Cricket 1912

12 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. JAN. 27, 1912. T. A. Ward has already been referred to as among our best wicket-keepers. H. W . Taylor is one of the most promising batsmen in South Africa. He is twenty-two years of age, about five feet seven in height, and is sturdily built. As a Bugger half-back he has earned a big reputa­ tion. S. V. Samuelson has not met with the best of luck in his bowling, and his prospects are not rosy. 0. P. Carter, on the other hand, has bowled excellently, and is a strong candidate for inclusion. He bowls left arm with a very low delivery, but despite this defect makes the ball turn both ways. He is medium pace, untiring, and keeps a good length. Unlike Baumgartner, Carter seems to encourage the batsman in the notion that he can play the bowling quite easily, and therein comes his discom­ fiture. Dudley K . Bearse, a younger brother of Ormerod, has batted consistently well in the trials. He possesses a strong defence, but until well set does not display a very varied repertoire of strokes, the late cut being almost his only scoring asset at the beginning of his innings. When his eye is in he discloses an unsuspected ability to score in every direction, and nearly all his shots are along the floor. Many people prefer him to his brother on the ground of his strong defence ; but this, I think, is undue praise, for the elder Pearse is a fine natural cricketer. The two are most dissimilar in style. J. D. Cox, the bowler who made his name by his startling performance against the Transvaal in the Currie Cup, whereby Natal won the trophy, has impressed the critics up here more by his style than his performances. He has bowled well, but has also received condign punish­ ment, notably at the hands of Gordon White. Cox bowls with a particularly easy action. He is tall and uses his height to the full. In the air his flight is that of a medium pace bowler, but he comes off the pitch like lightning. He has a natural off-break, but I rather imagine has sacri­ ficed his length somewhat by adding excessive finger- work to his deliveries. Little that has not been said con­ cerning Nicol remains to be written. On his day he is a brilliant wicket-keeper and his off days are few, but they do occur. George Cox, the Sussex professional, holds a high opinion of his abilities. Unfortunately, he is a poor batsman. Coming to Gerald Hartigan, of the Border, we find an all-round exponent of the game who should have been in the South African eleven before this. G. P. D. Hartigan was born at East London on December 29th, 1884, so that he is now just in his cricketing prime. He is a batsman peculiarly suited to first-class cricket. On Tuesday he made 128, giving only one chance, and that under excusable circumstances, for he was forcing the game when the last man was in. His score was 95 when he should have been stum ped; otherwise, he gave a well-nigh perfect display, scoring all round the wicket. He has a distinctive half-cock stroke, used for defensive purposes, which may not please the English critics. Perhaps, in this instance, he allowed the ball to play the b a t ; but, otherwise, he certainly hits hard. He is a fine field and an exceedingly useful bowler ; but of his bowling I am not in a position to speak at first hand, for I only saw him deliver a few overs in the Currie Cup Tournament, and did not take particular stock of him. Whilst up here an injured finger has prevented his bowling at all. Hartigan visited the Argentine with the South African Association football team in 1906, and last year played for South Africa against the English team. As a Bugger half-back he is also an able exponent. He will be the first man to have represented South Africa at both cricket and socker. L. G. Tapscott, the only Griqualand West represen­ tative, set the Vaal River on fire by scoring 111 in seventy minutes on Thursday, securing his hundred in less than an hour. It was one of the finest exhibitions of hitting seen on the Wanderers’ ground, and that is saying a lot. I fear, however, it is easy to over-estimate the value of this performance, despite the fact that he followed it up with a more restrained 60 in the second innings, for the bowling was weak. Carried away by the enthusiasm of the moment, many admirers predict his inclusion, but competition is very keen, and if all the old stagers retain their places I do not see how room can be found for Tapscott. P. T. Lewis has shown good form ; but there appears to be some doubt as to his being able to get away, if chosen. He went up to Oxford in 1903 as a Rhodes Scholar and played in the Freshmen’s match, but did not succeed in getting into the University eleven. B. G. Melle goes up this year, also as a Rhodes scholar, and should obtain his blue, but his chances of securing a place in the South African side are small. So far the trials have shown us a plethora of batting talent and a paucity of bowling. In England possession is nine-tenths of the law. In South Africa it is the law, and when considering the probable constitution of the South African team one must bear this fact in mind. Zulch, Strieker, Pegler and one or two others one could name, on this year’s showing, are no better than players who will be left out, but they had places and gained a certain amount of experience, whilst this other equally good material was languishing for want of opportunity. Including Sherwell, the following players are practically certain to receive invitations, viz., P. W. Sherwell, G. A. Faulkner, R. O. Schwarz, A. Nourse, Llewellyn, J. W. Zulch, L. Strieker, G. C. White, S. J. Snooke, S. J. Pegler and G. P. D. Hartigan. Knowing the inconsistencies of South African selection committees, it is unsafe to predict further. “ C y p h e r .” THE YORKSH IRE COUNTY C.C. Lord Hawke, presiding at the Annual General Meeting of the Yorkshire County C.C., held at Sheffield on tho 16th inst., said that one of the most pleasing features of last season’s Yorkshire cricket was the improvement in the young players. He attributed the deterioration of the county team after the middle of July, when they headed the Championship table, to bad fielding. Special causes which would not occur every year had brought a financial loss on last season of £823. While the attendances at matches had increased, the membership had decreased by 200. The success of Rhodes’s benefit was gratifying, no less than £1,444 of the total of £2,200 being realised from subscriptions. Lord Hawke expressed the opinion that the present Championship scheme was superior to any that had gone before, and hoped it would not be altered. The financial statement was adopted, and the officers were re-elected as follows : Lord Hawke, president ; Hon. F. S. Jackson, Mr. T. L. Taylor, Mr. E. Barber, Mr. W. II, Shepherd, Mr. J. R. Bower, and the Bev. E. S. Carter, vice-presidents ; Mr. C. Stokes, hon. treasurer. Sir Archibald White will continue to captain the county team and Mr. It. W. Frank will again captain the second eleven. THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY C.C. At a largely-attended meeting of the Committee, hold on the 16th inst., under the chairmanship of Mr. Harry Beloe, Mr. C. O. H. Sewell was elected to succeed Mr. G. L. Jessop as secretary to the club. Born in South Africa in 1874, Mr. Sewell came to England on tour, and was one of the most stylish batsmen and brilliant fieldsmen in any South African team that has visited this country. He has not played much recently for Gloucestershire, but will do so regularly next season, as he intends to live in Bristol. CURIOSITIES OF FIBST-CLASS CBICKET, 1730-1901. By F. S. Ashley-Cooper, Price, Is.; post free, 1*. IJd. Interleaved copies, each numbered and signed and bound in cloth, price 5s.; post free, 5s. 3d. London : Edmund Seale, 10 Imperial Arcade, E.C. G E O R G E L E W I N & C O . , Club Colour Specialists and A thletic Clothing M anufacturers. OUTFITTERS B Y APPO IN TM ENT TO The Royal Navy and Army, Cornwall, Kent, Middlesex, Somerset and Surrey Counties, and London Scottish, Irish and Welsh, Blackhcath, Harlequins, Ricli- n o id, Catford Rugby Football Clubs, and all the leading Clubs in the British Isles and abroad; M.C.C. S. African Tour, 1909, S. African Cricket Association 1910, and Queen’s Club, Kensington, and the M.C.C. Australian Team 1911-12. Established 18G9. W rite fo b Estim ates. Telephone: P.O. 607 CITY Works at Camberwell. 8, CROOKED LANE, MONUM ENT , E.C.