Cricket 1911

J u l y 29, 19 11. CR ICKET : A W EEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 375 A Chat about Staffordshire Cricket and Cricketers- (Continuedfrompage357.) h i . praise Sydney F. Barnes would savour of supererogation. A man who has been deemed worthy to be the centrepiece of Wisden’s notable “ Five,” who was described by Mr. M. A. Noble as the best bowler in the world, by Mr. P. F. Warner as the best bowler in England, and by Mr. Clement Hill as the best bowler he has met on an Australian wicket, needs nothing else to recommend him. Staffordshire people are proud of their crack bowler— the king amongst leg-breakers—and Barnes is happy in serving his native county. His doings with the ball for Staffordshire come out thu sly:— Overs. Maidens. Kuna. Wickets. Average. 1904 269-4 62 679 66 10-28 1905 193-2 60 508 44 11-54 1906 373-1 100 932 119 7-83 1907 246-0 82 505 79 6-39 1908 397-4 1B9 817 92 8-88 1909 224 73 515 76 6-77 1910 363"5 99 879 90 9-76 In addition, he has been a serviceable batsman. in 1900 he made 431 runs— including one century— average 30'78. His admirers think that if he had not been a wonderful bowler he might have made a grand three successive years, but not in 1009 and 1910— and in these games he is regarded as somewhat of an oppressor; but on the County Ground the whole crowd watch his bounding approach to the wicket, his graceful action, and the result of his fine headwork and finger spin with admiration and glee. And he is worthy of every iota of the praise that is lavished on him. Albert Hollowood was born in 1873, and is a product of Cheshire, but having resided in a place called Burslem S. F. BARNES. batsman. He was the chief means of the Championship being won by the County in 1906 and 1908, and some Red Rose partisans were led to suggest that Staffordshire was “ Barnes-shire ” — but that matters not one tittle: Staffordshire can call Syd Barnes their own, just as the County Palatine can claim Mr. R. H. Spooner, J . T. Tyldes­ ley, H. Dean, and others of their cleverest players. Inleague cricket Barnes plays for Porthill Park— champions for Photoby] [PhilemonSwijt, Burslem. ALBERT HOLLOWOOD. since 1896 he is a long remove from being an alien. Habitues of the Stoke ground regard him as one of their own, and he is a batsman whom the crowd delight to watch, Cradled and reared at Nantwich, he early assimilated the cricket humour, and was not long in coming under the eye of such a celebrity as Mr. A. N. Hornby. His first turn-out for his native shire was in 1889, and he was a member of the Cheshire side which in 1894 went through the season with an unbeaten record. He commenced to do duty for Staffordshire in 1898, and was not long in making his mark. In a match against Northumberland he was responsible for scores of 132 and 40 not out. H e has never been a lucky player, and has been handicapped by having more than any one man’s proper share of accidents ; but he headed the batting averages in 1907 and 1910. Injuries and ill-health caused his appearances last season to be confined to four matches, and his chief performance was a fine 97 against Notts 2nd at Trent Bridge, the biggest innings played for the county during the year. A quick and versatile run- getter, he has thoroughly learned the lesson of how to use his feet, and is a master of most scoring strokes. His off­ side play is excellent, with a late cut perhaps the most engaging shot, and he is an adept at the hook-stroke, In addition to being so excellent a batsman he is a safe and alert field ; wholehearted in all his work, he is a dependable and a clever man in any position. His mercurial movements make him persona grata with the crowd, and his benefit in 1909 was easily a record for the club. His worldly circumstances compel Hollo-