Cricket 1911

278 CE ICKET : A W EEK LY EECOED OF THE GAME. J u l y 1 ,1 9 1 1 . seemed to attend him at Fenner’s (53 v. Mr. Leveson-Gower’s Eleven had been his best there up to that date), and played a masterly innings of 107 not out v. Surrey, fairly winning the game for his side. He scored 60 v. Sussex on the University ground a little later, and on tour made exactly the same score against the same side at Chichester. During the present campaign his most notable performances have been 71 v. Yorkshire, and 28 and 59 v. Surrey at the Oval, when everybody else except Mr. Falcon failed. In the match last referred to the Light Blue team played much below its true form, its fielding being especially poor and ragged, in contrast to the dash and certainty which had marked it in most of the home matches. I asked Mr. Ireland if he could explain this. “ I can,” he answered. “ It was May Week, and too much dancing, that accounted for it.” “ Without asking you to divulge any secrets, Mr. Ireland, may I enquire if your team against Oxford is practically settled ? ” “ Hardly that. But we have gone some way towards settling it. It is quite certain, unluckily, that Cowie, who is injured, will not be able to play. Two other Blues, Nason, who has not been in residence this term, and Hughes, will not be in the team. But further than that I cannot say at present, though, of course, the great majority of men playing here to-day are certain starters.” “ You have played a fair amount of Minor County cricket, I know. Don’t you think that the public attitude towards it is a trifle unfair ? Without suggesting that the second-class counties are equal to the first-class, I feel sure that they—or many of them—are much better than most people think them.” I agree. I have had some very good cricket indeed with Suffolk. I first played for them, in one match, in either 1906 or 1907, I can’t remember which. But I remember that I had only one innings, and scored a single. In 1908 I made quite a lot of runs, including an innings of 221 v. Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.” Mr. Ireland played nine innings for Suffolk that season, and totalled 530. “ You have done more bowling lately, and I note that both you and Mr. Falcon have been taken to task by an anonymous critic for regarding yourselves seriously as bowlers. That was in print, but I suppose you, like other University captains, have also had letters of advice as to the selection of the team, and that sort of thing, sent to you at Cambridge ? ” “ Yes. Not a very great many, however, and only one of them was anonymous. It contained advice as to additional trial matches, and was based on the assumption that the writer knew much better how to arrange such matters than the people whom they concern. But we don’t take any notice of such letters.” Up to the date of writing, the Cambridge captain has taken for his side 17 wickets at a cost of 15 each, and the ex-captain 18 at 20. Mr. Ireland’s chief difficulty this year has been about the bowling at his disposal; and as a matter of fact his own figures are at least as good as those of anyone else on the side. He is fast medium ; Mr. Falcon, a much improved bowler, with any amount of go and keenness, has somewhat greater pace. It would not be surprising if the pair proved the mainstay of the attack at Lord’s, for Mr. Lockhart is chiefly dangerous to batsmen who do not know him, Mr. Kidd needs special conditions, and the rest have done nothing out of the ordinary as yet. “ Why is it that Marlborough men have figured so prominently at hockey in recent years, Mr. Ireland ? ” ‘ ‘ I suppose because we have taken the game more seriously. It is the school game in the Easter term.” But now Mr. Chaplin came up, ready to toss, and the interview ended, though it was some considerable time before the match began. That finished after a splendid fight, in victory for Sussex by the margin of a single wicket. Mr. Ireland did not figure prominently in i t ; but perhaps he is saving his next century for Lord’s. While Cambridge were in the field and Killick at the wicket three spectacled players were in evidence— a most unusual thing in a first-class game. Judging by their performances Mr. Ireland, Mr. Kidd, and Killick are alike in finding no handicap in the fact of having to wear glasses in the field. j . N. PENTELOW. G E O R G E L E W I N & C O . , (Established 1869.) C lu b C o lo u r S p e c i a l i s t s Si A t h l e t i c C lo t h in g M a n u fa c t u r e r s OUTFITTERS BY APPOINTMENT To the M.C.C. West Indian XI., 1911 ; M.C.C. South African XL , 1909-10 ; the Australians, 189G, 1899 and 1902 ; Mr. Stoddart’s XI., 1894-1895, 1897-1898; Mr. MacLaren’s XI., 1901-1902; West Indian XI., 1900 and 1906 ; South African XI., 1901 and 1907 ; and M.C.C., Lancashire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex Counties, Wanderers, Stoics, Bromley, Sutton, and all Public Schools’ Old Boys’ Clubs, and Queen’s Club.—Write for E stim ates F r e e . WORKS CAMBERWELL. Telephone: P .O . City 601. 8, CROOKED LANE, MONUMENT, LONDON BRIDGE, E.C An Amer ican View of Cricket. Under the title “ Missionaries from England” the Pittsburgh Gazette Times of June 5th published the follow­ ing :— Those English cricketers who are coming to this country to play an exhibition game on the White House grounds, in an endeavour to make President Taft a convert to their national pastime, must be exceedingly hopeful individuals. They will be wasting time if they really expect to succeed in their mission. When President Taft isn’t attending to the duties of state, during the outdoor season, he is either playing golf or watching baseball. Only by dropping one or the other of these recreations could he find time for cricket. The English enthusiasts are loud in their praise of cricket as a game for the elderly and obese, as well as for the young and athletic, and point further to the fact that no elaborately laid out links or diamond is required for its enjoyment. The President could run out into the back yard of the White House when­ ever he had half an hour to spare and indulge in a game of cricket. It’s a wonder they don’t suggest croquet or beanbags. Cricket is not an athletic exercise, like baseball, nor even an excuse for taking a drink, like golf. It is a kind of religious rite performed by thousands of votaries in memory of their ancestors, who likewise were cricketers. It is a well-known fact that in the great public schools of England cricket is compulsory, like going to chapel in the morning. Every boy must play cricket, whether he wants to or not. He is taught that cricket is a form of patriotism, and no boy wants to be called a traitor. So he learns the game and keeps it up through life until he is no longer able to hold a bat or waddle the short distance required to score a run. Why import this solemn ceremonial when we already have real games with ginger and go in them ? It is only within the last ten years that the American people have learned to talk golf. Comparatively few, as yet, are acquainted with Esperanto, and here comes cricket knocking at the door. The confusion of tongues that impends is evident. Our cricketing visitors will be courteously welcomed, and their hosts will turn out to see them go through the sacred performance, but they need look for no converts in the seats of the mighty—not while the baseball season is on. NORTHUMBERLAND v. CHESHIRE.—Played at Newcastle on June 21 and 22 and won by Northumberland by an innings and 27 runs. Score and analysis:— C h esh ire . First innings. Second innings. J. C. Fallows, b Elsey.......................................... 5 b M ilne.................................... 37 F. C. Wild, b Milne .......................................... 11 b Skinner .......................... 11 K. Rigby, b Milne .......................................... 11 b White ............................ 20 A. S. Turner, st Ullathorne,%b White ........... 26 b Elsey.................................... 11 F. C. Hunter, c and b Skinner .................. 2 not o u t ............ ................... 32 E. S. Kigg, b Elsey .......................................... 12 b Skinner ............................ 12 Moorhouse, c Elsey, b Skinner .................. 47 b Skinner ............................ 6 T. Harrison, b Elsey .......................................... 17 b Skinner ............................ 1 L. Hewitson, c Nesbit, bElsey .................. 1 b Skinner ............................ 0 T. D. Killick, b E lse y .......................................... 10 b Skinner ............................ 22 J. W. Tipping, not out .................................. 0 b Skinner ............................ 0 Byes, &c........................................ 5 Byes, &c...................... 22 Total ..................................147 Total ...................174 N orth um berland . S. Anderson, c Tipping, b K illick. 9 Rev. White, c Hewitson, b Hunter 0 F. Gillespie, c Killick, b Hewitson 59 Milno, c and b Hewitson 12 C. F. Stanger-Leathes, c Harrison, 'I1. Ullathorne, b Hewitson 14 b K illick .................................. ... 122 Elsey, not o u t ........... 1 J. Nesbit, c Tipping, b Moorhouse 32 Byes, &c. 9 B. S. Cumberlege, b Killick ... ... 1 ■ — N. Barber, c Turner, b Hunter ... 61 Total ... 348 C. Skinner, b Killick ... .. ... 28 C heshire . First innings. Second innings. O. M. It. W. O. M. R. W. Elsey .................. 17-1 3 55 .......................... 7 2 9 1 Milne ................... 11 2 33 2 .......................... 18 8 30 1 White ................... 7 1 24 .......................... 8 0 30 1 Skinner................... 13 3 30 2 .......................... 21*3 2 70 7 Barber ........... 2 0 13 0 N orthumberland . O. M. R. W. O. M. R. w. H ew itson........... 17*2 0 65 3 Turner ........... 7 2 30 0 Killick ........... 31 5 L20 4 Harrison ... 11 0 46 0 Moorhouse ... 17 3 66 1 Hunter ........... 2 0 12 2