Cricket Notions.
There is a movement afoot to present a testimonial to Mr. S. M. J. Woods
upon his retirement from the captaincy of the Somerset County Cricket
Club, and it is to be hoped that a very substantial compliment will be
paid to this great athlete.
Certainly the debt which his county owes to him is immeasurable, for
ever since he first played for Somerset, whilst still a school-boy at
Brighton College, he has been the mainstay of the team, and it is
scarcely too much to say that without “Sam” Woods, Somerset could never
have for even a brief season escaped from mediocrity.
His first appearance for his county was in 1887 against Warwickshire
upon a new and rough wicket at Birmingham, which caused his very fast
bowling to create quite a sensation, and Mr. Woods will always remember
the game, from the fact that for the first, and probably only, time in
his life he failed to score a run in either innings. During his four
years at Cambridge he was a perfect terror to Oxonians, and his side
proved thrice victorious, the other game being drawn, through rain. The
combination of Mr. Woods bowling and Mr. Gregor MacGregor keeping wicket
was an exceptional feature for a ’Varsity team, and one that was
frequently seen also to great advantage for the Gentlemen against the
Players. Mr. Woods, by right of birth, played for Australia against
England in a memorable match at Lord’s in 1890, when his side won a
fighting match on a sticky wicket, and upon other occasions his
compatriots were only too anxious to seek his assistance. Indeed, the
range of Mr. Woods’ cricket career is probably the widest of any man. He
has played for Australia, for Brighton College and Cambridge, Somerset,
the Gentlemen, the South, the West, and in every other sort of match;
whilst he has twice visited America and Canada, and toured in the West
Indies and South Africa. A winter or two ago, moreover, he was in his
native country and taking part in some Australian cricket.
As a footballer, too, Sam Woods has attained the very highest honours.
At Brighton College the Association game is played, and it was not long
before the young Australian ran into county form at the dribbling code,
as it used journalistically to be described in those days.
At Cambridge he turned his energies to Rugby, and speedily became one of
the greatest exponents of the modern forward game. He has repeatedly
played for England, and captained the English fifteen. And now that he
has retired from the active pursuit of the ball, he is recognised as one
of the greatest authorities on the game that the Rugby Union possesses.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Mr. Woods has
always been loyal to this precept, and since he has been playing cricket
and football in this country for the last twenty years, he must have
afforded very great pleasure and happiness to the crowds of people with
whom he has played or before whom he has played, and we hope that none
of these will grudge the pains of sending a subscription to emphasise
the compliment which it is proposed to pay to this great athlete.
Another great cricketer, Mr. A. C. MacLaren, was on May 10th the
recipient of a testimonial from his admirers, which amounted to a sum
over £1,200, and as the presentation was made by Mr. A. N. Hornby, the
President of Lancashire cricket, on the steps of the pavilion at Old
Trafford, during the luncheon interval, it must have been a great
occasion for the Manchester crowd to cheer their two great captains.
Lancashire literally came within an ace of being beaten by
Leicestershire in the very first week of the season.
It was a match of the genuine old-fashioned interest, where the highest
total was 159 and the lowest 112. The highest individual score was 56,
and there were seven “ducks eggs,” including two “pairs of specs,” and
plenty of catches missed.
Very good sport for everyone, and Lancashire won by just one run.
If there were more games of this description, what good fun cricket
would be again!
Whilst Lancashire were going through this thrilling experience at
Leicester the great rivals from Yorkshire were trying conclusions with a
not very powerful side of the M.C.C. and Ground at Lord’s, who beat the
champions by 40 runs. It was an interesting game, and was lost by
Yorkshire when they all got out for 132 runs in their first innings,
after M.C.C. had made 218.
Mr. Gilbert Jessop showed signs of a busy season by brushing up scores
of 63 and 65, and in each innings he was out to Rhodes’ bowling. It is
interesting to note how often the great hitter gets out to Rhodes’
bowling; he seems to be hitting him for fours all the time, and then
something happens and down goes the wicket or up goes the hand of the
umpire, which is just as bad.
In Rothery, Yorkshire have a good man to go in first. He appears to have
great defensive powers and can cut with dexterity, and he brought off
some fine hook strokes at Lord’s in his scores of 32 and 88. He will be
a better bat when he scores more runs in front of the wicket.
Yorkshire with a more pronounced “tail” than they have shown of late
years did not start the season with such an appearance of solidity as
usual. On the other hand, Surrey, rejuvenated under the inspiriting
leadership of Lord Dalmeny, began in fine style against some not very
strong opponents, such as Hants, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire,
and up to the time of our writing this the Surrey batsmen all seem to be
at the top of their game and the Surrey bowlers seem to be unplayable.
Against Northamptonshire, Tom Hayward scored 219, as against 136 and 79
by the whole of Northamptonshire, so that he alone beat them by an
innings and 4 runs, a great and unusual performance.
On this occasion Mr. J. N. Crawford took nine wickets at a cost of 46
runs, so it looks as if he and Hayward, with a boy or two to field,
might beat Northamptonshire comfortably enough on their own. Surrey look
like being well in the running for the championship this year, as many
of their men, including their captain, seem to improve every day; and
Tom Hayward, whose long and invaluable services to his country entitle
him to the endearing term of veteran, has been hitting away with all the
vigour of a kicking colt.
The Surrey team remind us of the sheep of Bo Peep, and with the warnings
of past muddles in our memory we feel inclined to quote to the Surrey
Committee the invaluable and slightly altered advice of the poet, “Leave
them alone and they’ll come home, and very likely bring the championship
behind them.”