James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1896

CRICKET IN 189 * 5 . 13 Yet, in lauding VV. G.’s extraordinary doings, he would be the last to wish it done at the expense of others. Mention has already been made of Mr. McLaren’s record score at Taunton. But without this his cricket was of a very exceptional character, and in estimatinghis doings it must be remembered that lie did not come regularly into the Lancashire eleven until the season had far advanced. His play during July and August showed him to bo a batsman of infinite variety and resource, reliable on any kind of wicket —in fact quite one of the soundest players of the day under any conditions of ground. In a season remarkable for a predominance of batsmen’s wickets, large scores, both individual and collective, were bound to be the rule rather than the exception. Reference has already been made to the records of the principal players in first-class cricket, and especially to the remarkably high level reached by the Grand Old Man—W. G. Grace. As the most noticeable feature of the year was the abnormal character of the scoring, it is only natural that we should have to recall some performances altogether out of the common. Not once only, but twice during the season was the highest previous innings in an important match outdone. As early as May it was beaten by Notts with a huge score of 726 against Sussex at Nottingham. But the triumph of the Notts eleven was very short-lived, having to give place to Lancashire’s 801 at Taunton. The season indeed had only just reached its meridian when Mr. A. C. McLaren made a new record in this same fixture with a score of 424, one far in excess of Mr. W. G. Grace’s 348, which had remained for many years unbeaten as the highest individual innings in an important match Nor was the latter the only occasion on which the County Ground at Taunton was the scene of remarkable scoring, and at the expense of the Somerset­ shire eleven. Essex this time furnished the sensation in the shape of a long innings of 692, which had only once up to date been surpassed. Among the other successful batsmen of the year a prominent place must be given to K. S. Ranjitsinhji. Having obtained a residential qualification for Sussex he did splendid work for the County throughout the season. His consistent success for Sussex justified the belief that he would run W. G. very close at the finish. Towards the end he fell off a little, with the natural result. There were good judges, though, to declare, and with reason, that for variety of strokes and all-round excellence he had no superiors last year. The young Cantab, N. F. Druce, for a long time occupied a leading position in the averages. At Cambridge his play was exceptionally fine, and he confirmed his Cambridge form by an excellent innings for the Gentlemen against the Players at Lord’s, For Surrey he was not particularly successful, but this most likely was attributable to the strain of a heavy season. Be that as it may, he is decidedly one of the most promising batsmen, and, with a very attractive style as well as plenty of hitting power, he should develop into a really first-class cricketer. Of the professional players Abel again asserted his right to be con­ sidered their most reliable batsman. Throughout the season ho showed himself the same conscientious and painstaking cricketer, scoring con­ sistently for Surrey against every kina of bowling. Just at the last he was a little out of luck, but even then he was able to reach an aggregate of over 2,0J0 runs, a record which has only been achieved before by three men. Mr. W. G. Grace, Mr. A. E. Stoddart. and Gunn. Albert Ward, none the worse evidently for his trip to Australia with Mr. Stoddart, ran Abel hard throughout the summer, and his cricket was maintained at the same high level. Walter Quaife showed consistently good cricket for Warwickshire, and was in quite the forefront. Lilley. the Warwickshire wicket-keeper, was one of the revelations of the season. He had always been regarded as a useful and likely bat. Last summer he made a marked advance, and his scoring in the later