Cricket 1914

No. 6, V ol . I. S A T U R D A Y , M A Y 9, 1914. P r ic e 3 d. A Coming Batsman. T h e Northamptonshire side, strong as it is now, should be even stronger during the next few years, bar accidents. Some few of its players have had a longish spell in county cricket already ; but the only man among the best of them who could be classed as a veteran is George Thompson, and if Thompson grows no younger he scarcely grows perceptibly older. His bowling seems as good as ever ; he is the same solid, imperturbable batsman as of yore. Of the newer men Haywood made great strides last year, not only getting lots of runs, but getting them quickly and well. This season it ought to be the turn of another product of the Tonbridge nursery to step to the front, unless Woolley goes back on the really excellent form he showed at the Oval in the first match of the season. He had the hardest of hard luck in not getting his first century in big matches there. Buswell, his partner after the eighth wicket had fallen, got a knock on the forearm and retired ; Murdin came and went while the Northants wicket-keeper was still being attended to b y a doctor ; and W oolley was left ninety-two not out. A really good innings, for the w icket was dusty, and gave some little help to the bowlers on that account. Woolley scored chiefly b y means of wrist-work, getting well back and forcing the ball past cover— not by driving, as some critics said. K ent let Haywood go, having no place for him. Not only K ent, but Gloucestershire also, let Woolley slip. In i 9°9 he was engaged a t Stroud, played for the county against the Australians, b y courtesy of Noble, and scored 22 in his one innings. He seems to have been regarded rather as bowler than batsman, for he was put on to bowl fir s t; but he failed to take a wicket. There was talk then of his qualifying for the county ; but the scheme failed to materialise, and he went to Northamptonshire. For the midland county he first appeared in 1912, playing in half-a-score or so matches w ith no very marked success. His highest score was 34, and he only took 3 wickets. Two of these— at a cost of 27 runs— were taken against the Australians. They were Macartney’s and Minnett’s— p retty good value for a 27 debit. Last season he played regularly. His form was not wholly satisfactory ; but possibly he suffered b y reason of the fact th at his position in the batting list never seemed to be fixed. He went in as early as No. 1, and as late as No. 9 ; he also figured at No. 6 and at No. 8. On a good many occasions he was dismissed for quite small scores, and his highest on the home ground was only 45, v. Derbyshire. It is likely th at the Northampton crowd— apt, like all crowds, to base their judgment chiefly on what they see— Photo by] [ Messrs. E. Hawkins & Co., Brighton. C. N. W o o l l e y (Northants).