“THE DEMON.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 27 September 1924, Page 26

“THE DEMON.”

SPOFFORTH MAY VISIT AUSTRALIA. WORLD’S BEST BOWLER. K 11. Spoffurtli. “the demon bowl- * will probably visit Australia at tb»‘ mid ot the year, arid will witness the lost matches to be played between the visiting Knglish eleven and Australia. during a visit which will extend over three months. “ I have not quite made up my mind yet. said “ Spoff.” when interviewed by a London pressman. “The difficulty i.s that I am manager of a tea business and, so far. I have been unable to find a substitute. I am now in the sere and yellow, but I would like to see my two sisters who are resident in Australia, before I die. .1 1 will be purely a pleasure trip. I have not seen the Australians for a long time, but in my opinion the Knglishmen will regain the Ashes. I heir bowlers are not much good, but the Australians seem to have none.*’ Spottorth is still tall, erect and ruddyeomplexioned, but is grey, and not so sprightly as previously. He savs: ” I will not play again. Cricket i.s a young man’s game. .1 will sit in the pavilion and criticise. Nobody gets out that wav.”

The news will he received with great interest by all cricketers and iollowers ol the game. SpofForth stands out a.s probably the greatest bowler the game lias known, and in his day was certainly supreme in this department.

He was one of the famous baml of players who in the late 70s of last century helped to place Australia on the cricketing map. His comrades at that time included AY. L. Murdoch, at one time regarded by many as second only to AN'. G. Grace among the world’s batsmen: .7. M. Blackham. generally acknowledged as the best wicketkeeper the game has known ; T. AN . Garrett. Charles Bannerman. Georgo Giffen. If. I'". Boyle and other equally When the first Australian eleven visited Kngland in 1878 his bowling came as a revelation to Knglish cricketers. His bowling, and that of H. K. Boyle, in the famous M.C.C. match at Lord's, in which the Australians dcleatcd what, was practically Kngland's best eleven in one day, is still regarded as one of the most remarkable feats in the history of the game. He visited Kngland with several subsequent teams and was highly successful each time. Soon after the tour of 1886 he settled in Kngla ml. and has lived there, over since. Kor some time lie played a fair amount of cricket with Derbyshire, and was highly successful. IKBT MATCH R ECO HD. Spofforth established a wonderful record in Test matches between Kngland and Australia, in which he took Ot wickets at an average of 18 runs each. fie is one of three Australians who have accomplished the “hat trick *’ in these games, and on four occasions <twice in one match) he took seven wickets in an innings. In the match ;it. the Oval in 1882 his record was 1 \ wickets for 00 runs. r l his was the famous match which Australia won !»v seven runs, and the victory was almost entirely due to the bowling of Spoffnrth and the batting ot H. 11. Massio. in the Australians’ second insT>offorth was a New South Welshman. hut for one brief period in the 80 s he lived in Melbourne and played for Victoria, against his old State. Originally be was a fast bowler, but lie so developed bis art that be was able to bowl any pace and gained most ot his .successes as a fast medium howler. Tall and wiry, he had a per lent command of length, flight and variation of pitch, ami it is said of him that he could so control his break that the ball missed the bat it would certainly bit the wicket. He was master of all the wiles of the game, and well earned his title ot “The Demon Bowler.”