James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annaul 1897

T H EC H I E FC R I C K E T E R SIN 1896. 2 6 3 H U L M E, JOSEPH.-Born at Church Gresley , June 29, 1862. Very useful all- round player ; left -hand bowler ; very hard-hitting bat ; good field ; did very little with the bat, but bowled well , being head of the bowling aver- ages ; was engaged on the Countyground in 1896 , but has since taken an engagementfor Nelson again in 1897. Address : BoyerStreet , Derby. PORTER, G.-Born at Spondon, December 3, 1861. 6 ft. 2 in.; 14 st. 31b.; very good fast bowler ; fair bat ; was not successful in 1896 , his batting lacking the sting he used to get in it, but he was suffering from a strain mostofthe season . Engagedfor 1897 at Lowerhouse, Lancashire . Address : Spondon. PURDY, J. H.-Born at Brimington , September 23, 1873. 5 ft. 7in.; 10 st .; very good field ; fair bowler (mediumright ) ; not very successful as a bat, but likely to improve. Address : St. John's Street , Brimington. e Didsbury. STORER, WILLIAM.-Bornat Butterley Hill , Ripley , January 25,1868. 5 ft . 8in.; 10 st.; one of the best professional wicket -keepers of the day; first -class bat; improved greatly in 1896 on any previous year as an all -round man, coming out head of the batting averages with the splendid average of 57.8 , being the highest average for a County with one exception (that being K. S. Ranjitsinhji ). H e scored two huudreds in one match against Yorkshire , and is the first professional to have performed this feat . H e kept wicket splendidly all through the season, and was a useful change bowler. H eis the first m a nwhohas scored 1,000 runs for his County. Address: Norfolk Street , Derby; e Lord's . SUGG, WALTER.-Bornat Ilkeston , May21, 1860. 5 ft . 9in.; 10st. 6lbs.; very goodmediumpace bowler,with break ; good bat and one of the finest cover- points ever seen; had an average of 20.6 for 1896. Address : 32, Lord Street , Liverpool ; e Farnworthfor matches only. D U R H A M . GREGORY, JOHN.-Goodslow right -arm bowler , with plenty of break ; punishing , but impatient bat; good field ; e Tudhoe, Co. Durham, 1897 . LAMBERT, THOMAS.-Born at Durham, October 26 ; 5ft . 6in.; 14st . 6lbs .; excellent wicket -keeper ; patient and sound bat . Address : 31, HighBridge , Newcastle-on-Tyne; e DurhamUniversity andElswick Works. NICOLL, DAVID.-Very straight , fast , right -hand bowler ; excellent field ; singularly ineffective in 1896 ; e Sunderland , 1897 . SIMPSON, FRED.-Patient and reliable bat ; useful change bowler (right arm) andgood field . G L O U C E S T E R S H I R E . BOARD, J.-Born in Bristol , February 23, 1867. A first -class wicket -keeper ; goodfield andimproving bat ; his hitting was of great use on occasions . Address: Gloucestershire County Ground, Bristol . PAINTER, J. H .-Born at Bourton-on-the Water,November11, 1858. 5 ft . 10in .; 12st . A brilliant hitter whenin form ; a very good change bowler ; hard- working field ; played little last year. Address: Bourton-on-the-Water; e SherborneSchool. ROBERTS, F. G.-Born at Mickleton , April 1, 1862. 5ft . 11 in.; 12 st . 21b. A fast left -hand bowler, with high delivery , and break from leg ; not so successful last season . Address: CountyGround, Bristol . WRATHALL, H.-A very promising batsman, hitting with great power whenset ; agood field . Address : County Ground, Bristol .