Cricket 1911

52 C E IC K E T : A W EEK LY EECOED OP THE GAME. A pril 15, 1911. once and for many years our greatest county, has had only one triumphant season since 1895, viz., 1907. On the other hand certain counties one need not particularize have been most consistently low down in the list, so that they must begin to despair of the tide that leads on to fortune. The explanation is that cricket is indigenous in some counties, not in others. Although it yet remains to be seen whether the establishment of a cricket nursery in every county might not work a revolution as marked as in Kent. 1895 was W.G.’s last great year when, as in the pre­ ceding thirty seasons, he out-distanced all rivals, being first in the aggregate and in average. A national testi­ monial fittingly commemorated the completion of his century of centuries and the thousand runs from his bat during the month of May. Eleven years later—in 1906— he wound up his forty-second season against the Players with a wonderful innings of 74 ; and then he may be said to have retired from first-class cricket. I wish he had been endowed with undying youth : such a hero ought never to grow old. It will ever be a delightful memory to myself as to others that we were spectators of his entire cricketing career. There never was, nor can be, his equal. “ None but himself can be his parallel.” One misses so many familiar names and figures in cricket. That is one of the penalties of increasing age. How many are still playing who were in active service in 1895 ? Very few indeed. Thus, of Surrey cricketers Hayward only remains in harness. Of Lancashire there is Tyldesley : of Yorkshire, Hirst and Denton ; of Notts, A. O. Jones ; of Gloustershire, Jessop and Board ; of Mid­ dlesex, Warner and Jack Hearne ; of Kent, Mason and Huish ; of Sussex, B u tt; of Leicestershire, Knight and King ; of Essex, McGahey, Fane and Mead ; of Somerset, S. M. J. Woods ; of Hants, A. J. L. Hill ; of Warwickshire, Lilley and Quaife. And some of these will drop out in a season or two. 1895 was Tyldesley’s first season, Jessop’s and Denton’s second ; Hayward’s third. It is worthy of special note that both Hearne and Hirst, on last season’s form, were as great as in 1895 ; indeed Hirst was greater far than in his earlier days. Thus, in 1895 his batting average was 19 ; in 1910, 32 ; in 1895 he took 150 wickets at a cost of 17 runs a wicket, in 1910 164 wickets on an average of 14 runs. In both seasons Hearne had more than a hundred wickets, but in 1895 he was thirty-first only in the season’s bowlers, whilst in 1910 he was first— a marvellous record in his twenty-third first-class season, even although the soft wickets doubtless flattered his skill. “ 1895-1910.” How many familiar faces are missing ! My three oldest cricket intimates among the number— Charles Alcock, Surrey’s honoured secretary for 35 years and the originator and editor of this journal ; Fred Gale, the “ Old Buffer,” almost the best writer of all time on cricket and other sports ; and Richard Daft, the most finished batsman of any age. Their places cannot be filled for myself and many besides. And famous cricketers, not a few, have played their last innings since 1895. Walter Read, William Murdoch, Arthur Shrewsbury, George Lohmann and Johnny Briggs at once come into view. One may add the name of poor Jack Brown who, like Lohmann and Briggs, left us whilst in his prime. All of them great cricketers, among the very greatest. Shrews­ bury was probably the finest professional batsman ever seen, and kept his form to the last, being first in the batting averages in the country in his closing season, 1902. Surrey have never produced the peer of Walter Read with the bat, nor possessed a superior to Lohmann with the ball ; whilst Murdoch was the W.G. of Australia. “ 1895— 1910.” Has Tom Richardson had a suc­ cessor ? A pity he was over-bowled, although a bowler of his speed never can last long. And as a Test player, one searches in vain to-day for the equal of F. S. Jackson who, like Stoddart, another famous Test batsman, was in full possession of his powers when he decided to retire from the game he had so long adorned. The greatest of modern captains, Lord Hawke, is also missing from the cricket field, although, happily for Yorkshire and England, not from the council chamber. “ 1895— 1910.” Fifteen years ago we had two cricket annuals, each with special characteristics which gave them distinction the “ Red Lillywhite ” and “ Wisden.” The latter only survives, and its forty-eighth issue, recently published, is not only the most correct and catholic record of the season’s cricket, but is the cheapest shillingsworth issued by the Press. Its late proprietor, Harry Luff, was another old and valued friend of mine. It yielded me keen pleasure to have a chat the other after­ noon with his eldest son who bids fair to be as successful a business man as his lamented father. “ 1895— 1910.” In the former year South Africa was almost unknown in the cricket world ; to-day it is making a bold bid for championship honours with the Mother Country and Australia. Most of us are eagerly anticipating the triangular contest which will make the season of 1912 ever memorable in the history of the game. In 1895 there were but two cricket weeks—at Canter­ bury and Cheltenham respectively. Scarborough scarcely counts here, for I am thinking of County Cricket. In 1910 weeks were held at Bournemouth, Dover, Maidstone, Southampton, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, whilst that at Cheltenham was extended to nine days. It seems more than probable that before long other counties will see the wisdom of following in the wake of Kent. Let me wish all cricketers of every grade a bright and enjoyable season. CEICKET IN THE MALAY STATES. A valued correspondent w r i t e s T h e annexed copy extract from the Malay Mail will interest you and your readers as it contains several well-known names. It is copied verbatim , but the total of the Best should apparently be 211 and there seems to have been no not out! A. R. Thompson is the ex-Northants player; Corbella, Cromie and Lushington are former Ceylon planters. Bancroft, you will notice, has taken to bowling. The Old Malveruians certainly did well in the absence of their ‘ star,’ M. K. Foster.” CRICKET IN THE F.M.S. A cricket match between the Old Malvernians and the Rest of Selangor, on the Padang on Saturday, ended as follow s:— T he R est . C. K. Bancroft, c and b Foster ... 96 A. F. Spooner, c A. L. Simmons, b Davison .......................................... 15 A. C. Corbella, b Simmons .......... 18 A. B. Hubback, c A. L. Simmons, b. Foster .......................................... 22 R. Cromie, e Foster, b Simmons ... 2 T. G. Cooper, P. G. Graham and Ryott did not bat. O ld M a lv e r n ia n s . G. Warden, c Bligh-Orr, b Foster 15 C. G. McCarney, c Bligh-Orr, b Davison ., .................. ... .. 18 Byes, &c................................... 25 Total (7 wkts) .......... 230 J. Bligh-Orr, b Warden .................. 10 N. J. A. Foster, c Cromie, b Ban­ croft .................................................. 84 A. R. Thompson, c McCarney, b Bancroft .......................................... 18 C. F. Lushington, c Spooner, b Cooper .......................................... 37 J. W.Simmons, not ou t.................. 6 R. Davison, not ou t......................... 9 Byes, &c................................... 12 Total (4 wkts) .......... 176 It is worth noting that this is the first time that any Old-Boy team has appeared in the field in the F.M .S., and that for Saturday’s match the Old Malvernians lacked the services of M. K. Foster, S. S. Crisp and E. W. N. Wyatt .—Malay Mail, February 13. THE STAFFOEDSHIEE COUNTY C.C. The Earl of Dartmouth presided over the annual meeting of the Staffordshire County C.C., at Stafford in the last week of March, when the most unfavourable financial statement submitted for m a D y years was adopted. The last season opened with a credit balance of £43 and finished with a debt of £224. The loss of £267 on the year’s working was due to a decline of over £100 in gate receipts, expendi­ ture on ground improvements and an increase of almost £200 in match expenses. Subscriptions amounted to £382 and gate receipts to £308, whilst the total expenditure was £1,048. Mr. H. D. Stratton, who had occupied the position for some years, resigned the captaincy, and it was suggested that Mr. Bernard Meakin, an old Cliftonian, at present away from England, be asked to undertake the duties. R i c h a r d d a f t 's N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e m a r l . —Particulars apply Radcliffe-on-Trent Notts.