F. S. JACKSON'S CENTURIES

Evening Star, Issue 18393, 29 September 1923, Page 9

F. S. JACKSON'S CENTURIES

A GREAT CRICKETER. F. S. Jackson entered test cricket at Lord’s on July 17, 1893, and scored a brilliant 91 on a not too easy wicket against C. T. B. Turner, G. Giffon, and 11. Trumblo (says “ Old Timer,” in the Wellington ‘ Dominion ’). In the twenty tes-s tin) famous Yorlcshircman tools part in between 1893 and 1905, he scored 1.415 runs, and his batting average for his test career of 48.79 is only headed by one other English performer, in tho person of J. B. Hobbs, whoso figures are 53.67. In Jackson’s second game, at the Oval, the match was played in almost tropical heat, and before stumps were drawn England had scored 378 for five wickets. Jackson was tho Cambridge University captain this year, and on tho first dav, with W. W. head, of Surrey, put on 67, when time was called. Next morning 64 were added before tho partnership was dissolved. The Surrey batsman was bowled by G. Giffon, who polished off in quick time J. Briggs, W. IT. Lockwood, am! Gregor M‘Gregor. A. Mold, the third Lancashire professional in the team, was (he last man in, and ho had tho satisfaction of being the last partner in Jackson's century in toots. The ccnturian was run out for 103.

The solitary century obtained on (lie English side during (ho 1896 series of lest matches was the one scored at Manchester by K. S. Ranjitsinhji. The Australians this year played a match against an eleven picked by the Karl of Shcflield at his place, Sheffield Park. During the match the team were introduced to His Highness the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward. Harry Trolt received a Royal cigar, and when asked hy the team for a view of it, horrified his colleagues hy informing them that ho had smoked it. T. Pi. M'Kibbin, during the 1896 tour, obtained a holiday to visit the country of his Irish ancestors. When he alighted at the railway station ho was informed that it was no distance to walk, but Tom did not know (hey were Irish miles. M'Kibbin was very tired when be asked an Irishman standing in front of his house how far it was to his destination. The stranger, liking the looks of the Australian bowler, said: “ It’s a toired man indado that yo are. Come in at wanst and have a dra-p of the craztur.” After the reviver M’Kibbin was asked if he had ever had the “ dooks ” on. Tom said ho had, and the pair then started to spar with one another. After several rounds had been fought, Tom stayed with his newly-ac-quired friend all night. Next morning he was driven to where he wanted to go, Such was M’Kihbin’s introduction to the country of his ancestors.

F. S. Jackson has been in In bat and gone on to howl for England, but not in tho same match, a distinction which belongs alone to R. G. Barlow (Lancashire), who has achieved it on morn than one occasion. Barlow was originally engaged on the railway somewhere in Lancashire, and ono evening, when a member of the county eleven had to wait some time at a station ho noticed a game of cricket going on. “Who’s that batting?” he asked. " Thai’s ono of our porters, a chap called Barlow. We’ve been trying to get him out for (ho last three weeks,” was tho reply. It was after this that Barlow won fame in big cricket.

Of the. five tests in 1899 only one was completed, when the Australians won tho Lords fixture by ten wickets. F. S. Jackson and T. Hayward were the opening pair for England in the fifth test at the Oval, and it wjis not until 185 was scored that- Jackson was bowled by E. Jones for 113. England’s total for this innings was 576, which is Iho record test score on English wickets. Tom Hayward received a handsome collection for his innings of 157; but W. H. Lockwood, the Surrey bowler, who took seven wickets for 71 on a perfect wicket, received nothing. This incident broke tho howler’s heart, for he never played again, and from that time ho took no further part in the game.