Cricket 1912

182 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. .T une 1, 1912. (Hubert, not Matthew), Luke Greenwood, and Eastwood—one mentions the names as they occur, and does not pretend to give an exhaustive list, or to place in order or merit—she has had a baker’s dozen of whom the best were real England form and the least well above average county form. Alonzo Drake and Major William Booth, whose portraits we give this week, have fully established their claims to be included in the list. B o o th , who was born at Pudsey in December, 1886, played his first match for Yorkshire Second Eleven in 1907, averaging 16 per innings for the team that season, and taking 23 wickets at a little over 18 each. In 1908 his batting average rose to 26, but his 36 wickets cost over 21 each. On June 29th of that year he had his initial trial with the first team, against Somerset, at Dewsbury, but only scored a single, and bowled six overs without taking a wicket. Against All, Ireland at Dublin, in August, he made 37 for once out, and took two wickets for 16. For the Second Eleven in 1909 he did fairly good work as a batsman, averaging just on 23 per innings, with highest score 98, but his bowling was only moderately successful, and he did not get another trial for the senior side. In 1910, however, he played in as many as seventeen matches, and did useful all-round work; batting average, 18‘10, highest score, 54, bowling, 51 wickets at between 21 and 22 each. Last season he has scored over 1,000 runs, took over 80 wickets, and greatly distinguished himself with an innings of 210 at Worcester. A lo n z o D r a k e is more than a couple of years the older ot the two. He was born at Parkgate, near Rotherham, in April, 1884. He does not appear to have played in the Second Eleven before 1908, and then with only moderate success; but mean­ while he had earned fame as a footballer, and no doubt the confidence thus acquired stood him in good stead when he was tried (mainly as a bowler) for the county team in August, 1909. His first match was against Derbyshire at Sheffield, and in running up 54 he topped his best innings for the Second Eleven at once. He bowled effectively, too, taking 4 wickets for 34 in the Peak County’s first. In his second match, v. Middlesex at Leeds, he had 6 for 34, taking the last four in one over; and after that he was assured of a good trial, though he failed to achieve anything of distinction in the other five matches in which he played that season. I n 1910 he was disappointing. Playing in 22 matches he could only score 456 runs with an average of a trifle over 14, and his 28 wickets cost over 22 each. Yet he was useful at times, and his promise could not be denied. He was persevered with, and with fine results, for last season he made nearly 1,500 runs with an average of close on 31, and took 79 wickets, Booth and Drake should be towers of strength in the Yorkshire team during the next few years. Cricket in Scotland. B y H a m is h . Who said the sun never shone in Scotland ? For seven weeks in succession he has graced the proceedings with his presence, and cricket flourishes accordingly. May it long continue ! Higher scores than ever were recorded on Saturday last, and double century totals were quite common, while individual fifties were of no account, and in matches of good class the hundred was passed by four batsmen. It is very gratifying to observe that most of those who are expected to uphold Scotland’s honour in the international matches are showing excellent form. The Grange made a start with their double fixtures, and a win against Leith Caledonian (244 for 9 to 78) and a draw in their favour against the Watsonians (249 for 3 to 105 for 5) was the outcome. The premier club appear to have done better in the matter of recruits than for many years past, and one of the best is H. S. Sanderson, who was at Charterhouse a year ago. Against Leith Caledonian he collected 107. He has some faults to eradi­ cate, but more centuries will come his way. In the same match Jenner, the Grange professional, obtained 8 wickets for 45 runs, and, incidentally, took four wickets in seven balls including the hat trick. A t Raeburn Place, where the other Grange eleven was playing, the Watsonians had hopes of creating a record by winning for the fifth time in succession at the premier club’s expense; but like Uddingston the Saturday before, they failed in their ambition, and indeed, had much the worst of the draw. At Inverleith for Stewart’s College (F.P.) v. Gala the brothers W. F. and J. B. Turnbull scored 164 for the first wicket, out of which W . F. had 103 by sound batting without a chance. J. B. closed the innings with his own score at 91 not out and the total 230 for 2— in response to which Gala (111 for 4) easily effected a draw. A little further down the road the manner in which a good all-round player may dominate a game was well illustrated in the match between Heriot’s (F.P.) and East Stirlingshire. Stacey the Stirling club’s professional (6 for 59) was the chief instrument in dismissing the home team for 115. and he followed this up by going in first and hitting 108 in seventy minutes in real Jessopian style. T. B. Lyle of Merchiston had 110 not out against Edinburgh Nomads, a new club of old Merchiston boys and masters; but I am afraid their bowling is rather weak. Up North Perthshire had a visit from a weak eleven of the Royal High School (F.P.) and won as they'liked— 302 to 75. To obtain their runs the Perth men only batted twenty minutes longer than thair opponents. At Broughty Ferry Forfarshire easily beat Arbroath United (300 for 7 to 106), and the latter have yet to win a match, though their side includes M. R. Dickson and R. W . Siev- wright, almost certain selections for the Scottish X I. W . S. Whyte for Forfarshire had a similar innings to last Saturday, with .T. A. K yd (104 not out) as his partner this time. The two added 134 in 53 minutes during which time Whyte knocked up 95. Ringrose (6 for 28 in 21 overs) is bowling as well as ever, and, should Scotland include a professional, he is likely to be the choice. In the west Ayr continued their winning sequence (eight wins since the season started), and inflicted on Ferguslie their first defeat. Turner, the professional, had six wickets for 24 ; and another professional who did well was Johns of the West of Scotland, who against Greenock had the excellent analysis of six wickets for 12 runs, and thus enabled his side to register their first win. Glasgow Academicals (231 for 8 v. Clydesdale 105 for 6) are coming on. I have not seen batter fielding this season than they showed against the Grange. The Western Derby, the match between Drumpellier and Uddingston, resulted in an easy victory for the Coat­ bridge club (185 to 121) after a game which was tame compared with some former meetings between the two. Uddingston thus suffered their third defeat in eight days. Down South two undefeated sides in Peebles County and Stenhousemuir met at Peebles, and the county team had to yield up its record, making only 96 against 181. J. Graham, with his slow leg-breaks, bowled six of them for 37 runs. Selkirk scored heavily in a drawn game with Edinburgh University, and Carlisle (267 for 7) just dismissed Hawick (171) on time. Principal Matches of Next Week. June 3, 4, 5—Lord’s, Middlesex v. Australians. „ 3, 4, 5—Manchester, Lancashire v. Essex. ,, 3, 4, 5— Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Surrey. „ 3, 4, 5—Nottingham, Nottinghamshire v. Kent. „ 3, 4, 5— Derby, Derbyshire v. Sussex. - „ 3, 4, 5—Bath, Somerset v. Hampshire. ,, 3, 4, 5—Cambridge, the University v. South Africans. „ 3, 4, 5-—Oxford, the University v. M.C.C. „ 5—South Moor, Durham v. North-West Durham League. „ 6, 7, 8— Lord’s, Middlesex v. Hampshire. „ 6, 7, 8— Oval, Surrey v. South Africans. ,, 6, 7, 8—Nottingham, Nottinghamshire v. Sussex. 6, 7, 8—Northampton, Nortliants. v. Warwickshire. „ 6, 7, 8— Leicester, Leicestershire v. Kent. „ 6, 7, 8—Worcester, Worcestershire v. Lancashire. „ 6, 7, 8—Huddersfield, Yorkshire v. Essex. ,, 6, 7, 8—Bath, Somerset v. Derbyshire. ,, 6, 7, 8— Cambridge, the University v. Australians. „ 8— Forthill, Forfarshire v. Aberdeenshire. 8—Perth, Perthshire v. Clackmannan.