Cricket 1914

i i 4 THE WORLD OF CRICKET. M a y 9, 1914. underrate him. B u t he did better aw ay from home. His 69 v. Cambridge University a t Fenner’s early in the season was a clipping good innings ; his 70 v. Warwickshire at Edgbaston played no small part in a capital victory by 5 w ickets achieved b y his side ; and his 61 v. Leicestershire a t Leicester, when he and Haywood put on 91 in 55 minutes together, was also worthy of praise. F requently utilised as a change bowler for a few overs, he did not take many wickets, and those he did take were n ot cheap on average. Whether he will ever do very much w ith the ball remains to be seen. T h at he will make plenty of runs, provided only he takes care of himself, is not a matter of doubt. A batsman who can p lay back as he can, and, playing back, force the ball aw ay hard instead of merely killing it, as so m any who have half-learned the art of playing back do, is certain to get them. Great Bowlers. J a c k H e a rn e . B y A. C. M a c L a re n . J a c k H e a r n e for a very long time has been rightly considered the most natural and most graceful of bowlers, and the very ease of his action has assuredly enabled him to continue his success years after 99 out of 100 would have been compelled to retire. Possessed of perfect command of the ball, he utilises to the full any assistance th at conditions afforded, and seldom fails to put his side on top. A t Lord’s he is possibly a better bowler than anywhere else, the hill helping his off-break, which nips very quickly off the fast wickets, especially when they have worn. Occasionally, too, the ball will swing away enough to cause one’s mid-off drive to be edged into slip’s hands, unless one is very careful. J ack’s greatest feat, I always thought, was his hat trick at Leeds in the drawn Test th a t lost us poor Johnny Briggs. Gregory and Noble were sent back, unless my memory plays me false, and then Clem Hill came in. We had a chat as the South Australian was making his way to the crease, and decided to leave the square-leg stroke open. Jack was to bowl the ball just short of a length, but w ith a bit of extra pace behind it. I can see Clem taking guard now, looking over his shoulder and seeing that there was no one to-save his favourite forceful shot off the leg stump. Jack came tripping up w ith no alteration of style, to send down the exact ball th at Clem was licking his fingers for ; but the batsman found, to his cost, th at the ball had twice the pace behind it that he thought it had, and the stumps were disturbed before he could bring his bat down after stepping back for position. To deceive so utterly a batsman of Clem ’s calibre was a great feather in Jack’s cap. Having had the good luck to be on sides at home and abroad w ith Jack, I had every opportunity of knowing how great a bowler he was, and I know, too, that no cricketer possessed a greater charm of manner, or lived up to the somewhat exacting standard of life demanded b y the game if one is to be successful in the truest sense of th e word. THE TREA TM EN T O F GROUNDS. Many club secretaries have difficulties from time to time with regard to the treatment of their grounds— difficulties which the advice of an expert would in many cases dispose of readily. To meet these, the Editor of T h e W o r l d o f C r ic k e t has made arrangements with an expert to answer in these columns (without any charge made to the questioner) queries dealing with the proper management of turf. Questions should be concisely given, and local conditions of soil and aspect briefly described. K in g W i l l o w ’s R e a lm . Where the great pavilion rises and the great stands fringe the sward— Sward closely clipped and truly rolled since the days of William Ward— In that far-famed arena, where it’s honour to appear, They play the game, the grand old game, the game to Britons dear, And they own the sway of Willow the King, monarch by them adored ! Where Kent’s stout yeomen muster on historic Kentish ground, With Kentish, maids and matrons, fair of face and gaily gowned, Where leafage rustles in the breeze, and the blue sky’s roof o’er all, They play the game, the grand old game, the game that shall never pall, And they bend the back to Willow the King, that potentate renowned ! In the saucer of the chalk downs, with the grey hills for its rim, Where the gorse flames golden glory, while to north the Weald lies dim, Where the sou’west wind brings on its wings the salt tang of the sea, They play the game, where the game was nursed, in Sussex bold and free, And with one accord to King Willow their lord they raise their manful hymn ! Where, underneath the Southern Cross, a new keen race hath birth, As eager to do, as ready to dare, as ever a race on earth, Where the pitch rolls out like adamant, and the sun hath mighty power, In the great south land they play the game, of games the perfect flower ; Staunch subjects they be of Willow the King, and loudly acclaim his worth ! ’Neath Lion’s Head, and northward, in the low veldt and the high— In the realms of Hind—on the prairies wide, whose horizon is the sky— In the gem-like isles Caribbean—from Auckland to the Bluff— They play the game of which whoso loveth he never can have enough ; True liegemen all of Willow the King, whose fame shall never die ! J. N. P. T he Schoo ls . Of last year’s XI Hailevburv have Baker (Hon. Sec.), G. L. Butler, and list is appended. May 9— v. The Masters. ,, 16— v. Herts C. & G. ,, 23— v. Mr. C. E. Winter’s X I (at Northaw). „ 30— v. Free Foresters. June 6— v. Old WVkehamists. ,, 12 & 13— v. Wellington Col­ lege. „ 20— v. M.C.C. ,, 23— v. Mr. G. S. Pawle’s XI. (at Widford). left H. D. Hake (Captain), B. E. W. H. G. Heath. Their fixture- July 3 & 4— v. Uppingham School (at Uppingham). 9— v. Haverford College. 11— v. Old Haileyburians. 18— v. Incogniti. 24— v. Cock House Match. 31 & Aug. 1— v. Cheltenham College (at Lord’s). Eastbourne also have four old colours, and also have a Hake (O. G.) in command. The other three are V. F. Bryan-Brown, T. A. Ryder, and A. J. Crosse. Their card reads : May 14—X I v. XVI. „ 19— v. South Lynn. ,, 21— v. St. Andrew's Masters. „ 28— v. Blue Mantles. June 4— v. Eastbourne. ,, 6— v. Sussex Martlets. „ 12— v. M.C.C. ,, 16— v. King’s School, Can- terburv. June 20— v. Old Eastbournians. ,, 27— v. Lancing College. ., 30— v. Mr. E. C. Arnold’s XI. July 4— v. Christ’s Hospital. ,,9— v. Incogniti. ,, 14— v. Old Reptonians. 18— v. South Saxons. T. D. Cording 102, C. F. W. Gedney 92 3, dec. Old Colfeians, all out, 143. Bromley Town, 228 for Hampstead easily beat Hornsey—209 for 7 to 99. For the winners H. D. Moffatt scored 57, A. R. Tanner 55, and G. J. S. Pitts took 6 for 25. R. G. Tait. one of the best batsmen in Scotland, made 120 for Forfarshire v. Brechin. For the same side Buckenham took 6 for 33. Among the go's scored on Saturday were E. G. Grimaldi’s 93* (North Middlesex v. Highgate) and E. R. Botterill’s 97 (Tulse Hill v. Aptus).