Cricket 1913

C R I C K E T : a w e e k l y r e c o r d o f t h e g a m e .— J u l y 1 9 t h , 1 9 1 3 . ‘ Together joined in Cricket’ s manly toil.” — Byron. No- 4 7 - * c ^ b L r SEBIB' S A T U R D A Y , JULY 1 9 , 19 1 3 . A Cha t w i th M r. C. H. T itc hm a rsh . “ You ought to interview Titchmarsh. H e ’s a first- class bat, though he does play for a second-class coun ty; and he has been making no end o f runs this yea r.” So I was told, and proceeded promptly to arrange for a talk with Mr. Titchmarsh, o f whose deeds on the good greensward I was not ignorant even before I had this gentle reminder. The Hertfordshire crack ac­ cepted gracefully the honour thrust upon him. H e was not anxious to be interviewed ; but if I really wanted it— w ell, he did not mind talking, and I could ask him any questions I liked. He started by asking me one : “ H ad I had any tea ? ” But that I put aside— politely, I trust. “ When and where were you born, Mr. T itchm a rsh ? ” “ A t Royston, on February 18, 18 8 1.” “ Thirtv-tw o? You don’t look it.” “ So I have been told before. But it’s correct.” “ School? ” “ T h e Nonconformist College at Bishop’s Stortford. I was in the eleven there two years. Do anything? W ell, I headed the batting averages in my second year, and scored my first cen­ tury, a level hundred against the School fo r the Sons o f Mission­ aries, Blackheath. T h at was in 1897.” “ You have made a good many centuries since, I know ? ’ ’ “ Forty-three to date. How many for the county? Seven— the rest were in club cricket.” “ F o r what clubs have you chiefly played ? ” “ I played for Royston after leaving school, and I had one season with the Bushey club ; but for some years past I have played regularly for Harpenden. I live there, you know, and am joint secretary with W . H . | Marsh, another Herts player, o f the club. W icket? Oh, it ’s a capital one— on H a r­ penden Common.” “ You have been making a heap o f runs this year, I know. Can you tell me something about your performances to date? ” “ I have scored nine centuries — one for Herts (v. M .C .C .), three for Harpenden, three for the Club and Ground, and two for Dr. Simon’s X I . v. St. Edmund’s C o l­ lege, Ware. In the same match? N o ; I haven’t performed the double century feat. They were in different games. Altogether during June I totalled in all matches 1158 runs for 18 innings, once not ou t.” “ Ah average o f over 68— good enough to be going on with. What bat do you use? ” “ A Sp ald in g’s ‘ R ecord.’ I have made my last three thousand runs with it, and expect to make 3000 more before it’s done with— there’s scarcely a mark on it yet. ’ ’ Which is a sure sign that the wielder o f the bat is getting the ball in the m iddle o f it. T o runs made off the edge— chiefly by accident— is due the short life some bats have. Whoso “ gets her in the m iddle ” all or most o f the time ensure a longer life alike fo r his bat and for him self at wickets. “ What is your height? ” Mr, C. H. T ITCHMAR SH ,