also with 46, was rungetter-in- chief for the Wanderers against Bart’s. The latter, in addition, took six wickets for 60, and therefore did his share in maintaining the Crawford reputation. One of the most consistent rungetters in Metro­ politan club cricket is R. R. Sandilands, who, by scoring 116 not out for Upper Tooting against Beckenham, has made yet another addition to his already long list of three- figure scores. He was educated at Westminster, where he was in the Eleven for four seasons, commencing in 1884, and captain in his last. His best season at the School was 1886, when he averaged 34-40 and played an innings of 123 against Old Westminsters. In 1887 it was written of him : ‘ 1 Made an excellent and very unselfish captain ; though at times nervous, an excellent bat, driving and cutting with great power : was rather unlucky ; a grand field at third man ; bowled lobs with some success.” In his four matches against Charterhouse he did comparatively little, making only 93 runs in six innings, but he has more than atoned for his shortcomings in those games by making many long scores in Devonshire and the London district. One of his best innings was his 123 against M.C.C. and Ground at Upper Tooting in August, 1898. The next highest score for his side was only 14, and it was clearly his batting which enabled Upper Tooting to win by 67 runs. Sandilands was also a prominent footballer in his day, and took part in four International matches. There was an exciting finish to the match in Sir Edward Sassoon’s beautiful grounds, Ashley Park, between the Bellevue C.C., which is now nearly a-quarter of a century old, and Walton-on-Thames. In response to a total of 134 the Walton C.C. had made 99, the last man was in and the last over had been called by the umpire. The clock on the neighbouring church was striking seven when the fifth ball of the over was put up in the air only to be missed, Bellevue accordingly having to be content with a draw. W hat must surely rank as the m ost sensational piece of batting o f the present season was that accomplished on the Ilford ground last week end by G. M. Louden, who has appeared a few times for the second eleven of Essex. On the occasion referred to he was assisting Ilford against Chingford, and he made his presence felt to the extent of eighty-nine runs com ing from his bat in 28 m inutes. H is m ost remunerative strokes were seven sixes and ten fours, and one over received punish­ m ent to the extent o f tw enty-eight runs, six being made off each of the first four deliveries, and the sixth being sent for four. About ten years ago, we believe, E . H . D . Sewell, whilst playing on the same ground for E ssex C. & G. against the local club, made a hit which measured about a hundred and fifty yards from hit to pitch. The exact distance, we think we are correct in stating, was never ascertained, but the fact does not lessen “ the swashing blow ” in the least. A run-getting performance of some note resulted from Featherstone’s visit to Castleford on the 13tli to fulfil their engagement with the local club in a Yorkshire Council m atch . C astleford w ere dism issed fo r 141, an d F eath er- ston e a ctu ally m a d e th e run s necessary to w in in an hou r w ith ou t loss o f a w ick et. T h e su ccessful batsm en w ere L . Sm ith an d J . M egson. T h e form er m ad e 104 o f the num ber, an d am on g his strok es w ere fiv e 6 ’s. M r. Norman Gale, in one o f his charm ing poems— when m ay cricketers expect another volume from him ?— refers to “ Some Stoddart know ing not the field o f L ord .” There must be m any such in m any parts o f the w orld, for only to the com ­ paratively few is the opportunity given to devote the best years o f their life to the game. Some prelim inary and judicious coaching w ould be necessary in the m ajority o f cases before the players could take their place in a county side, but there are neverthe­ less several men, unknown to fame, w ho possess sufficient ability to take their place in first-class cricket and make a name for themselves at once. It is only when one travels about the country to play good-class club cricket that one is able to obtain an inkling o f the number of really fine players there are. M any of them cannot spare the time for first-class crick e t: others prefer the delights o f inter-club games. But the fact remains that the number o f players w h o w ould have done w ell in the best company, had they devoted their whole time, energies and thought to the game, is so large that one would require the pen o f a K elly’s D irectory to set out their names. One such player is Charles Frederick Adam son, o f Hastings, whose participation in the game during recent years has been interfered with by the claims o f business. B orn at Ashtead, in Surrey, in March, 1877, he was educated at Charterhouse and learnt his cricket as a m ember o f the E psom C.C. Since settling in Hastings about twelve years ago his play has im proved greatly, and last season, when conditions were so largely against run-getting, he scored m ore than fourteen hundred runs with an average o f over forty. H e is the H on orary Secretary o f the Hastings R overs. It is with pleasure we note that E . J. Freeman, of the Essex C.C. ground staff, has been appointed coach to Sherborne School in succession to B ow ley, the old Surrey player. The choice is one upon which both the cricketer and the School are are to be congratulated. K. BOOKS R E C E IV E D . The Scottish Cricket Annual, 1911. Perth: Joe Anderson, 15, St. John Street. Price, Id. BLANCO For Cleaning and Whitening White Buckskin and Canvas Shoes, Cricket Pads, and all other articles of a similar nature. It is prepared in a very careful manner, and extra precautions are taken to ensure an evenness of colour. It contains nothing that will in any way injure the article to which it is applied, and if used as directed, a Splendid W h ite of a glossy, satin-like appearance and soft silky surface is ensured, which will not readily rub off. “ BLANCO ” ;CL0TH & LEATHER BALL For cleaning Suede, Ooze Calf, and Cloth Boots and Shoes, Cord Breeches, Suede Gloves, Cloth Spats, Leather and Cloth Leggings, &c. 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