Cricket 1914

A ugu st i , 1914. THE WORLD OF CRICKET. 393 S c o r in g 1000 R un s . A bout this period of the season the completion of iooo runs by a batsman becomes a mere commonplace, and the third figure column in the weekly average lists begins to assume a swollen appearance. A mere commonplace— to the looker-on, that is. Scarcely to the batsman concerned. Even if it be for the twentieth time, as it will be in Tom Hayward’s case should he get there this year, it can hardly pass without a thrill. To men who, like Hayward, John Tyldesley, Hayes, Vine, Tarrant, Frank Woolley, Rhodes, Hobbs, and Philip Mead, have never missed the iooo in any season since the first in which they reached it, it must be something more than a passing thrill. Another link in a long chain—another storey added to a skyscraping edifice—another indelible record in the annals of cricket ! It is all very well to say that if a man, being a decent batsman, plays in a score and a half or so of matches during the season, he must—automatically, as it were— reach the thousand. But cricketers are not automata ; they are human beings, subject to human weaknesses, with troubles of their own ; fitter than the average man, but not find­ ing fitness come of itself ; in short, the scoring of a four-figure total is not the dead easy thing some critics think it, even in the case of the man who plays regularly. In 1911 as many as 33 batsmen had reached the thousand by the end of July. In 1912 the number at that date was 24 ; in 1913, with fewer matches than in the preceding season, 26. What it will be by the end of the month this year one cannot say, for this issue will go to press before the month has run its full course, and these notes are written some days before its going to press. W ithout delving deeply into the records of long dead years, one may remark in passing that the incomparable W. G. reached the iooo in 28 seasons ; Robert Abel in just half as many ; Arthur Shrewsbury in 13 ; William Gunn and John Tunnicliffe in 12 each ; the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar and Killick in 11 ; the Hon. F. S. Jackson, Arnold, Knight, the late J. T. Brown, and Charles McGahey in 10 ; A. O. Jones, the late Walter Read, the late George Ulyett, A. C. MacLaren, Albert Ward, and the late Harry Jupp in 9 ; H. K. Foster, J. R. Mason, and C. J."* Burnup in 8 ; and L. C. H. Palairet, the late W. L. Murdoch, and the late William Storer in 7. Two or three of these are still making occasional appearances ; but none is likely to reach iooo this season, and the same may be said of C. B. Fry (12), Carpenter (7), R. H. Spooner (6), K. L. Hutchings (6), and John Board (6). Hutchings has not once played this season so far ; but it is all too early to put him on the retired list. Hayward tops the record of present-day players. Beginning in 1895, he has nineteen consecutive four-figure totals to his credit. It is to be hoped that he will not fail this season, which he says will be his last. Second comes David Denton. He, too, began in 1895, but missed 1898, and is thus now on a level with Hayward, but will be one behind by the end of the season in all probability. George Hirst and John Tyldesley must be bracketed third. The Lancashire man is a few runs short at the time of writing ; but he is bound to get there. He and Hirst (already on the list for this year) will then have 18 four-figure totals each. Tyldesley began in 1897, and has never dropped a stitch. Hirst began in 1896, but, like Denton, missed 1898. Probably W illiam Quaife will share the bracket. He is on the 17 mark, but his reaching iooo this year, though one would not mind betting 5 to 2 on it, is not certain. He started in 1896, and 1907 is his only missing link. Hayes comes next. If he gets there this year—and it will be the hardest of luck if he does not— he will have a tale of 16 consecutive seasons— from 1899 onwards. Gilbert Jessop, Pelham Warner, and P. A. Perrin are all together at 14. Perrin’s record includes this year, and either of the other two by reaching the thousand before the season ends will go ahead of him. But the chances are against either's doing so. Vine will doubtless do it—must do it, bar acci­ dents—and then he will also be 14, and 14 in sequence (1901 onwards), while Jessop and Warner each started in 1897, anc^ have broken links in their chains. Cecil Wrood is pretty safe for a thirteenth appearance in the list. Fred Bowley has just qualified for the twelfth time. He began in 1900, but missed 1907, 1908, and 1912. Wood also began in 1900, missing 1907 and 1909 only. Rhodes has just made good for the twelfth time in succession (1903 onwards). John King is already there for the eleventh time (first in 1901— missing years 1905, 1907, and 1910) ; Albert Relf should equal his figures, as he has nearly 800 to his credit to date. Relf started a year earlier than King, but missed four years— 1901, 1903, 1907, and 1909. Hobbs is on the 10 mark (1905— 1914 ; and 1905 was his first year, mark you !), and will be joined there shortly by James Seymour, who narrowly missed in 1912 after an unbroken sequence from 1904 to 1911. At 9 are Philip Mead (1906-1914 in succession), Frank Tarrant (also 1906-1914), and John Sharp (who began in 1905, but missed last year). Iremonger should go to 9 shortly ; his last appearance was in 1909, his first in 1901, but he missed 1907. Edward Humphreys stands at 8 (1904, and 1908-1914 in­ clusive) ; so does Frank Woolley (1907-1914 without a break). Kinneir (1900-01-04-05-06-08-11) may go to 8. So may John Gunn (1901-03-04-05-06-11-13). But Braund (1901-02-03— 05— 07-08-13) will hardly do so. George Gunn has lately made his seventh four-figure total (1905-08-09-10-11-13-14). Robert Relf is at 6 (1908-1913 in sequence, and with 989 to his credit this season when appendicitis laid him low). Hardinge and Wilson (Yorkshire) are at 5 each, without a chance of increase till 1915 ; Fred Pearson and F. L. Fane are also at 5, but have not yet qualified this season ; they, are, however, not certainties for qualification. J. W. H. T. Douglas, Harry Whitehead, E. M. Sprot, Bowell, S. G. Smith (including all matches of the West Indian tour of 1906, which comprehensive dealing is admittedly unofficial), and Samuel Coe are at 4 each, and not yet qualified for 1914 ; Hearne (J. W.) and H. P. Chaplin are at 4 each, including 1914. At 3 stand Hardstaff, Makepeace, Charlesworth, Ducat, Stone, M. C. Bird, Langdon, Cuffe, and G. N. Foster, none as yet in this year’s list, though some of them are safe to get there. Dipper, Drake, Booth, Hendren, Baker (C. S.), C. O. H. Sewell (including the South African tour of 1894). F. R. Foster, Capt. A. C. Johnston, George Brown, Thompson, H. G. Garnett, Cadman, A. P. Day, and A. E. Lawton have qualified twice each (1914 included in Foster’s case only). Those playing this year who have reached four figures in only one season as yet are Robson (1899), W. P. Robertson (1901), Major J. G. Greig (1901), Reeves (1905), Cox (1906), the Rev. F. H. Gillingham (1908), Ernest Tyldesley, Russell, Kilner, Haywood, Parsons, P. G. H. Fender, H. L. Wilson, Lee (G. M.), Harrison, W. H. Denton, J. S. Denton, A. H. Hornby, and E L. Kidd (all first appearing last year). The majority of last year's new names will doubtless occur again this year before the end is reached. The only new names so far this season are those of Jupp and Hubble ; but Bowley (Sussex), Morton, D. J. Knight, and Newman may all qualify. J. N. P. ------------ + ------------ The St. Paul’s captain, after his side had won on the first innings (170 to 99) against M.C.C., declared at 45 for 3 in the second, and M.C.C. hit off the 118 required for victory in 38 minutes (H. Brougham 86*, W. R. Collins 28*). Over iooo runs were scored and three centuries (by E. C. Coleman) the Hon. O. Scott, and D. Robertson) were made in the Sussex Mart­ lets v. Gentlemen of Essex match at the County Ground, Hove, last Friday and Saturday, and the Martlets won by 4 wickets two minutes before time. H a m p s h i r e H o g s v . Incogniti at Southampton realised over 1100 runs in two days’ cricket. Capt. W. G. M. Sarel ( in and 51) and E. H . Fitzherbert (63 and 80), first men in for the visitors, made a fine start in each innings. R. M. B e l l took his hundredth wicket of the season for Sutton on Saturday, and P. R. Waterer carried his bat through Sutton’s innings of 166 (v. Forest Hill) for 81. F. S. G i l l e s p i e , who has appeared for Surrey several times, and had played frequently for Surrey II, made 217 for Dulwich (on tour) v. Folkestone on July 23. E i g h t e e n fours were included in A. C. MacLaren’s 128* for Old Buckenham Hall v. Garboldisham Manor on July 24. S. J. Pegler took 13 for 99 for Old Buckenham, who won by an innings and 21 runs (413 to 228 and 164). S a t u r d a y ’ s cricket in the north-west suffered from rain, and in the Lancashire League only one match was completed. This was Burnley v. Church, which the latter won by 8 wickets. Parkin took 7 for 44 for them. K e r m o d e , who has again announced that he will return to Australia at the end of the season, took 5 for 47 (Bacup v. East Lancashire).