James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annaul 1897

T H EC O U N T I E SIN 1 8 9 6, 1 3 1 In the early part of the season it looked as if Surrey were irresistible . Until the middle of June , when they went down before Lancashire , they were victorious all along the line , and by very decisive majorities . But the latter part of the season found themsurprisingly unsuccessful . Sussex beat themat the Oval; Kentat Catford Bridge ; Essex at Leyton; Lancashire, who had just donethemat Manchester, at the Oval ; and Somersetshire at Taunton. O nrun-getting wickets Surrey had a good batting side , but where the pitch helped the bowlers they were utterly unreliable . In some respects they were unlucky . Street and Holland were both unable to play in the later matches owing to injuries , and, as the wickets were towards the finish , the former , who canplay a forcing game, would have been useful . Lockwood's failure as a bowler was a great loss to the side , and on the hard wickets Richardson was not so successful as in 1895. Abel wasthe mainstay of the batting , andHayward, the best all -round player on the side , was a good second. Brockwell andMr. Keywere generally reliable for runs . Butlast year there was an unmistakable tail to the team. Wood, so successful in 1895 , did little . Thebrunt of the bowling fell on Richardson , Lohmann, and Hayward. Richardson, as it was, proved very effective . Lohmannbowled with all his old judgment and skill , andHaywardwas always of service . Thefielding at times was faulty . In Hayes Surrey introduced a likely youngbatsman. R e s u l t so f M a t c h e s . Matches played , 26 ; won, 17 ; drawn , 2 ; lost , 7. C l u b. Opnts. Opponents . Whereplayed . W h e nplayed. 1st 2nd 1st 2nd W o nb y. I n s. I n s. I n s. I n s. Matches W o n(17). (1) Warwickshire Leicestershire *) E s s e x (*) Derbyshire Oval M a y4,5, 6 3 6 2 O v a l M a y7,8, 4 4 3 215 121 Ins. & 26runs 55 129 Ins. & 259 runs O v a l M a y11,12,13 430 174 236 Ins. & 20 runs Derby M a y14, 15,1 6 512 349 148 Ins. & 15runs (2) Warwickshire Birmingham May18, 19, 20 371 57 313 114 10wkts .; *now d (*) Gloucestershire O v a l M a y21, 22, 23 380 *7 125 261 10wkts .; *no w d Notts.... Nottingham M a y25, 26,27 327 *88 183 231 6 wkts.; *4 w d S o m e r s e t Oval J u n e1, 2 198 *84 116 163 10wkts.; *now d Derbyshire O v a l J u n e4, 5 341 96 188 Ins. & 57runs H a m p s h i r e O v a l June11,1 2 2 4 4 58 72 Ins. & 114 runs Leicestershire Leicester June15, 16,17 129*162 170 120 4wkts.; *6 w d H a m p s h i r e Southampton June29,30 ,J.1 259 *406 160 116 380r.; *4wd,in.c. M i d d l e s e x L o r d ' s July20,21 3 0 0 159 83 Ins. & 58 runs (5) Yorkshire O v a l July30,31A.1 439 172 206 Ins. & 61runs * * N o t t s K e n t O v a l A u g .3,4,5 4 2 4 69 240 Ins. & 115runs O v a l Aug.13,14 290 *1 135 155 10wkts.; *no w d (6) Sussex Brighton Aug.31,8.1, 2 308 *7 147 166 10wkts.; *now d Matches Drawn(2). R e m a r k s . (3) Yorkshire B r a d f o r d J u n e9,1 0 147 *75 135+134 (*) Gloucestershire Clifton Aug.25,26 1 8 0*36 1 5 7 *6w d.; +7wd, i.c. *3w d. Matches Lost (7) . Lostb y. Lancashire Manchester June1 8,19 M i d d l e s e x O v a l J u n e25, 26 78 161 157 *86 3 wkts.; *7w d 4 5 126 108 268 205 runs S u s s e x O v a l July9,1 0,11 9 4370 116 391 43 runs C a t f o r d L e y t o n O v a l T a u n t o n K e n t E s s e x.. L a n c a s h i r e (*) Somersetshire (*) Havebeentreated in previous reviews . July23,24 4 8146 161 94 61 runs Aug.6, 7 1 2 6 8 2327 Ins. & 119 runs Aug.20, 21, 22 172 112 225 *60 4wkts.; *6 w d Aug.27,28 172 69 182 *60 9 wkts.; *1wd