FREAK INCIDENTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 144, 31 March 1948, Page 6

FREAK INCIDENTS

CRICKET IS FUNNY GAME BALL FIELDED BY HORSEMAN An English cricket historian once remarked that “cricket is full of curiosities, coincidences and freak happenings,” Some are straight-out records with bat and hall; others are weird happenings that occur once in a lifetime. In 1899, playing for Surrey against Kent, Beaumont took five for 28 and five for 21, and Lohmann five for 18 and five for 31. Their figures for the match were identical, each sending down 47 overs and taking 10 wickets for 49 runs. When in Australia with Allen's team in 1936-37 W. R. Hammond on November 13 in a match between M.C.C. and New South Wales took five for 39 and then scored 39. The last of these five wickets was the 39th he had taken in Australia and his 39 from the bat was his 39th complete innings in Australia. A. J. Richardson and A. E. Relf were also concerned in cricket curiosities. In tests against England in the 1924-25 series Richardson scored 248 runs in eight innings, and with the ball took eight wickets for 248. During the M.C.C. tour of South Africa in 1905-06 Relf totalled 404 runs in 16 complete innings at an average of 25.25. His bowling figures were 16 wickets for 404 runs, average 25.25. Birthdays also come into this story. The Hon. F. S. Jackson and “J. Darling were the captains of the AngloAustralian tests in England in 1905. Both were born on November 21, 1870.

Batted at 104

A cricket historian in England, recalling strange occurrences, wrote that at Taunton in 188 S, W. Adlam batted when he was 104. He went on: At Southgate once a lhan’s beard was divided and tied in a knot behind his head when he was batting. Then came these unique records: Six byes run in cripples’ match from ball jammed in long-stop’s boot. Clock on church altered to deceive umpire as to time for drawing stumps. Dog seized ball during match and 10 byes run. McDougall “topped the score” that way.

Fielder jumped on to bystander’s horse and rode after the ball. Ball stuck in dust on ground, not reaching wicket. Ball caught by square-leg after rebounding from bowler’s head. Ball hit into tree and shot down by rifle.

Match stopped by bull tossing wicket.

Scorer discovered asleep- during match.

Commenting on the fact that Worcestershire cricket ground was once sown with turnip seed by error, the English chronicler wrote: “People are always wondering how to brighten cricket. Perhaps they might try sowing all with turnip seed, letting them grow, and seeing how many successive centuries Bradman can make on that sort of wicket. Some kind of change is desirable.”

Luckless Wyatt

R. E. S. Wyatt, former English test captain, is the unofficial holder of an unenviable record —world’s unluclciest cricketer in tire matter of injuries. He has had 12 bones fractured during bis cricketing career. Here is the formidable list: Two fractured toes, broken bone in foot, fractured jaw, two fractured ribs, broken bone in band, broken thumb, three fractured fingers, and broken bone in wrist. Wyatt’s jaw Avas fractured during the test tour of West hidies in 193435. When he Avas able to sit up in hospital after the mishap, he opened a neAvspaper and one of the first headlines he read was: “Cricket is a Cissy Game, Says Babe Ruth.” Babe Ruth, of course, Avas the famous American baseball player. Apropos of cricket incidents, the oddest of all occurred at Leyton ground (England) at a time when Essex was notorious for tedious play. It was recorded thus: “JaAV of spectator dislocated by yaAvning occasioned by slow batting.” Wisden mentioned the incident.