Cricket 1911

202 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J u n e 3,1911 . three not out) and 1908 (292 in nine innings, one not out, with a best of 102 v. Bedfordshire at Norwich) to make it evident that he might be a big asset to the side. A sound bat, a useful change bowler, and a really magnificent field, he will strengthen the team at all points. Mr. Gervase W. Birkbeclc is a year or two younger than Mr. Cozens-Hardy, and, like him, is a representative cf an old Norfolk family. “ Harry Birkbeck ” was a name often on the lips of Norfolk cricketers a quarter of a century ago, and one is glad to believe that the doings of the son will keep it well to the fore for several seasons to come. Mr. G. W. Birkbeck was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge but was not particularly promi- rent as a cricketer at either seat of learning. In fact, though he first played for Norfolk at least five years ago, it was not until last season that he became really keen on the game. Making only one really big score (111 v. Cam­ bridgeshire at Cambridge) then, he made so many useful ones that he had the capital average of nearly 28, inferior only to Raikes and Stevens, and was quite one of the most dependable batsmen on the side. He can bowl a very fair slow leg break, and is a good field. He will act as captain this year in the absence of Mr. Raikes. Mr. Eric Jesser Fulcher is the Jessop of the team, a daring and determined hitter, and a splendid field. He is Kent by birth, having first seen the light at Ashford on March 12, 1890. Radley was his school. His average last season was under 20 —only just under—but as a sample of what he can do in the hitting line one may mention that against Notts Second at Trent Bridge last year he scored 83 in 35 minutes. He had not played for the county before 1910. Norfolk born and bred is Mr. Ralph William Thurgar, a few months Fulcher’s junior, as he was born (at Norwich) on September 28, 1890. This young player is a son of Mr. W. A. Thurgar, who represented the county on several occasions in the nineties. He is, like Stevens and Treglown, a Norwich Grammar School boy, and at the present time may fairly be reckoned the best all-round athlete in the Air. R. W . TH U RO A R. county, a more than useful bat, an excellent wicket-keeper, a fine man between the sticks in the socker game, and a capital golfer. He played once in 1907 and in a few matches in 1909, but last season was his first as a regular member of the team. Keeping wicket in all but one of the 14 matches played (he stood out of the M.C.C. game) he caught 11 and stumped 11, all of the stumpings being off Raikes’s leg breaks, which he took exceptionally well. His best batting was done against Essex second at Norwich in June, when, with 36 and 68 , he scored nearly twice as many as anyone else on the side; but he generally made runs, and twice during the season had valuable partnerships with his captain. Mr. M. FALCON. Mr. Claude Jesse Helby Treglown is the youngest of the band, and is still at the Grammar School, though it is expected that he will go into residence at Cambridge in the autumn. * He was born at Wymondham (the little town whence the Fryer brotherhood, famed in Welling­ borough annals, came) on 1893, and first played for the county in 1909. Last year he appeared in eight matches, and averaged nearly 20 , his highest score being 55 v. Cambs. at Cambridge. A stylish bat, he is also a very fine field in the country, with an exceptionally safe pair of hands. Mr.W.J. Thursby is an old Sedbergh boy, and was in the eleven at the Yorkshire school but a very short time ago. He was a freshman at Cambridge last year, and his 34 was the second highest score for Mr. Tufnell’s side in the Fresh­ men’s match. This season he played in the Senior’s match and scored 40 in his second innings. At Norwich they reckon him rather a lucky bat ; but that is no disparage­ ment to anyone. David Denton and John Tyldesley have had the same thing said of them. Last year, his first in the side, Thursby made 171 in 10 innings, his great effort being 74 v. Notts second at Trent Bridge, when he helped his captain to send up 200 before a wicket fell. A really fine batsman who cannot spare time to play often is Mr. R. W. Collinson, a Yo kshireman who has been resident in Norfolk for the last ten years or so. He played in a few matches for his native county with some success about fourteen years ago, and would be a valuable asset to Norfolk if he could play regularly. In club cricket, for Carrow, the team connected with the Messrs. Colman’s great works, he has done wonderful things. In 1909 he had 17 innings for the club, six not outs, made five centuries, all of them unfinished, and totalled 1069 runs, with an aver­ age of close on 100 ! Then there is Mr. Michael Falcon, the Cambridge Captain of 1909, who ought really to have been included among the young worthies mentioned as Mr. Raikes’s chief supporters, though his name is so well known in first-