THE WORLD'S GREATEST CRICKETER?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 23, 20 September 1912, Page 7

THE WORLD'S GREATEST CRICKETER?

A YANKEE SELECTION

"Who is the finest cricketer in the world?" was a question put by a Wellington reporter to Mr. Bert Kortlang, the crack American and Australian cricketer, now resident in Wellington. "Bart King!" came the answer, without any hesitation. "Who's he?" "King is a man who plays for the Columbia Oval Club in Philadelphia, and in my opinion there is no finer allround cricketer in the world. He is the fastest bowler America has got, and can swerve from cither side at will. He takes a run of about fifteen yards, jumps up into the air, and delivers the hall after a double swing, full over-arm. I remember a game we played against Montreal one time. The secretary of the "Canucks," who was a member of the team, had been known to say that King's delivery was not fair, and lie couldn't boAvl much, anyway. When this man came in to strike'King ordered everyone off the field except myself, and me he placed at fine leg. The [umpires made some demur at the action, but agreed that there was no rule to prevent a side fielding short, so they all went off but me. King hurled himself into the air, sent down a beautiful length bull, which swerved in a lot from the off, and knocked the leg stump clean out of the ground in my direction. King was asked afterwards why he left me on the field. "Oh, just to pick up the stump!" he replied. "King is a beautiful bat, too, with a fine variety of strokes on both sides. I've seen and played against, or with, most of the best players in the world, and I do not think that there is a better man to-day than J. B. King of Philadelphia."