J. R. MASON'S CAREER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume 23, Issue 14017, 23 September 1909, Page 2

J. R. MASON'S CAREER.

J. R. Mason, of Kent,' first played cricket at Winchester School, where he w.7S educated, playing in the school eleven in 1890 and three' following seasons. His doings in 1892 and 1893 -gained him the right to be regarded as the finest cricketer turned out by Wineh?st?r. In 1898 he succeeded F. Marchant as captain of the county side and came out at the head of the batting tables. In 1900 he again outdistanced all his confreres in the Kent batting averages, aggregating 1662 runs with an average of 53, while 78 wickets fell before his bowling. Again in 1901 he was easily at the head of both b.itting and bowling averages. He visited Australia in 1897-8 as a member of A. E. Stoddart's eleven, aggrej gating _ 514 in first-class matches and averaging 25 — his highest innings being f 128 not out against Victoria. Since 1903 he has not been able to devote as much time as formerly to the first-class game, but that he- can 'always be, depended oh- to justify his selection for a place even in a county possessing such a wealth of 'talent as Kent is evident ,f ronr the/- f act that he again headed the county averages in 1908. He "plays a good, straight bat, driving^ in clean stylo, while he is a fine field at slip.