CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15016, 12 August 1922, Page 16 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

(By "Cover Point.”) A GREAT SLOW BOWLER. Tlie first English cricketer to capture IUO wickets in Test cricket was the well-known and popular Yorkshireman, Robert Peel. It will always remain a debatable point which was the best slow lefthander of E. Pcate, R. Peel, .). Briggs, W. ’'Rhodes, and C. Blythe. When Pcate retired on account of failing eyesight Peel came into action, and in his time in hj s particular style was unrivalled as a bowler. As an allround cricketer, Peel was far ahead of Pcate, for lie was worth a position ir. any team for his balling and lidding. With his command of length, pace and break Peel was a dangerous howler to meet on any wicket, for lie combined excellent judgment-with bis control of the ball. The Yorkshircman had a nasty ball that came with hi* arm, and on slieky wickets was deadly. At Sydney, in December, 181)4, he said to his captain, A. E. Stoddart, “Give rue Hie ball, I’ll get ’em out.” This was when Australia, with eight wickets intact, wanted less than 70 runs to win. But Peel got them out as promised. A good slow left-hand bowler is a valuable acquisition to the strength of a side, for not oidy does it serve the purpose of varying the attack, but especially on a sticky wicket is more difficult to play Hum right-hand howling. R. Peel, in his last Test at the oval ill 1800, had a howling triumph at tile expense of Harry Troll's side, 'file Australians wanted 111 to win, but, the White Rose representative, with 11 1 e assistance of ,1. T. llcarne, went through the side for Prior to Hie commencement, of Hie innings, Peel informed E. S. Jackson that it the bowling was managed all right the Australians would not get the runs.' The match was exciting to the last, as anyone might have knocked up runs quickly. The winning hit of file famous Test at Melbourne in .March, 180 a, was made by Peel, who afterwards presented his hat lo H. T. R. Turner, who was not selected for the mulch. During the. 188-1-8“» season in Australia the English team played a Moss Vale which included a gentleman who had w.agered he would make i runs against the Englishmen. On Hie evening before he had lo go into bat, George 111 ye t L introduced him to Peel. The local player spoke of two hollies of champagne which should become the possession of the howler if the 'happy event of his winning his wager came off. George lllycll suggested that it would he heller lo have one o! the hollies at once lo test it, which was done. The next morning the Moss Vale player interviewed W. Flowers, who remarked, ‘‘lh>bl>y is sure lo chuck you up an easy one." The Moss Vale man went to 1 ho wiekol contideiitly, with his led, over his shoulder, aiul as lie passed, tie

said, “Peel —you know,” to which the bowler replied, “Yes, it’s all right, sir,” Peel sent him up a very slow full loss, the batsman made a noble attempt to smite it to the boundary, but unfortunately missed Hie ball altogether, and it fell right on the lop of liic stumps. As he shouldered his bat and went away, he called out, “You’ve done with me for ever. No more champagne." Eighteen wickets' tor 7 runs was liic .result of Peel’s bowling in Ibis holiday match. The Yorkshircman played in 2<* lests and bowled in 10, delivering 5216 balls for 102 wickeds, cosling 1715 runs, an average of 16.81. R Peel was retired from Yorkshire cricket in May, 1808. No reason was given him, and lie never knew who was responsible. The howler never made any accusations, as it was not ids nature to complain. In Ibis manner tlic curtain fell upon tile career of one of Hie pluckiest and most skilful performers with bat and ball, an nil-round cricketer of the highest class, and who was for many years a certain choice in every rnpresentalive match ouViide county cricket. Robert Peel was coaching Essex on leaving Yorkshire, and is at present engaged to assist the development and improvement of amateur cricket in Yorkshire under a scheme which has been outlined by the Yorkshire Evening News. The details of Peel’s 102 Test wickets are given below:—

Ground. Year Wickets Runs Adelaide ■ • . 1884 3 f>8 Melbourne .. 1885 78 Sydney .... 18 8 5 i 2 4 Sydney .... 1885 i 53 Sydney. 1885 i 16 Melbourne .. 1885 3 28 Sydney .... 1888 18 5 40 Lords 1888 4 36 4 14 The Oval .. 1888 1 14 4 40 Manchester . 188S 7 31 4 37 Lords ..... 1888 3 28 3 50 Melbourne .. 1802 3 5 4 2 2 5 Sydney .... 1802 i 4 0 Sydney .... 1804 2 140 6 67 Melbourne . . 1805 t • 2 1 Adelaide • • • 1805 4 06 Sydney .... 1805 3 7 4 Melbourne -. 1805 4 114 3 80 The Oval • • 1806 2 30 6 23