THE TALENT OF CHAPMAN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 14 October 1922, Page 3

THE TALENT OF CHAPMAN.

"A RADIANT BATSMAN."

Writing of the remarkable performance of A. and P. F. Chapman, of Maclaren's team, in the Gentlemen v., Players match, in which he scored 160, the Athletic News says:— "These youths from Cain and Isis, full of lusty life, schooled in the wiles } of the cricket field, expressed, I hope, the conviction of the premier club, the i : controller of England's test match ( 'teams, that the older, the slower must take the rear rank in the future. They : have been in the front and must step ! back a pace to those who "have the dual qualifications of ability and activity. -.- .■■■■■■■ ■ ■■ . i | The first five wickets realised 383; I Arthur Carr and Percy Chapman scored 150 for the fourth in 128 minutes, and Chapman and, Frank Mann 147 for the fifth.*in ,120 minutes. Of these three Man is the only one who would fail to pass an examination by Ludford Docker concerning the age limit. Yet he batted as bravely and with as sporting a spirit as any man for his 50, while Carr provided a glorious 88. Carr made half his runs by drives to the boundary, and if Mann played for 20 minutes before scoring, he afterwards hit 16 in an over from Macauley, drove a ball for 6, and counted six | other 4's. \ , They were splendid partners for Chapman,, who emerged the central figure of the match. The old Uppingham boy was "simply devastating" in the way^ he cut and drove and. hit to Teg. Again let us call to mind a pas-r sage in an ,/old treasure, "The Master Builder." Hilda Wangel soliloquises: "Or if one had a really vigorous:, radiantly healthy conscience! —so that one dared to do what.one would.'' That was just it.. Chapman must have a happy conscience. He looks it. He dared,to do what he would, and he had the surpassing skill to realise his desires. Having scored 102 not out for Cambridge University in the, preceding week, Chapman returned to the scene of his triumph, and in the next match hit 160 for the Gentlemen of England, "within some five weeks of his 22nd 'birthday. Chapman's, batting embodied such qualities, and during his stay5" the spectators had *a feast. Making the utmost of his height, reach, and suppleness, Chapman batted superbly. He had only taken/two singles when he drove a ball from Hear'ne to the offboundary. That was the dominant character of his batting—beautiful placing to the off with,a fine flowing bat that came in a straight movement and with 7 a perfect follow-through flashed the ball to the pailings without any evident exercise\ of strength. It concealed art. 'Twas so easy. Carr's vehement driving, virile, magnificent, safe, and true as it was, had not the witchery of Chapman,' who gave the impression that he was sixfoot of-don't-care. But that-idea was dispelled. His batting is excellent in -every sense. -/ His back-play, as good as his forward, is not pure defence. It is often- aggressive. Chapman's hitting is cultivated; the ball travels either on the ground, or very low between the fielders^, and his [placing between the men on the off was ' glorious, i Rarely has Hobbs been so | busy at cover-point. This radiant youth scored .51 out of 119 in 90 minutes, and 101 out of 293 in two hours > and three-quarters. His passage from ,87 to 100 was painful progress. Woolley and Macanlay rarely gave him an indifferent ball,, and Hobbs fielded most unsympatheticaUy. The relief in Chapman's features when that last four, a flick of a cut, ( was made! Then he galloped,, passed the score of Hobbs, reached 152 with the total 394, and was bowled, playing like a tired man, when his score was 160. The figures on the book showed a six arid fourteen 4's, compared with 33 singles. His display was without serious fault' until he had reached three figures^ and then in two- overs from Wooley he might have been caught at 105 and 108; mere specs jOn the' sun. Largely owing to, Chapman, Carr, and Mann, I the Gentlemen headed the total of I the Players by 100 runs. The M.C.C. would draw their own conclusions between Youth and ., Age, between greyhounds and lurchers, between artists and workmen. The future rests with Youth, which alone can restore the cricketing prestige of England.