CRICKET.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 14 October 1908, Page 11

CRICKET.

The World’s Greatest Cricketers By SIR HOME GORDON. BART. MR. A. 0. JONES. I forget how many sides there are to a man’s character—seven 1 fancy—but in any case the sight of Mr. A. O. Jones, calm, capable and logical, seated in his office at Nottingham, differs widely from the impression formerly derived of him on the football field, or to-day on the cricket ground, though he there displayed the attributes that assist his success in business. It is with his cricket we have to do. The very mention of his name conjures up the vision of a handsome and stalwart Anglo-Saxon, with clean shaven, rather long face, laughing lips, smiling eyes, and plenty of strength in the lino of his chin. Here is a cricketer of the lion-hearted type,

a man of dauntless energy, who revived Notts, cricket when it had reached a state of torpor. Let it he added that personally he is keen on the game, full of breezy good spirits, a vivacious comrade, and one who never says behind another crack amateur’s back what ho would not say to his face. The game would be happier for those participating if nil were imbued with the same spirit. Sir. A. O. Jones entirely owes his present position to the tenacity with which poor Arthur Shrewsbury stuck to his opinion that he had the makings of a great cricketer. Others also have been persevered with to an abnormal degree, and have in the end justified the experiment, but none perhaps to such a remarkable extent as the present Notts., captain, and it leaves one wondering how many budding Ranjitsinhji’s and 'Hirsts have been lost through being dropped after an ordinary trial. Shrewsbury had coached Mr. Jones, and not only believed in him. but persisted in announcing his belief to all and sundry. There can be no doubt that though he ecored well at Bedford Modern School, Mr. Jones owed his blue at Cambridge in his last year to his teacher’s advocacy and to his own beautiful fielding at slip. That 1903 eleven captained by Hon. I l '. S. Jackson was a remarkable one, for it consisted of K. S. Ranjitsinhji, Messrs. J. M. Douglas, C. M. Wells, P. H. Lathorn, E. C. Streatfield, T. N. Perkins, L. H. Gay, H. It. Bromley, Davenport, A. J. !L. Hill, and A. O. Jones, the last named being last in the batting, whilst for his first three years in the Notts.’ side he did very little indeed. And then he took his rightful place, suddenly assuming his true form, which is that of one of the most spirited rungetters. Few bats can make runs against time with more brilliant certainty and more refreshing vigour. A little eager under normal circumstances to force the pace, he is delightful to watch, his chop stroke being as good as that of Mr. George Brann, his square off-drive going faster than almost anyone’s, his cutting being clean, and altogether the batting effort can most happily be labelled as “slashing.” His fertility in getting the ■ball away is particularly noticeable on a slow wicket, and I especially recall a remarkable 129 at the Oval in 1899 as exemplifying this. In bis earliest visit to Australia how colourless was his batting form may be gathered from the fact that his largest score in eleven a side matches was 44. This, however, was only a temporary relapse from his high standard due to inadaptability to the diverse conditions. His luck was still out when he took the last M.C.C. team to Australia. Had it not been for his unfortunate attack of influenza a much different tale might be told of the Test Matches, for example, and experience such as his was just what was needed to give a young team confidence in itself. Possibly the consummate feat of ■his career was his splendid play in the crisis of Gentlemen v. Players in 1901, when the Gentlmen, having gone in to make 412. were reduced io the last man, Mr. Hesketh Pritchard appearing with a dozen runs still needed. The excitement was tremendous, and there was a whole circle of slips for Arnold’s bowling, but the Notts.' captain finished off the match by banging a couple of grand boundaries off the Worcestershireman's fastest deliveries, and receiving an ovation for the nerve displayed at the crisis. Besides being incomparable as a field, ho can bowl leg breaks with an unexpectedly straight and simple ball, which often dismisses an opponent. Showing tact and energy, he lias worked up his county team, and in 1907 had the satisfaction of seeing it at the top of the Championship table. lie is a capital captain, irreproachable and admirable, a typical cricketer to show to an enthusiastic schoolboy. HIRST.

If among all his “boys” Lord Hawke was a favourite—-though he would deny any preference that favourite is Hirst, and certainly “Georgie” amply deserves mH the liking he inspires. No cheerier coinpaniod in a long day’s fielding can be found, no more willing comrade, and, be it added, no greater cricketer. To Bee his broad faec with iiis twinkling smile, and to hear his voice with the unmistakable Yorkshire ring in it, uttering some droll things, is to bo pul in a good humour oneself. Hirst has the quaintest way of putting things, and what he says i» absolutely pal and to ifho point. (If course ho is a household ■nine wherever the game is played. iWlien John Tunnicliffo waa injured at Cambridge in 1905, someone in the Cale

ford crowd was heard to say, “Long John has been given snuff, wonder if lie keeps it,” in allusion to his excellent tobacconist’s shop in Scarborough. In the same way a smile .was one; produced when Hirst bowled an opponent with a “ripper” for a spectator observed, “there’s a sugar plum,” and of course Hirst and his wife kept a capital sweetstuff shop. I can imagine email boys waxing absolutely' reckless in planking down pennies for toffee in order to exchange a word with the great man. Hirst learnt his cricket in the same club as Rhodes—Kirkheaton—and it was when the village team won the Dumb Cup that his form at the age of eighteen attracted the attention of the executive. Still he was altogether too crude for big company, and it was not until after his association with Huddersfield that he really began to be an important player. I witnessed his first match with Yorkshire, and remember how everyone, in the pavilion at Lord’s passed the verdict, “he’ll do.’’ Physique helps him, for he has the stamina of a typical Tyke and his strength has borne him in good stead, considering the tremendous amount of work he has to get through. Men like Barnes and Hayward have dropped bowling in order to concentrate their skill on batting, but this would never occur to George Hirst, who will bowl right through an innings, go in fifth and stop a rot or make a century, and then start with the ball again, besides saving literally fifty' runs each outing in the field, notably at mid-off and extra cover. His pluck is all the greater because his ■‘game” leg—despite the finest medical skill—has often handicapped him to the extent that a man of less grit would have laid up, whereas he was doing the work of six in a match. It was after long years of anticipation that Hirst was at last permitted to go to Australia. where he did extremely well, and it may be noted that when he started to bowl to Messrs Trumper and Duff in the first Test Match at Sydney, he not only' had five men behind the wicket, but square log and cover-point hovering in close, and when Lilley caught Clem Hill off an express, three wickets were down for nine. A lot has been heard of Georgies swerve, and the ball that comes with his arm is unplayable. Statisticians may be amused in noticing how he ami Haigh have see-sawed in effectiveness in different, years, it always being “Yorkshire luck” to find one or other fit to keep an end opposite to Rhodes. As a bat Hirst is lively, with a clever cut and able forcing strokes. If old Nyren were to be reincarnated it is George Hirst who would pre-eminently' win his most golden opinion. His benefit, beat all records, but it is not a penny too much for the man or the cricketer.