Cricket 1911

D ecember 23,1911. RtJGBY FOOTBALL AND CRICKET. 603 He represented Kimberley in the Tournament of 1886-7, scoring 45 not out v. the Natal team, and 56 v. Bechuanaland, and totalling 115 in four completed innings. In the next season he captained the Kimberley team in the Tournament at Grahamstown, running up 54 v. Grahams- town, and 21 and 42 v. Port Elizabeth, and totalling 117 in four innings. In 1888-9 he was beyond all question the most successful batsman against Major Warton’s Team, aggregating 307 in 12 completed innings, including 46 and 22 for the Cape Colony XV. at Cape Town, 29 and 29 (highest score in each innings) for South Africa at Port Elizabeth, 41 in the second innings for XVIII. of Kimberley, 26 (right through the innings) not out for South Africa at Cape Town, and 51 in an extra match played to fill up time. But it was in the next two seasons—1889-90 and 1890-1—that he scored most largely and consistently. In the two Currie Cup matches with the Transvaal he played in magnificent form for 42 and 106 (Kimberley, April, 1890, when his side lost the cup) and 89 and 62 Photo by] [Duffas Bros., Johannesburg. The late Mr. A B. TANCRET. (Johannesburg, April, 1891, when they won it back.) Natal sent a team to tour Cape Colony in the earlier season, and Tancred, playing twice against it for Kimberley, totalled 193 in three innings—63, 55, and 75. He did little in the Cape Town Tournament of 1890-1, but among his scores of that season in the Diamond City was one of 112 for Colonial v. Home-Born. In 1891-2 he had migrated to the Transvaal, and he played in three matches against the late Mr. W. W. Kead’s Team, totalling 108 in five completed innings. After this important cricket saw little of him. He was asked to accompany the First South African Team to England in 1894, but could not spare time. In 1895-6 he appeared for XV . of Pretoria v. Lord Hawke’s Team ; in 1896-7 he played his last Currie Cup match, for Transvaal v. Western Province ; a few months later he visited England, was made an honorary member of both the M.C.C. and the Surrey C.C. ; and played for the former v. Derbyshire and in several smaller matches ; and in 1898-9 he figured twice against Lord Hawke’s Second Team, scoring 35 in the first innings of the Pretoria XV. His highest score was 226, made in 160 minutes, for the Kimberley Volunteer Rifle Corps v. Diamond Fields Horse, his most outstanding performance in club cricket a double century (132 and 103*) for Eclectic v. Union at Pretoria in 1896-7, when Brockwell was one of the bowlers against him. A brilliant bat, yet with a sound defence, he was capable of greater things then he ever achieved, fine as some of his performances were. He did not claim to be an all-rounder ; but he was a fine field at point or in the slips, and in his younger days quite a useful fast bowler. He kept up the game to within three or four years of his death, which will be regretted deeply by all cricketing South Africa, for he was a genial and popular man as well as an able lawyer and a splendid cricketer. Of his three younger brothers Mr. Louis Tancred (who visited England in 1901, 1904 and 1907 with South African teams) is the best known ; but all were good cricketers. Natal Cricket. D u r b a n , Saturday, November 18th, 1911. Cricketers in Natal are displaying more enthusiasm this season than has been the case for many years past. This is more pronounced in Maritzburg, which is often derisively called, “ Sleepy Hollow.” The general public there has for some time shown a deplorable amount of apathy as to the summer game, and this has undoubtedly had a disheartening effect upon the cricketers themselves. The general brightening up all round this season, however, is marked, and no doubt is, in some measure, due to the fact that Natal won last year’s Currie Cup Tournament. Another factor in the increased amount of interest taken in the game this season is that no less than nine nominations have been sent up from Durban and Maritzburg for places in the forthcoming trial matches to be held at Johannesburg during the Christmas and New Year holidays ; and again must we thank the result of last season’s Currie Cup Tourna­ ment for this happy state of affairs. There is no doubt about it that Natal must now be considered as a power in South African cricket, and although one must give the Transvaal her just due, we have as good material here as can be found in any province of the Union. It is generally admitted by those whose opinions are of value, that if six of the players nominated are finally selected and four of them please the critics so far as to justify their inclusion in next year’s team, it will be no more than Natal may expect. The prevailing opinion is that Nourse, Taylor and Samuelson cannot possibly be overlooked, and that either Cox or O. Pearse, according as to whether it is the bowling or batting that requires to be further streng­ thened, will complete the quartette. D. K. Pearse, who is a younger brother of Ormerod, is however, greatly fancied in Maritzburg as having a sporting chance. Critics there consider him the smartest fielder in Natal, whilst his run- getting strokes are many. The remaining three, “ Ken ” Thomson, C. P. Carter and D. J. Nicol are admittedly first- class club or provincial cricketers, and each in his particular department of the game is worthy of consideration ; but as internationals it is questionable as to whether they are quite up to the required standard. Nicol, who is un­ doubtedly the best wicket-keeper in Natal, has a fair chance to go should Sherwell finally decide not to make the trip, but otherwise his prospects are hopeless. After several disappointments, owing to wretched weather, the third series of matches in connection with the Durban Senior League, were brought to a conclusion on Saturday last. Greyville, Nourse’s club, defeating Escombe by over an innings, obtained the maximum number of points, and are consequently the first club to top the table this season ; whilst the Casuals and Wanderers, who accounted for Queen’s Park and the Zingari on first innings, secured two points each. Three centuries were made during these matches, “ Dave ” Nourse putting together 115 not out in his usual inimitable style, and C. C. Acutt and V. L. Hen- wood, two of Durban’s promising colts, who belong to the Casuals and Queen’s Park respectively, being responsible for 115 and 141 not out. The bowling honours were shared by Joe Cox,uL W. Easterbrook, C. P. Carter^ and Dave