Cricket 1914

J u l y 18, 1914. THE WORLD OF CRICKET 363 T he U n iv e rs itie s in 1914. C r ic k e t a n d B a s e b a ll, OXFORD. Matches played, 9 ; won, 3 (v. Cambridge, v. Free Foresters, and v. "Mr. G. J. V. Weigall’s Team); lost, 4 ( v . Middlesex, v. Mr. H. D. G. Leveson-Gower’s Team, and v. M.C.C., twice); drawn, 2 ( v . Kent and ■v. Mr. L. Robinson’s XI.). Runs for :—3693 for the loss of 151 wickets—average 24-4. Runs against :—4001 for the loss of 159 wickets—average 25-1. D. J. Knightf E. A. Shawf F. H. Knottf M. Howellf •G. R. R. Colmanf W. G. K. Boswellf B. G. von B. Mellef R. A. Boddington.. •G. L. Jackson O. C. Bristowef •• F. C. G. Naumannf J. Heathcote-Amory <C. E. S. Ruckert .. R. C. Burton P. H. Daviesf A. C. Wilkinson .. D. G. Wigan Also playe l :—In three matches—R. S. M. White, scoring 6, 2*, o*, .and o*, and absent hurt in each innings v. M.C.C. at Lord’s : in two matches—D. C. Johnston, 6 and o* ; in one match—M. B. Burrows, 11 and 6 ; J. N. Fraser, 6* and 2 ; R. T. Stanyforth, 4 and 4. B o w l i n g A v e r a g e s . W. G. K. Boswellf •O. C. Bristowef J. Heathcote-Amory . F. C. G. Naumannf •C. E. S. Ruckerf P. H. Daviest •• R. C. Burton B. G. von B. Mellef D. C. Johnston .. ■G. L. Jackson .. B a t t in g A v e r a g e s . m . in n s . N.O. RUNS. AVER. H.S. . . 8 13 O 606 46*61 130 • • 4 6 I 183 36-60 57 * • • 7 12 I 388 35*27 100 . . 8 14 I 409 31-46 123 . . 8 14 I 355 27-30 61 . . 6 10 O 260 26-00 98 . . 6 IO I 219 24-33 64 2 4 O 9 i 22-75 69 •• 3 5 O h i 22-20 50 • • 9 15 I 268 I 9 -I 4 4 1* •• 7 13 2 201 l 8-27 43 • • 3 4 0 53 13*25 33 5 8 3 66 13-20 26* •• 5 7 1 54 9-00 13 * •• 7 12 1 81 7-36 55 • • 3 5 0 27 5-40 15 • • 3 5 0 19 3-80 9 M. 0. M. R. w . AVER. 4 28 6 63 5 12-60 9 253-5 54 766 46 16-66 3 67-5 16 168 8 21-00 5 59*5 3 2 l8 10 21-80 5 105-3 21 289 13 22-23 7 2 3 2 5 34 807 28 28-82 5 1 1 7 1 7 433 15 28-86 6 190-2 47 608 19 32-00 2 29 6 71 2 35-50 3 32 8 112 3 . 37-33 matches—A. C,. Wilkinson, 8 -1 - 35-0 ; in one lan, 2- -1-14-1 ; J. N. Fraser, 19 * 3 - 4 -- 75-2 ; ; D. G. Wigan, 7 - 2 - 1 4 - - 3 - CAMBRIDGE. Matches played, 11 ; won, 5 ( v . M.C.C., twice, v. Mr. H. D. G. Leveson- Oower’s Team, v. Free Foresters, and v. The Army); lost, 6 (v. Oxford, if. Sussex, twice, v. Hampshire, v. Middlesex, and v. Yorkshire). Runs for :—4350 for the loss of 201 wickets—average 21-6. Runs against :—4262 for the loss of 183 wickets—average 23*2. B a t t i n g A v e r a g e s . J. S. F. Morrisonf Hon. H. G. H. Mulholland A. C. P. Arnoldt S. H. Savillef R. B. Lagdenf •G. E. C. Woodf •• «G. B. Daviesf W. N. Riley B. D. Hylton-Stewart .. Hon. F. S. G. Calthorpe t H. G. Vincentf •G. A. Fairbairnf K. H. C. Woodroffef .. J. H. Naumann E. C. Baker+ •C. R. Browne O. W. V. Hopley Also played :—In two matches— J. H. Falcon, 3* and absent hurt, in both innings v. Sussex at Cambridge ; L. C. Leggatt, 6 and 3; J. White, 7 and 4. B o w l i n g A v e r a g e s . ■G. B. Davies Hon. F. S. G. Calthorpe R. B. Lagden E. C. Baker •G. A. Fairbairn J. H. Naumann K. H. C. Woodroffe 4-.' B. D. Hylton-8tewart . I. H. Falcon . Hon. H. G. H. MAifholIahc . 4 /sr bowled :—In two matches—VV. N. Riley, 7-3-20-0; in onp match—C. R. Bn>wm\ 1 > 17-0; J. S. F. Morrison, 4-3-6-1 ; H. Q. ~Yiacent, y 1-2-2-0 \ J. White, 7-0-43-0. M. INNS. N.O. RUNS. AVER. H.S. I I 21 1 717 35-85 233 ’ 4 8 0 2 6 l 32-62 102 4 8 1 208 29-71 89 I I 20 2 499 27-72 141' 9 17 0 441 25-94 106 9 1 7 1 383 23-93 75 11 20 1 389 20-47 92 8 15 0 289 19-26 52 2 3 0 44 14-66 17 8 15 2 1 77 13-61 45 4 8 O 106 1 3 2 5 4 i 8 15 I 181 12-92 43 8 15 4 1 15 10-45 22 = 3 6 2 32 8-oo 17 10 17 8 7 i 7-88 29' 3 6 0 40 6-66 23 5 9 0 45 5-00 18 M. O. M. R. w . AVER. 11 266-1 49 670 45 14-88 8 164-3 40 417 26 1603 7 10 643 267 10 52 213 752 23-66 24 * 2 p 8 174-5 , 24 647 3 $l|| 25-8B 3 75 . 14 212 Ifill 26-50 1-7^5 1 17 651 2 4 !; 27 -lfc 2 42 8 123 4 30-75 . r6°'2 14 If >5 fi 33 -OP 4 23 2 77 2 38 - 5 P C r i c k e t , that essentially English game, naturally reflects the characteristics of the nation that plays it, even as baseball, the national American game, is essentially American. We sometimes allude to baseball as “ glorified rounders,” and humorous Americans pretend to confuse cricket with croquet and afternoon tea, in spite of the fact that cricket is well estab­ lished in many of the principal cities of the United States. The " rooting” or frenzied encouragement shouted by baseball “ fans ” would never be tolerated on a cricket ground. Indeed the nearest approach to it ever heard round the wickets is the occasional “ barracking ” of slow-scoring batsmen, which is invariably condemned by the Press and leading players. The morale of cricket players and spectators is excellent. For example, one rarely hears a fast bowler encouraged to direct his deliveries at the anatomy of an obnoxious batsman, whereas on the baseball “ diamond ” one docs very frequently hear such eloquent and sportsmanlike advice as : “ Bean him, you kid ! ” given to some lightning “ twirler ” who has to deal with a particularly dangerous bat. The evils of professional baseball are reflected (though to a smaller degree) in professional “ Soccer,” and for the same reason—that players and promoters forget the motto: “ Play the game,” which Henry Newbolt has made immortal in his stirring lines. The spirit of “ win at any price ” is unknown in American cricket circles, however, and English sportsmen who have met the Transatlantic players will agree that these—Philadelphians especially—keep up the best traditions of the game. Yet there are things to be learnt from baseball, notably from the wonderfully smart fielding. Slackness is unknown on the “ diamond.” Another thing worth observing and emulating is the accurate throwing of the baseball men. It would be a safe bet to make that most cricketers would “ throw their arms out ” if they tried to play fast baseball, for the simple reason that they are not taught to throw properly. There are also things that baseball followers could learn from cricket, especially in the batting line. The batting in the two games is very different ; but the average baseball player seems incapable of hitting a ball that comes along lower than his waist and never, never plays a straight drive. Gilbert Jessop would have made a marvellous “ ball ” player. Years ago he was nicknamed " The Human Catapult ” when playing* cricket in Philadelphia, and it was said at the time that he could hit farther than the hardest baseball “ slugger.” A little baseball experience is very useful, however, in club cricket where, wickets being sometimes not of the best, the ball is liable to bump and rise unduly. Again, the bowler may learn from the pitcher. Frank Laver, the Australian, who was full of craft with the ball, utilised his baseball knowledge with great effect. There was a man who played in London club cricket some years ago (his name escapes me for the moment), who had also played the American national game, and the way he could bowl tricky curves was almost uncanny. Several of the Philadelphian players have the same knack, and have learnt it in the same manner. To conclude, here is a little real life story which has nothing whatsoever to do with baseball, but a good deal with cricket. The hero of it tells it at his own expense. Some years ago when he was at Wellington, one of the most famous New Zealand public schools, he came very much to the fore as a fine forcing bat. It was on the eve of “ cock-house ” match that a small boy sent a cheeky and malicious note to h im : “ Your house cannot win. Who have you got ? Why, nobody ! ” To this the hero answered : “ Myself and five others.” Now his house won ; but a master happened to intercept the note and read it aloud to the great amusement of all who heard. It took the hero of this two years to live down an otherwise undeserved reputation for vast conceit, and even the other day when he ran across a fellow New Zealander here in London the lattpr greeted him with “ Hallo. ‘ Mvselt ’ 1•” 1 ). C. Whem Brighton College had made 181 v. Lancing, and Heslop was clean bowled for a duck, the ocids looked on Brighton.,' But it appears that' Heslop is ilot the only pebble ,on the Lancing beach, Df’ F. Ferguson (with all the luck, however) made 99, A. b. M. K. ,V l^ierson (Douglas may now take a back seat!) 58*, and four others between i 'io and 40, bringing theLancing total to .318 iqr-8, w/ben thpy deplared. Brighton lost 6 for 6* in th -*ir ^ c ►1 1 . . 0