Cricket 1911

CRICKET: AWEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. JUNE 3, 1911. "T o g e th e r joined in CricKet’s man ly toil.”— Byron. n o . 8 7 0 . v o l . x x x . SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1911. p r i c e 20 . Chats on the Cricket Field. JOHN TYLDESLEY. greatest professional batsman which the County of Lancashire has ever produced is, beyond all doubt, John Tyldesley, who had the distinction of heading the first-class batting aver- a g e s l a s t season. In a measure his triumph was unexpected because he made his first appearance for his native county so long ago as July 1895, but Tyldesley has been as careful of his physique as ever Arthur Shrewsbury was, and those who had the privilege of his friend­ ship knew that health was his first consideration. He could not bear the thought of being ill ; hence his tragic end. Tyldesley always looks fit. For seven months in winter he drives a golf ball over Worsley links. That he is an adept at this pastime is proved by the fact that now his handicap has been reduced to four, and some day we may see him battling for another kind of county honours. When approached with the request that he would give Cricket a chat, he smiled and exclaimed : “ What, again ? Like the needy knifegrinder I have no story to tell, sir, but that which is written in the books of Wisden.” Feeling sure that he could amplify the sum of photo ''."I human knowledge I shot an arrow in the air. “ How do you account for your position at the top of the averages last year ? Such conduct requires an explanation.” “ If I am to be put on my defence I had better under­ take it myself. I throw a lot of the blame for it on the shoulders of the Clerk of the Weather. It was a wet J. T. T Y L D E S L E Y . season. Perhaps you remember. The rain was more evenly distributed over England. The South suffered as well as the North. Hence the Southern batsmen did not stand out as they have generally done. This was my chance as I like wickets which tax one’s powers. Thus we of the North had an even chance of making runs with our Southern brethren. Then, again, I happened to be very fit.” “ Mr. Warner ascribes some of your success to dancing ? ” “ Well, I think that social life is developing. There are far more whist drives and dances than there used to be years ago— even ten years ago. I have done my share of whirling buxom Lancashire lasses round a room, and that helps to keep a man light and quick on his feet. Now quickness in foot-work has ever been one of my greatest assets. Dancing has helped to keep me fit and it is much more fascinating than using skipping ropes because that may be overdone and produce hardness of muscle. At any rate I was amply satisfied with the results • of last season.” “ My best innings ? Well, that is rather a hard question to put to me. There was an innings at Nottingham of 77 out of 88 in an hour that seemed [Hawkinsd- Co.,Brighton. to give much pleasure to the spectators. But I was most contented with 132 and 65 at Lord’s against Middlesex, and had the state of the game warranted I think I could have scored two hundreds in that match. But Mr. Hartley and myself were doing our best to force a win, but Lancashire were not quite successful.”