A CRICKET STORY.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 11, 13 January 1900, Page 4 (Supplement)

A CRICKET STORY.

When Surrey and Yorkshire met, some years ago, at Bradford, the wot condition of the ground prevented a start being made at the proper time, and it was decided to wait until after lunch. During the interval several oi the players strolled on to a waste piece of land behind tho pavilion, , where they came across two lads practising the noble game. An old soapbox did duty for the wicket, and tha bat was * broad strip of wood from what was once the lid. The county cracks were amused at this primitive outfit, and by Avay of encouragement started bowling slow " breaks " to the 33 r oungster batting — a lad of übout 11 years of age. Peel, Richardson, Brown, and Hirst each tried their prowess, making tha ball twist and twirl about in miiaculous fashion. Still none could penetrate the defence of the youthful batsman. Ho held his wicket intact against the cream of English bowling! True, the cracks were trying what they could in "breaks," yet the lact remains that they did not bowl the lad, whether they could or not. David Hunter had been an interested spectator, and, somewhat disgusted at hia colleagues' failures, took the ball himself The fh'3t he sent down the youngster smartly placed somewhere in the vicinity of long field j so David was more careful with tiic next, though with the same result. And each succeeding ball, no matter how Uie bowler tried to prevent it, was as easily knocked away from the wicket. After about ten minutes the stumperbowler altered his tactics and tried underhands. But the youth delighted in them the more, and kept a. host of willing fielders busy. How iong this battle-royal would have lasted is doubtful ; for, providentially, the luncheon-bell rang, and perforce brought it to a summary conclusion, and David, laughingly although reluctantly retired defeated, amidst great applausa.