Cricket 1912

142 CEICKBT : A WEEKLY EECOED OF THE GAME. M ay 18, 1912. Men of the Moment in London Club Cricket. P l a c in g t h e F ie l d — Tw o R e a l E n t h u s ia s t s — B e c k t o n C e n t u r y M a k e r s — A L e g - B r e a k e r — C l e v e r L e f t - H a n d e r s — P l a y e r f r o m B r is t o l .— H e a v y S c o r e r s a n d V ic t o r ia P a r k H a p p e n in g s . (B y “ S u r e C a t c h . ” ) W ith the appearance of real cricket weather the leading batsmen in the London clubs have quickly began to assert themselves, and although there were a number of exceptional bowling achievements last Saturday, the bat on the whole was master of the ball, as the stories I have to unfold about a crop of centuries clearly indicates. In the Esher and I Zingari match two players made a hundred, and altogether 620 runs were registered for the loss of but 13 wickets. These figures are pretty tall, for few county teams would be capable of scoring over 600 runs in one day. There were two outstanding features in this remarkable game. Marriott scored 160 for Esher, exactly half of their total, and Steel made 100 not out for I Zingari. Marriott is a batsman born for club cricket. He is strong in build, fearless, and possesses a natural aptitude for scoring quickly. He is a picture at the crease ; with a sound defence, he has a firm belief that the best way to meet good bowling is to attack it right at the start of the innings. Marriott treats every ball on its merits. I f it cannot be scored from he gives it the full face of the bat. If, however, there is a possible chance of a scoring stroke he gets to it at once, and the ball flashes across the grass to the boundary at an unstoppable pace. Combining quick footwork with an ability to make every known scoring stroke, the old Malvernian registers runs all round the wicket at a match-winning pace. Ilis off drive and leg hits are sparkling shots that bring him a big crop of fours when he is playing one of his big innings. Steel is a shade more venturesome than Marriott. He makes an “ if ” shot now and again, but his defence is good, and he certainly knows how to persuade the ball to the boundary. He can cut and drive delightfully, and his placing of the ball on the leg-side is as graceful as it is effective. P l a c in g t h e F i e l d . Whenever I hear of a huge score I always wonder how the field was placed. Knowing as I do that really first-class bowlers are scarce, there are so many ways of getting even the best batsmen out that I am convinced these heavy totals would never be put on the books if captains were as careful in placing their field as they are in changing their bowling. I once played in a match where a batsman scored 99 chiefly b y late cuts which sent the ball to the boundary. The captain of the team I assisted never dreamt of putting a couple of fielders to check this scoring shot. Had he done so I do not suppose the player I am alluding to would have made 20. Only last season at Southend there was an illustration of the value of placing your field judiciously. A London team were playing the seasiders. They lost 6 of their best men for 11 runs, and were eventually all out for just over a hundred. Southend thought they would get the runs easily ; but the captain against them had exactly opposite views, and he proceeded so to arrange and re-arrange his field that all the favourite scoring strokes of each Southend batsman were effectually checked, and a splendid sporting game was drawn with all the honours resting with the London team, who after their dreadful start ought to have been easily beaten. My advice to even the best of captains is to study the man at the wicket, keeping both eyes open for his favourite stroke ; which should, by placing a reliable fielder in the correct place, be closed up to him. This not only checks his run getting but it forces him to try other scoring shots, with the result that he almost invariably makes a mishit, and seeks early shelter in the dressing tent. No matter how often you move your men about, be determined to close up your opponent’s favourite method of getting runs, and even moderately good bowling, well backed*up in the field, will then get a strong batting side out without giving away a lot of runs. Two R e a l E n t h u s ia s t s . One of the most enthusiastic cricketers I know is Walter Ruff els, the energetic Arlington and Leytonstone Hon. Sec. Without being a great player, Ruffels would be a useful cricketer on almost any side. He is a first- class fielder, a very good bowler on a hard wicket, and a hitting batsman who is always likely to score runs. Apart from his fielding, however, I like Ruffels’ bowling. He has a nice easy action, and sends up a good length medium fast ball that often breaks from the off and disturbs the middle and leg peg. Another very good all-round man is Alec J. Houghton, the London and North Western Railway’s worker. Houghton towards the end of each season plays a few games at Lord’s. He is already in form, and his 60 not out against Stanmore was a really fine effort. A quick scoring batsman, Houghton watches the ball well, and, using his feet judiciously, he places his scoring strokes all round the wicket very cleverly. B e c k t o n C e n t u r y M a k e r s . Two of Beckton’s leading run getters have at last discovered their scoring bats, and if Sutton and Swann are going to maintain the form they showed against Chig- well, then Beckton are not going to lose many more matches this season. Sutton obtained 106 and Swann 105 without either losing their wickets against the Chigwell bowling. Sutton, who may at any moment be asked to assist Essex in county matches, is a well set up young fellow with a splendid defence. He plays a perfectly straight bat, watches the ball closely off the pitch and makes most of his runs by pretty leg glances and fine cuts. Swann is a more vigorous hitter than Sutton. He is quite up to county form, and has played a lot with the Essex second eleven. His driving is great, and on the leg side his strokes are made with a power and precision that sends the ball careering to the boundary at a lightning pace. A L e g B r e a k e r . In Buck the African Banks have a very fine cricketer who is already in his best form. His 57 against North­ brook was a charming effort. Presenting a neat picture at the crease Buck has a very resolute defence, and his cutting, driving, and leg hitting are so good that he can always be depended upon to score quickly. I see that Harry Reynolds, Barking’s slow bowler, has regained his old form. Reynolds, with an easy action, sends up a curious looking slow ball with plenty of spin on it. He can also make the ball turn sharply from the pitch, and to the timid batsman fond of playing back Reynolds is a terror. A better bowler, however, is Crabb of the same club. This youngster is one of the best I have met in club cricket. He bowls a medium paced ball over the wicket with a big leg break, and keeps such a fine length that he makes you continually play right back on your stumps. Barking have always been partial to slow bowling, and I now hear that Charles Wells, the South West Ham tricky slow bowler, is to join the East London club. C l e v e r L e f t H a n d e r s . F. K . Honeyball of the Great Western Railway is an all-round cricketer right above the average. He is a stubborn batsman, always likely to get a fairly good score, while his left hand bowling is very troublesome. Honeyball makes the ball come off the pitch at a lively pace, and keeping a good length with a rather tricky break he seldom fails to get wickets. Ilford look like being the stars of the east this season. Eastwood, of football fame, a resolute hitting left hand batsman, has already performed notable deeds for his new club, and Edgar Parker, with his fine defence and clever leg strokes, is also in form, while in Pattinson Ilford have one of the best and most stylish starting batsmen in club cricket. P l a y e r f r o m B r is t o l . A cricketer new to London is Thorpe, the old Bristol run-getter. He has just come to town on business, and has joined Honor Oak. Thorpe is a player with a very solid defence. He watches the ball right up to the bat,