SOME MEMORABLE CATCHES

Evening Star, Issue 19787, 10 February 1928, Page 14

SOME MEMORABLE CATCHES

A FASCINATING BRANCH OF THE GAME

One of liio host stories in eomiectiou with brilliant catching at crickcf (says a writer in the ‘Observer’) refers to the late Mr A. N. Hornby, Lancashire’s one-time popular captain. In the Gentlemen v. Players’ match at Konnington Oval in 1881, a:.fine first-wicket partnership by “Monkey” Hornby and Dr W. G. Grace was terminated by the former getting out to a wonderful catch, from a lofty drive, by William Gunn, whose height was about Oft Oin. As Hornby passed to the pavilion a friend remarked, “ Bad luck, Monkey.” “ Yes,” was the replay, “only a d d giraffe could have got near it I” K. S. llanjitsinhji, who brought off so many phenomenal catches at slip, was playing for Cambridge University against "Yorkshire, when John Tuunicliffe, “Long John o’ Jndsoy,” made a brilliant late cut. Many thought the ball bad gone to the boundary, but “Ilanji” didn’t attempt to run after it. When admonished to do so by his captain (now Sir Stanley Jackson), be coolly produced the ball from bis pocket. As Tunnielilfc mournfully departed bo ejected, “ Well, sir, you are a conjuror!” Northamptonshire's lalo skipper, Mr J. M. Fitzroy, is an exceptionally hue Held and catch. In last year’s match between the county and the Australians ho made a catch which is thus admiringly described by Mr M. A. Noble in his ‘Ashes’ book: “One of the best bits of cricket in this game was provided by Fitzroy, the Northants captain, when he brought off a sensational one-handed catch right on the boundary. Gregory made a big hit very high, at long-on. Everyone thought the ball would go out of the ground, but a light wind was blowing, and it Heated and held up the ball. Fitzroy, walking backwards, followed the course of the ball and took the catch with his right hand over his head. The crowd roared their delight.” We all know about W. G. Graces marvellous Holding to his own bowling; he could, as the man said, “do everything but keep wicket to it.” The late°Mr C. K. Francis delighted in felling how W. G. arrived at Londesborough Lodge from Manchester late one night in 1888—he had been playing for En gland v. Australia, and there wore rumors that be had a lot to do with the result. Quoth Mr Francis “ Well, AV.G., how did you get them out?” “Why, Tom, f cot ’em out,” was the rejoinder. And so it was, for he had brought off throe very good catches, which disposed of_ three formidable batsmen at critical times. George Lehmann was probably the greatest slip fieldsman of all. time—he covered such a wonderful lot of ground 'Many of ns recollect Craig, the Oval “ poet ” and wag, whoso, self-composed broadsheet used to sell like hot cakes. I well remember Craig coming on to the ground one day and announcing, “Lines on the grand catch made by George Lohmann yesterday—a marvellous catch, one that reminded me of my own palmy days!” flic sublime audacity of this announcement delimited the crowd, who forthwith expended their coppers upon Craig s wares, Amoim- phenomenal catches made in the course of the struggles between the rival Universities that by Mr G. J. Ottaway in “ Cobdcn’s nintcfi of 1870 mav be cited. Messrs Bill Yardlov—who here scored the hrst century in the ’Varsity matcli-and J W Halo had added lib together when' OH a way, “ leaning back over tho ropes with one hand, dismissed Dale bv a marvellous catch; yet m the ultimate serpiel the Light Blues won bv two runs. Twenty-three years later Mr L. 0. A*. Bathurst, of Oxford sent back Mr James Dongles by an extraordinary fine catch; this was the game in which K. S. Ranjitsmnji appeared for Cambridge, who won by the uncommonly comfortable margin of 266 runs. A “ AV.G.” COINCIDENCE. Gcnro-e (Men, in bis eminently readable ‘ With Bat and Ball,’ recalls that W. G. Grace, on both of his visits to tho Commonwealth, was out to a remarkable catch at the Adelaide Oval. In 1874 tho event, was between the English Eleven and twenty-two ol South Australia, and the ground was so “rough” that Greenwoods 26 for the former was the highest ot the match. “ AV.G.’s sensational dismissal,” savs Giffen, “is still fresh in my mind. Ho had only notched 3 when lie made a. mighty hit, ami Alexandci Crooks, standing "on the edge of the boundary, leant backwards and brought, off n magnificent one-hand catch. The champion questioned whether he had been caught within the playing space, but the umpire decided against him.” The second occasion was when, eighteen years later, as captain ot Lord Sheffield’s team, Grace hit a tremendous skier off Giffen at Adelaide against South Australia. Ho did not properly get hold of it, and Jack Recdman, who was Holding on tho boundary, rati nearly 30yds and clutched the ball with his loft hand—“ a pretty big one.” AV.G., in recording his admiration oi this feat, added with his well-known chuckle, “ J think it was a hit of a iiuke, though.” The Australian team to England of 1593 went Home by way of America, playing a few matches there, and being defeated by tho Gentlemen of Philadelphia. At Detroit, a local player named Cod, dismissed Tremble from a tremendous drive over the bowler’s head. Tho fieldsman, miming at top speed some 20yds, held the leather with one hand, just on the boundary. In tho Lord’s test match of 18S1, which resulted in an innings victory for England, George Ulyett covered himself with glory by capturing seven wickets for 36 runs in tho second innings. He also accomplished tho “ catch of his life” in the dismissal of the giant George Bonner. Tho latter made one. hit for 4, and then opened his massive shoulders. “Everyone looked down the ground to see where the ball landed, and the spectators began to open a space in the ring; hut the ball did not. reach the crowd.” It reached Ulyclt’s hand instead, and stuck there"! Four years before, G. F. Grace hail caught Bonnor at tho Oval from a hit measuring Lloyds when chained; whilst in 1925 Oldfield made a wonderful “ grab ” in catching Hobbs in tho last test match (Hayed by “Gillignn’s men.” f have abstained from including great catching performances by wicket keepers in this comparison, as the list would prove too inexhaustible. The record for 100 victims in a season is still. T believe, held by F. H. Huish, and ho has done it twice—7o caught and 32 stumped in 1913, 03 caught and 38 stumped in 1911. The record for aggregate is held by Stnulwick, who by catching alone has disposed of upwards of 1.200 opponents in first-class cricket. Curiously enough, we have to go back to the days of “Teddy” Pooley, the

old Surrey “keeper” of the ’sixties and ’seventies, for tho highest individual prowess behind the wicket. Tor Surrey v. Sussex at Kennington Oval in 1868 Pooley dismissed the record number of twelve batsmen, catching eight and stumping four. Moreover, tins was one of a sequence of four consecutive matches in which his total ot victims was 32, the other fixtures being: v. Kent, at Gravesend, caught 4, stumped 4; v. Notts, at tho Oval, caught 3, stumped 3; and v. Lancashire, at the Oval, caught ], slumped