Cricket 1914

A u g u s t x , 19 14 . THE WORLD OF CRICKET. 391 S he rb o rn e . B y W . R. W eir . A l t h o u g h this school dates back to a . d . 705, while Ify royal charter Edward V I refounded it in 1550, no reliable lists of the Eleven can be traced prior to the middle of last century. Since then, however, quite a number of good cricketers have emerged from the Dorsetshire seat of learning. To mention some may not be altogether without interest to those who, like myself, find plea­ sure in looking back and recalling the past. Fifty years, perhaps, will be long enough, and a start may be made with H. M. Price who figured in the eleven from i860 to 1863. Great hopes were entertained for the success of this polished and decidedly aggres­ sive batsman when he went up to Oxford, but he failed to secure his blue. About this time flourished the brothers Henley, a couple of stalwart wielders of the willow, also the Kendles, who afterwards did good work for Hampshire. G. P. Kendle, it may be mentioned, made his presence felt also in Wiltshire. For four years (1866-69) A. F. E. Forman was a member of the Eleven, being another who, to the regret of many, somehow missed the 'Varsity blue. A creditable list of scores stand to his credit in Derbyshire matches till and when he laid aside the bat but con­ tinued to do good work for the game with his pen (see the red 4‘ Lillywhite ” for the annual Public School article). Further he gave to the world three sons—A. T., T. P. G., and Humphrey, all of whom were in the Shrewsbury School Eleven, and acquitted themselves as the boys of such a father might be expected to do. A b b e y a n d Q u a d r a n g l e ( S h e r b o r n e ). r The years 1868 to 1872 are noteworthy for the doings of W. H. Game, who was never known to belie his name, no matter how difficult the task. No Shirburnian can fail to be proud of this giant-like smiter’s many doughty deeds, and especially of the fact that he was the first to obtain the coveted blue from the school. In the thirty-ninth Oxford and Cambridge match, going in seventh, he was top scorer with 48 in Oxford's first innings, thereby to no small extent assisting his side in securing the ulti­ mate three-wicket victory. Taking part in the classic fixture in the three succeeding years, he finished with a brilliant effort of 109. He was lbw to F. F. J. Greenfield, afterwards a member of the Sussex X I, who died in South Africa in 1900. What Mr. Game did when representing Surrey in the county's dark days, too, many will recall. I shall always remember with pleasure a couple of his characteristic knocks at the Oval in 1882—62 against Kent and 84 not out in ,the week following v. Notts. It was glorious to see him calmly defying Alfred Shaw, Morley, T h e S h e r b o r n e P a v i l i o n . and Flowers, while the other members of the team were as keen as cats after mice to bring about his downfall. Contemporary with W. H. G., (still hale and hearty, one is glad to hear) was J. C. Heathcote, a personage rarely caught napping when behind the sticks, Sherborne has ever been famous for wicket-keepers. From 1876 to 1878 F. E. Lacey, the popular secretary of the Marylebone Club, was at the school and captain in his last year, when he headed both the batting and bowling tables. That he learnt to play the game, well he afterwards gave ample evidence when representing Hampshire. WTiat good work he has done, and is doing for cricket the world over, is known to all. About this period the two Crosbys, A. B. and H. S. won fame in school matches, as they did later on for Dur­ ham. Then there was C. G. Barton, now Major Barton who has earned military and Hampshire fame, and has also figured in Indian cricket. A brilliant stumper who must not be overlooked was A. O. Whiting, also a reliable bat. He assisted Oxford against Cambridge in 1881-2, best score, 38 run out the last year. M. C. Kemp being available in both years, he was not requisitioned to don the gloves. Whiting afterwards figured in Ceylon cricket with great success. By the way, an old school­ fellow in F. E. Lacey was undefeated with 39 to his credit in the second innings of Cambridge in the 1882 match, which the light blues won easily by seven wickets. P A fine bowler was E. W . Bastard, who did many excellent performances for both Oxford University and Somerset. He was cut off in his prime in 1901. Another Shirburnian who died comparatively young was E. A. Nepean (Middlesex and Oxford). A first-class all-round player, he compiled a fine not-out innings of 58 against Cambridge in 1887, when the dark blues were victorious by seven wickets. Coming to more recent times, the following deserve mention— A. H. Delme Radcliffe (Hampshire and Bucks), J. E. Stevens (Wilts), P. Eglington, who went up to Oxford with a high reputation/unfortunately to be overlooked. P. P. Hope (Somer­ set), R. W. Jesson (Hampshire), A. W. Carr (Notts), A. W. F. Rutty (Surrey) and the brothers C. F. and H. E. Stanger- Leathes (Northumberland). I had the good fortune to get a talk with Tom Bowley, who for seventeen years (1894-1911) so successfully filled the post of coach at Sherborne. Tom and I have had many a yarn together, but not of late years, except by the medium of pen and ink. It was with pleasurable anticipation that I planned the meeting at his comfortable hotel, “ The Castle," and when the cigars were well alight I led off with the first question : “ You were not altogether without coaching experience when you started upon your duties down here, I believe ? ” “ No, I ’d been at the Grammar School, Doncaster, and at Tettenham College, Wolverhampton. That was years back though, before my engagement with the Northants Club.” “ W hat success had you at Northampton ? " “ Considerable, but mainly with the ball, although I got a fair number of runs. For three successive seasons I topped the bowling table for the county, and as a result of this, received an invitation to qualify for Surrey. Several Nottinghamshire men