Cricket 1914

J u l y 25, 1914. THE WORLD OF CRICKET. 369 A Leicestershire Worthy. R o u g h luck has chanced to a man who deserved better things. When the proposal was made that a benefit should be given to poor Tom Jayes, already marked b y the hand of Death, out of his turn, Harry Whitehead readily and most generously agreed to postpone his own turn. It was the action of a fine sportsman and a good fellow ; and he deserved a better return tha,n he has had. For bis own benefit has turned out a very poor thing indeed. There was but a small attendance on the first day ; the second day was a blank through rain ; and the crowd on the third day was never such that seats were at a pre­ mium. Whatever the general public— not merely the Leicestershire supporters— can do in such a case should be done. E very shilling helps, and one hopes that silver and gold w ill roll in freely to swell the subscription list. Whitehead was born at Burleston in September, 1875, and has played for his county seventeen seasons. To say that he has never been quite in the front rank of cricketers is to convey no disparagement. The front rank can only be attained b y a few. Who would be a duke when “ dukes were three a penny ” ? Whitehead has been and is a good county cricketer, well worth a place in any county side, an enterprising bat and a capital field in the slips, w'hile at one time he was quite a useful change bowler. His first match for Leicestershire was at Old Trafford in 1898, when he scored 5 in his one innings. He only played in a few matches th at season, and his best score was 43 v. Lancashire at Leicester. In 1899 he appeared oftener, but never once reached 40. Again he did best against the County Palatine, scoring 39 and 33 at Manchester. During his third season he manifested substantial im­ provement. He scored his first century, a chanceless 108 in a total of 237 v. Essex at Leyton, and before the season closed had made another— 116 v. Sussex at Leicester, when he and Knight added 256 together in 2§ hours. This was the match in which Leicestershire declared at 609 for 8, and Sussex replied w ith 686 for 8, Ranjitsinhji making 275, Charles F ry 135, and Arthur Collins 98. Whitehead did not do so well in 1901. His 74 v. Surrey at the O val in his last match of the season was his best score and his only one of over 50 ; but he made 13 useful scores of from 20 to 50 in the course of his other 29 innings. Seeing th at 1902 was a bowler’s season his figures, very much the same as in 1900, represented a distinct advance on any of his previous records. He made no three-figure score ; but he ran up 88 v. Hampshire at Leicester and 72 v. Sussex at Hove and in 8 other innings scored between 40 and 70. He was also of use at times as a bowler, took 4 for 20 v. Notts at Leicester, and had in all 17 for 467. In 1903 he fell short of 1000 b y only 14 runs. He played pretty consistent cricket, making one century, 5 scores of between 50 and 100, and 11 between 20 and 50. When he scored his 104 v. Notts at Leicester he and Cecil Wood put up 182 for the first wicket. This year he did more bowling than ever before or since, and though his 28 wickets cost over 27 each he was of real use on some occa­ sions, notably when he took 6 for 82 in the match with the Philadelphians, and again when he clean bowled 3 for 23 v. Warwickshire at Edgbaston. He topped the 1000 in 1904, and that without one three- figure score to help him, his highest being 82 v. Hants at Southampton, which included 14 fours. Six times he scored over 50 and 15 times between 20 and 50. In 1905 he again reached 1000. His highest and best innings was a will-hit 137 v. Essex at Leicester. Another good display was his 83 against the same side at Leyton. On five other occasions he scored over 50, including a 56 against the Australians. He was less consistent in 1906 ; but he made two cen­ turies, both v. Worcestershire. A t Worcester his side replied to an innings of 380 b y equalling that number before their first wicket fell. This was Whitehead’s. He scored 174, and his partner, Wood, made 225. A t Leicester the total was only 382 ; good enough, but small compared with the gigantic 701 for 4 a few days earlier. Here Whitehead made 139 (including a .six and 21 fours) without a chance, starting steadily but hitting in brilliant style when well set. Missing a four-figure total by two runs only in 1907, he distinguished himself greatly by playing right through the second innings (271) of his side v. Lancashire at Leicester— - a far more remarkable feat by a batsman of his type than by a plodder. It is true he was missed at 8 ; but that is all in the game. This season he appeared for the Players v. the Gentlemen at the Oval, and was second scorer with 54 in the first innings. Photo by] [Messrs. E. Hawkins & Co., Brighton. W h i t e h e a d (H ) A poor year for him was 1908, when his highest was only 75 v. Derbyshire at Derby ; and in 1909 he was clean out of form and luck, and only once topped 50. It seemed then th at his career might be drawing to a close. Now, five years later, there seems no reason why he should not remain a useful member of the team for some seasons yet. He did far better in 1910, totalling over 900 w ith a good average. His highest were 97 v. Lancashire at Leicester and 81 v. Surrey at the Oval. In 1911 he had the greatest season of his career. His 150 v. Surrey at the Oval in his first match of the season, when he and Wood added 239 in 170 minutes, was quite the best innings he ever played, marked b y real brilliance and most accurate timing. Against Warwickshire at Edgbaston he made 118, and he was seen to great advantage in both innings of the Sussex