Cricket 1911

CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. MAY 27 , 1911 . “ Together joined in CricKet’s manly toil.”— B yron . n o . 8 6 9 . v o l . x x x . S A T U R D A Y , M A Y 2 7 , 1 9 1 1 . p r i c e 2 d . Edward Alletson. JjDWARD ALLETSON, whose wonderful hitting innings against Sussex at Hove is fully dealt with on another page, was born at Welbeck on March 6 , 1884, and IK played his first game for Nottinghamshire to­ wards the end of the season 1906. He only made two runs in three innings that year, and in 1907 his performances were quite moderate, 40 being his highest score; but even thus early it was evident to the discerning critic that in this powerful loose - limbed young man Notts, had a batsman of considerable promise. In 1908 he was not played regularly, and up to the end of June had accomplished nothing of any note. Then he batted very well for 19 not-out and 31 v. Lancashire at Manchester, and followed this up with scores of 45 v. Derbyshire at Trent Bridge, and 39 v. Leicestershire at Leicester. Still he could only be accounted a useful stopgap, and there were indications that he had not yet realised that his true game was to hit. Like Bonnor in the old days, he too often endeavoured to play the ordinary batsman’s game, and to men with their gifts this is a sinful waste of good material. Inprovement came in 1909. The first 50 of his 81 v. Leicestershire at Nottingham was made in one hour, and he did still better against Gloucestershire, when he hit up 70 in the same time. He also scored 56 not-out v. Essex at Leyton. Last year he developed con­ siderably, doing especially well when he let himself go. His 70 v. Sussex nt Hove was a splendidly-hit innings; his 46 against Essex at Leyton (out Pjl0t0 ^ of 66 made in 40 minutes) helped his side to win an exciting over against the clock ; and there was some good slamming in the four fifties he made, against. Leicestershire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire. His place in the team should now be secure, though it is too much to expect for a long time to com e a repetition of the Hove perform ­ ance, which really verged upon the miraculous. No one is more certain to appreciate such dashing play than the Notts captain. In addition to his batting, Alletson is a good field, and—one says it with no intention of disparaging Mr. Jones’s judgment — a far better fast, or fast medium, whichever you will, bowler than his captain appears to think him. At Northampton last year he took 6 wickets for 74, and directly after­ wards at Hove was put on first and secured three for 40, bowling quite well. But during the rest of the season he only took three more wickets, the twelve he had in all costing less than 19 each. This looks like form worthy of more en­ couragement. Alletson is so stalwart, too, that there seems no reason to think that a moderate amount of bowling would damage his batting powers. If that is likely, one would never wish him to bowl another ball, for his innings of 189 was worth travelling from Land’s End to John o’Groats to se e ! It has been stated for a long time past that the Duke of Portland, on whose estate Alletson was born and reared, had promised the hard-hitting batsman a cheque for £ 10 0 when he made his first century for the County. One may venture to congratulate Alletson on having earned perhaps the biggest sum of talent money recorded. J.N.P. [Haickina <1- Co., Brighton. ALLETSON.