Cricket 1913

J u n e 14, 1913. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. •287 out being out, and thanks to him, W ells, Sydney Smith, Vials, and Thompson the hom e. side gained a decisive and notable victory. Not once that season did he take as many as 5 wickets in an innings, yet he seldom bowled without effect. H e began 19 11 in sensational style. A t Northampton Lancashire had 69 up for two w ickets; East went on then, and his analysis when the innings closed for 114 was 12 overs, 5 maidens, 11 runs,. 7 wickets. In his next match he had 8 for 93 v. Gloucestershire, and a little later he took 5 for 39 v. Leicestershire; but after that he did nothing very remarkable. H e only once topped 50— 73 v. Derbyshire at Chesterfield— but he often made useful small scores. A fair share o f the glories of 1912 fe ll to him. Six for 58 v. Derbyshire at Chester­ field was his one outstanding bowling performance; but he was always making runs, and his 27 and 67 v. Kent at Tonbridge, and his 62 v. Leicestershire and 69 v. Somerset at Northampton played their part in three o f his side’s victories. It is only quite recently that he has been sent in first; prior to 1912 his position was about No. 6 or 7 ; promotion has made him a trifle slower perhaps, but his is no easy wicket to get, and he seems to fill the place capitally. This year he is probably as good an all-round man as ever he has been, though up to the time of writing one capital bowling performance and three or four stolid defensive innings represent his work— useful, but not sensational. T h e other W illiam , Wells, to wit, had no share in earning the county promotion. H e first appeared for the side in 1904, with very indifferent results— a few runs and a couple o f wickets. In 1905 he was hit for 83 runs without taking a wicket, and in six innings he only once reached double figures. H e made five useful scores o f from 21 to 30 in the course o f 18 innings in 1906; but his 13 wickets were very costly, and, though his promise was admitted, he had small claims to be considered a first-class cricketer up to that date. F ive for 94 in the second innings o f E ssex at Leyton was his best analysis. There was nothing in the nature o f progression in his 1907 record, either. i f he had done no better in the next season he would almost certainly have been dropped. Promise is much; but promise without some measure o f performance cannot keep a man his place for more than two or three seasons. But in 1908 he came very much more to the front. H is length was b etter; his pace was well maintained; and on several occasions he not only made runs but made them in good slashing style. H is top score was 64 not out v. Warwickshire at Northampton; he also made 51 and 28 v. Leicestershire at Leicester, and played half-a-score more useful innings ranging from 22 to 41. Seven for 117 v. Warwickshire at Edgbaston, 6 for 48 v. Gloucester- ' shire at Bristol, 5 for 46 v. the Philadelphians, 5 for 56 v. Hants at Southampton, 4 for 22 v. Surrey at the Oval, and 3 fo r 18 v. Derbyshire at Northampton were among his best performances; but he was always working hard and doing well, and was certainly among the most improved players o f the season. H e was not quite as big an asset to his side in 1909. A fter getting 41 and 15 (v. Surrey), 30 and 19 (v. York­ shire), and 45 and 29 (v. the Australians) in his first six innings, he seldom made any runs to speak o f during the rest o f the season. H e did the hat trick v. Notts at Northampton; but the generally slow wickets did not suit him, and it was not until near the end o f the season, "hen he had 8 for 93 and 9 for 141 in successive matches at Southampton and (v. Warwickshire) at home, that he showed up in his best form . Indeed, up to that time he had only taken 29 wickets in 21 innings. In 19x0, though seldom making many runs, he bowled well. Thirteen for 101 v. Yorkshire, 10 for 250 (51 overs in a match of big scoring) v. Gloucestershire, 9 for 127 v. Notts, 8 for 106 v. Derbyshire, all at Northampton, and 7 for 101 v. Hants at Portsmouth were his chief performances. H andicapped by injuries in 19 11, he fell far below his proper form, and was kept out o f h a lf the matches. He never topped 30, and never once took more than four wickets in an innings. Even in 1912, when most o f his comrades were in form, he was below his true level. A slashing 57 v. Essex at Northampton, 11 wickets for 151 v. Somerset on the same ground, and 5 for 55 v. Somerset at Bath were his greatest deeds. But so far this season, besides making a couple o f eminently useful fifties, he has bowled as well as ever he did in his life, and the victories over Lancashire and Warwickshire were largely brought about by the aid o f his good right arm. Like East, he has suffered at times from lum bago; and it is pretty certain that both men would-have done more but for this recurring trouble. W il l ia m E a s t in F ir s t -C l a s s C r ic k e t . Season. Inns .N.o . R. A. H.S. O. R. W. A. 1902 ... I 0 0 — — .. — — — — 1904 2 1 56 56-00 55 * •• 13 46 X 46-00 1905 ... ■ 19 1 343 19-05 83 ... • 313 846 38 22-26 1906 .. ■ 34 0 461 I 3'55 53 •• . 746-2 2109 81 26-03 1907 .., ■ 32 6 345 13-26 81 .. ■ 555-1 1370 80 17-12 1908 .. . 22 3 401 21-10 86* .. ■ 387-4 i °53 58 18-15 1909 .. . 28 3 366 14-64 63 .. ■ 455-3 1014 51 19-88 1910 .. • 33 10 452 I 9'65 50* .. ■ 390-3 1016 45 22-57 1911 .. . 28 3 439 I 7-56 73 ■ 44 I-I 988 59 16-74 1912 .. • 32 4 573 20-46 69 .. ■ 345-3 775 44 [17-61 1913 .. • 13 I 216 18-00 48 .. 140-2 339 14 24-21 Totals 244 32 3652 17-22 86* .. . 3788-1 9556 471 20-28 W il l ia m W e l l s in F ir s t -C l a s s C r ic k e t . Season. Inns.N.o. R. A. H.S. O. R. W . A. 1905 ... 6 2 41 10-25 27 •• 23 83 0 — 1906 ... 18 3 190 12-66 30 .. 161 571 13 43-92 1907 ... 28 8 161 8-05 28* .. ■ I 42-5 509 15 33-93 1908 ... 40 n 558 19-24 64* .. • 596-1 i860 75 24-80 1909 ... 34 4 410 13-66 45 ••■ 343 9x8 46 19-95 1910 ... 28 5 225 9-78 44 ••■ 396-4 1403 7 ° 20-04 1911 ... 18 2 216 I 3-50 30 .. • 234 687 26 26-42 1912 ... 24 8 230 14-37 57 ••• 3 ° 9-3 1016 48 21-16 1913 ... 10 1 142 X 5-77 54 160-2 495 25 19-80 Totals 206 44 2173 I 3 - 4 1 64* .. • 2366-3 7542 318 23-71 The 1913 figures are to June 5 only. J. N. P. The Library. There is not much of Cricket Flints to Youngsters and Others, by Mr. J. H. Farmer, the old Harrovian ; but quality j fully makes up for any deficiency in quantity, and the booklet is good value. Moreover, it is sold in the cause of charity. (See advertisement elsewhere in the paper.) A quotation or two may serve to show how practical the hints are. “ For a catch (other than an overhead one) loosen your arms and hands and shape your hands like a cup to receive the ball.” Note the words in italics : hundreds of catches are dropped every week through arm 9 and hands being too r:gid. “ T o play good ‘ googlies ’ stay at home and smother them. You will receive plenty of bad ones to hit.” Here again is the man who kn ow s; no one bowls more bad balls I than the average googly bowler. “ Do not let anyone know by any theatrical display that you have nearly bowled him. Such a stup:dity only puts the batsman more sharply on his | guard, and makes you Jook a fool.” “ Equality is the essence of sport.”