Cricket 1912

J uly 20, 1912. CEICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 345 Men of the Moment in London Club Cricket. O u r P h o to s — L o n d o n ’ s B e st — W e sto n ’ s B attin g — W a l h a m G r e e n ’ s M atc h W in n e r — S w a in ’ s E ffo rt — C l a r k a n d C o l d w e l l — G . W . H am m on d in F o rm — A n E a l in g P a ir — B u rg ess th e F ie l d e r — A C l e v e r C ouple — P r o m isin g S pe n c e r P a ir . B y “ S u r e C atc h .” O u r P h o to s . I hear that the photos I have lately been able to give in this column have given pleasure to Club Cricketers throughout the Metropolis. The many players who have spoken to me about these photos have agreed, that they have been produced remarkably well, and several men have decided to have them put in small frames and hung amongst their cricket collections. L o n d o n ’ s B e s t . This week I am able to give, by kindness of Mr. F. H. Powell, an excellent photo of Herbert Weston, whom I regard as one of the best all-round club cricketers in England. In London—North, South, East or West— I am certain that if it is possible to find Weston’s equal, it is quite impossible to discover his superior. In West London I regard him as the champion all-round player. Either as a batsman or as a bowler, Weston is quite an exceptional match winner and no left hand cricketer does better work for his club than he does every week for Walham Green. W e s t o n ’ s B a t t in g . A t the wicket Weston can play either the slow or fast scoring game. He has a neat style, and treats every ball on its merits. Blessed with patience, he has developed his defence on the right lines. He is of good height and build, has an excellent reach, and in both forward and back play keeps his bat very straight. Without taking long to get set, he always watches the ball well, and when at his best he scores freely all round the wicket, making all the best known strokes with power and precision. W a lh a m G r e e n ’ s M atc h W in n e r . Invaluable as a run-getter, Weston is also a bowler right above the average, and if he could give the time to the game Middlesex would like to play him regularly. He is always likely to get any batsman out, no matter how well set he may be. Bowling left hand with a nice easy action, Weston keeps a fine length, and makes the ball turn very quickly from the pitch. Varying his pace and flight cleverly, he soon discovers a man’s weak point, and continues to bowl the ball the batsman likes least until he gets his wicket. Only last Saturday he captured 7 Old Olavians’ wickets for 26 runs, and won his side the easiest of victories. Young and thoughtful, Weston owes most of his success to the brain work he puts into his cricket. I do not know any cricketer who is in better form at the present moment than Herbert Weston, the Walham Green match winner. S w a in ’ s E ff o r t . Battersea have several very able players this season but I doubt if any of their men have played a better innings than Swain’s latest effort o f 124 against Richmond Town. Swain is a batsman who always delights the crowd. He is a trier all the time, and misses scoring off very few loose balls. Quick on his feet, Swain is at home almost as soon as he gets to the crease, and with a fine variety o f strokes scores freely and rapidly all round the wicket. C l a r k e a n d C o l d w e l l . Albemarle and Friern Barnet have two high class run- getters in Clarke and Coldwell. The former has a neat style at the crease, and his hitting when set is splendidly judged. Coldwell is a player who never flatters the bowler. He gives the ball the full face o f the bat, and as he can make most- of the known scoring strokes well, it is not surprising that he plays such a number of good innings each season. G . W . H am m o n d in F o rm . I think the Charity Council were quite correct in deciding to award the recent South and North match to the North, who will now meet West London in the final. The success o f the North is, I hold, largely due to the efforts o f G. W . Hammond, the captain. Already this season G. W . H. has scored close on a thousand runs and taken nearly a hundred wickets. He is in champion form, and without their splendid captain I do not fancy Hornsey would be a really strong eleven. Hammond is a natural fast scorer. He hits the ball hard, and he scores at a match- winning pace. He is also a bowler of real class, and has few, if any, superiors in North London as an all-round cricketer. A n E alin g P a ir . Ealing appear to have an unlimited number of top class cricketers. Their latest century maker is Dudley Smith, who hits all round the wicket with great skill. Another top class player of the Ealing club is A. H. Barrett. The last named is one of the biggest hitters playing in club cricket, I fancy. His driving is tremendous. B u rg ess th e F ie l d e r . I have seen few better cricketers than C. T. Burgess, of Shepherd’s Bush. Burgess is a wonderful man in the lield. In the slips he makes remarkable catches, and as a deep field I do not know his equal in Club Cricket. To his rare H. W . W ESTON (W alham G reen an d M iddlesex), fielding abilities Burgess adds an ability with the bat that enables him to score centuries. Against Boston Park he put a brilliant 104 on the books ; and his cutting, driving and placing to leg strokes were all magnificently executed. A C l e v e r C o u p l e . Old Cranleians, who recently surprised Hampton Wick, have several really good cricketers. One is C. E. Saunders, who is a very stylish batsman, and another is F. C. Burnett, a medium pace bowler with a nice easy action, and a rather remarkable ability to make the ball rise up quickly from the pitch. P ro m isin g S pe n c e r P a ir . Spencer have as many top class players as most London Clubs. Two of their men who are now coming to the front are Cross and Hardy. The last named is a fine fast bowler, who keeps a good length, and sends down an express speed ball that is very difficult to play. Cross is the latest century maker. Cross has a neat style. His footwork is clever and to a solid defence he adds ability to place the ball well all round the wicket, and when set he gets his runs at a fine pace, and in very pretty style.