by A. W. Pullin
On another occasion we played a match at Ossett, and as one of the Gentlemen v. Players' matches was on at the same time, Hayward, Carpenter, Smith, and Tarrant were not available, consequently we were weak in both bowling and batting. The local side had engaged Luke Greenwood and Ike Hodgson, besides other professionals. I think we got about 120 in the first innings, and the local twenty-two made over 200. They got us out again rather cheaply in the second innings, and they finally had to go in a second time, requiring only about 60 runs to win. Of course the locals thought the match as good as won. But they were in error: it was the Eleven who won, for we got them out for 37 runs.
"Ike Hodgson, confident that the Ossettonians had a good thing on, took off his cricket-boots, put on his ordinary ones, and left the ground for the village. A short time afterwards we met him in the roadway, and with a broad grin asked him where he had been. 'Oh, I've been to a friend's house; how many wickets have you got down 1' 'We've got them all down, except yours, and we waited ten minutes for you to turn up to bat. We've won the match by 27 runs.' Ike was simply dumfoundered. On finding out that we were not joking, he went to the field for his bag and hied him quietly but hurriedly away. Another case of 'Glorious uncertainty,' you see."
Many cricketers will remember the Rev. H. M. Sims, who had a meteoric career at Cambridge and in Yorkshire in the 'Seventies, and died at the early age of thirty-two years on October 5, 1885. Here is a good story touching his demon bowling. Says Will Oscroft:—
"On May 12, 13, and 14, 1873, I played with an Eleven of England v. Cambridge University. Mr Sims, the Yorkshire undergraduate, was bowling against us. His speed was terrific, and three or four of our wickets went down in next to no time for very few runs. We had never played him before, and I expected to share the same fate. When I went in, it was at the end from which he was bowling, and I whispered to the umpire, who was a big pal of mine, 'If you give me out leg-before-wicket I shall cut your head off with the bat.' When I got to the other end I played at his first ball, but was too late, and it hit my leg. 'How's that?' 'Not out,' responded my friend. When I got to his end again I said, 'I'm all right now. I want no favours.' He replied, 'It was a close shave, Bill.' I very soon knocked the demon bowler off, and was top scorer with 96. England won with 10 wickets to spare."
The match between Notts and the M.C.C., played at Lord's on June 13, 14, 15, 1870, has come down to posterity as the "George Summers' match," it being the match in which Summers received a fatal blow from a ball delivered by Platts. Oscroft, who played in that match, says :—
"I was playing very well in the second innings, having got 12. I then made a very big hit out to long-leg, and was brilliantly secured by Mr C. I. Thornton. On returning to the pavilion, poor Summers was just preparing to follow me at the wickets, and he remarked, 'Just your duck, Bill, to get out with a hit like that.' The very first ball he afterwards received closed his career, and Mr Thornton has many times since remarked to me that I ought to be thankful for the service he did me in securing the catch, as, if he had not done so, I should have had to receive the ball that killed one of the best cricketers and most worthy men that ever stepped on to the green turf. Summers got 41 runs in the first innings grandly, and the last stroke he ever made was a hit for five.
"I may here mention," adds Oscroft, "that Mr Thornton once came very near doing for me what Platts did for Summers. I and George Howitt, once before a match at Cambridge, were giving Mr Thornton and another gentleman some practice. I was bowling at the other gentleman. Howitt had not noticed that I was in the act of delivering my ball, and delivered his almost at the same moment. Mr Thornton struck as only he could strike, and the smitten ball caught me straight on the head, and of course placed me hors-de-combat before I had time to see. Fortunately I was not much hurt, as I had a thick felt hat on at the time. But it was a narrow escape."
William Oscroft has taken part in one Australian tour. He -was one of the third English team that went to Australia under the captaincy of W. G. Grace in 1873, the team being made up of five amateurs and seven professionals. On the way out Oscroft had the opportunity of proving the truth of the saying that fact is much stranger than fiction.
"We called at King George's Sound on the way for coal, water, mails, &c, and our ship stayed for about thirty hours. I remembered having heard my parents speak of an uncle who had left Nottingham for that place more than thirty years previously, and of whom little had since been heard. I resolved to find him if possible. I learned that a man of his name was working some miles in the interior, and I secured the services of a person of the name of Harrison to accompany me. We travelled along a lonely and prairie-like district, seeing no civilised beings, but several aboriginals. They were armed with their native weapons, but they took no notice of us. At last we came to a rudely constructed house in the bush, where I found a man and a boy. The man was my uncle.
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"I spoke to him of England, of Nottingham, and of Arnold, his birthplace, but he seemed bewildered, and quite oblivious to his antecedents. At last I made him realise that I was his own sister's son, that I came from Nottingham, and was going to Australia to play cricket. I stayed with him all night, and talked a good deal about home. The next day he came with me to King George's Sound and saw our vessel off. He also met me again at the same place when we returned, and sent presents for England, but declined to return with me, and so I left him. I have not seen or heard of him since.
"We landed in Australia on a Saturday, and I remember there was a big match on the same day, Melbourne v. East Melbourne Clubs. Most of us went down to the ground, and we got a hearty reception from the Antipodeans. We went to the theatre at night, and some other places, and were most hospitably treated. I daresay when we returned to our hotel for the night we should most of us be slightly exhilarated, and as none of us had recovered our land-legs you need not be surprised. However, poor Jupp, probably thinking he was still in the boat and had to get into his berth as usual, slipped under the bed and lay there till morning!
"The only occasion on which I ever had a bet on the result of a match was during this Australian tour. We had lost to Eighteen of New South Wales by 4 wickets, and a fortnight later we had to play Fifteen of New South Wales and Victoria. One night before the latter game commenced Lillywhite was egged on by the local players' supporters to take an even bet of ^50 that we should again be beaten. The seven professionals decided to include the bet in the common fund. On the third day of the match we had got a sufficient number of runs to make us safe from defeat, and the question was as to whether we should have time to get the combined Fifteen out. I went in, hit two 4's and a 5, and then got out, and others did the same. Finally we captured the last of the Fifteen's wickets five minutes before the call of time, and thus won our bet of ^50."
"I went out to Australia," frankly admits Oscroft, "to make as much money as I could. We only got ,£150 each for the tour, and ^20 allowance for spending-money. Before starting Southerton wrote to me suggesting that we should take out a dozen bats each for sale, and asking that I would see Andrew Greenwood and M'Intyre and get them to 'stand in.' I replied that what I took I should take 'on my own.' I therefore took out a lot of things—four times as much as all the rest of the team put together. Jupp asked me why I would not stand in with the party, and I replied that the reason was the things would have to be sold; and some players would be too proud to offer them for sale; they would prefer to 'do the gentleman,' walking round the field. I sold all my stock, and could have sold more. Among the things I sold were a gross of photos of myself and Daft.
"I did very well on the tour financially, as things then went, but I remember I once was in a terrible funk. When we were at Stawell the place was so crowded that we had to sleep anywhere. I had ^70 in my pocket, and was so careful of it that when I went to sleep — there were many strangers about—I put the money under my blanket for safety. The next morning I forgot all about it, and went away after breakfast with the other members of the tea
m to a gold mine that we had been invited to inspect. When in the mine it suddenly flashed through my mind that I had left the ^70 under the blanket. I immediately ran off posthaste, to every one's astonishment, not even stopping to speak to Jack Conway—the manager of the first Australian team that came here later—whom I met on the way. On reaching the hotel I found, to my intense relief, that the bed had not been disturbed, and that my ^70 was safe.
"A singular thing happened when we were playing in the match at Ballarat. We had lost the wickets of Jupp, 'W. G.' (112), and Andrew Greenwood (62), and G. F. Grace was in overnight. The next morning he and I became partners, and at lunch-time his score was 70 odd and mine 62, both being not out. Standing outside our dressing-room, a gentleman came to me and said, 'Oscroft, if you can head W. G.'s score, there is £20 for you.' The thermometer showed 108° in the shade, so I went and had a cold shower-bath and rested, and being content with a bottle of beer and a sandwich for luncheon, felt revived and quite fit to continue the innings. After luncheon I hit a ball to the leg-boundary, and the next over G. F. Grace put a ball through the slips and called me for a run. I thought—though I may have been mistaken— there was nearly time for two runs, but when I had got right up to him he said, 'You can go back,—I shan't come.' The result was I was run out. Of course I did not get the ^20, and I have never been able to quite understand why it should have been offered to me."
Oscroft was one of the team taken to Canada and the States by Richard Daft in 1879. It was one of the best teams that ever left these shores, and Oscroft had the top average. At the Germantown Ground, Philadelphia, in a match, a grand smoking-cap was offered by the ladies for the highest individual score. Oscroft obtained 69 and 30, and made his claim good for the prize, and was called up to the grand stand to receive it at the hands of one of the fair sex. On his return a gold watch was presented to him by his friends at Arnold as a token of their esteem. Oscroft wears the watch with pride to this day.
Returning to English cricket, Oscroft has many further interesting reminiscences to relate.
"Notts and Kent played at Canterbury in 1879. In this match I was particularly successful with the bat, as I got 140 in one innings—the highest individual score of that season in a county match. I also received what I believe to be the greatest compliment I have ever had paid to me during my career as a cricketer, though it was not given for my batting. The compliment was paid to me by Lord Harris, and it happened in this way :—
"Kent had all their wickets to fall at lunch on the last day. Notts had plenty of runs on and to spare, and it was just a question of getting Kent out before time. I was captain of Notts, and Alfred Shaw and Morley were our principal bowlers. I went up to Shaw just before commencing and said, 'I think we'll start with Barnes. I don't think they can play him on this wicket.' He replied, 'All right, Bill.' Morley bowled at the other end. The result justified my anticipations, for we got them all out by about five o'clock, and won easily. Barnes's analysis was 29 overs, 9 maidens, 43 runs, 7 wickets.
"After the match was over and we were going to the pavilion, Lord Harris came up to me and said, 'Oscroft, what induced you to put Barnes on instead of Shaw after lunch?' I replied, 'Why, my Lord, I felt sure you couldn't play him so well as Shaw on this wicket, and that was the reason.' His Lordship answered, 'You were quite right, and I told them in the pavilion we should lose when you put Barnes on; but you must bear in mind there isn't another captain in England who would have substituted Barnes for Alfred Shaw at the commencement of an innings.' This incident will show that a captain must not only understand his bowlers and their peculiarities, but also what wickets will suit them best.
"In June 1871 Yorkshire and Notts were playing at Trent Bridge, before the new pavilion was put up. Daft was captain. Bignall and Wild had gone in first, and I was to go in first wicket down. I sat with my pads on, ready to go in. At last the wicket fell, and I was just getting ready for the fray when up comes Daft. 'Oscroft,' says he, 'do you mind me going in now? I feel just in form now. I can hit them all over the field.' I said, 'All right; go,' and he did. He had to receive the first ball from Tom Emmett, and it happened to be one of those electrical zigzag deliveries of his, that it was 10 to 1 nobody could play. Down went Daft's wicket, and he retired crestfallen. He made amends in the second innings by scoring 50 not out, and enabling us to win the match by 4 wickets.
"The M.C.C. and Notts, at Lord's, on June 15 and 16, 1882, produced some extraordinary cricket and a most exciting finish. The M.C.C. had scored 136 first innings, and when play ceased Notts had lost 5 wickets for 71, of which I had made 49 not out, and I added 8 next morning to my overnight score. In the M.C.C. first innings Shaw bowled 35 maidens out of 40 overs without taking a wicket, being on at one stage for an hour and twenty minutes, in which time he was only hit for 2 runs. Morley going on late took 5 wickets for 25 runs, and Attewell's figures were 10 overs, 9 maidens, 2 runs, and 3 wickets. The M.C.C. second innings closed at 5.10 on the second day, and left Notts 164 to win. It was arranged that play should continue till 7.30 if there were any chance of finishing the match that evening, and further on it was agreed to play till 8, when it was thought the game would be finished in a fair light. There seemed little doubt as to the side on which victory would lie, as 7 Notts wickets went down rapidly for 54 runs.
"I remember at this point Captain Holden, the Notts hon. secretary, rose to leave the ground in high dudgeon and disappointment at the poor show we were making. I said to him, 'I hope you are not going, Captain. Teddy Mills is coming in—he'll get a few; it's not over yet.' In his bluff way he replied, 'It's as good as over now.' However, I prevailed upon him to stay a little longer. Barnes was Mills's partner. Mills hit away like a demon till the partnership had realised 99 runs, 59 of which were credited to him, and then he was bowled. When Sherwin faced Barnes 1 1 were required to win. In attempting a short run Sherwin lost his wicket; and when Morley, the last man, came in, 5 runs were still needed. Each man hit a single, and then Morley scored a 3 from Rylott, and won the match for Notts at eight minutes to eight in semi-darkness and amid great enthusiasm. Barnes played splendidly for 66 not out. This remarkable match was during my last year of cricket. Captain Holden's dudgeon, I need hardly say, had given way to broad smiles of satisfaction before the winning hit was made.
"Another exceedingly close contest was that between Notts and Lancashire on July 13, 14, 15, 1876, and I recall it chiefly to bear testimony to the wonderfully sharp and accurate fielding of the Rev. Vernon Royle, than whom no better cover-point has ever been seen. In the last innings we needed 203 to win. Mr Iioyle ran out Selby for 29, and nearly ran out Richard Daft also just before luncheon. Daft and I were together at the adjournment, and on coming out to play after luncheon Daft said to me, 'Whatever we do we must not attempt to run for a hit to cover-point against Royle until the ball has passed him.' Excellent advice, and most necessary, as Daft had soon good reason to know.
"We had played four maidens each, and Daft was playing his fifth when he struck a ball to Mr Royle, and disregarding his own advice to be cautious he shouted to me, 'Come on!' I went, but Mr Royle had the ball in so brilliantly that Daft was run out. I made 53, and it was said to have been a good innings. There was a rare struggle as the innings advanced. F. Wild, who had to retire hurt in the first innings, pluckily turned out, and though in great pain with his damaged hand he hit up 5. When Fred Morley came in last 6 runs were needed, and there was great excitement round the ground, the attendance being very large. Fred was equal to the occasion, and quickly hit up 5; and as W. Shrewsbury, who had been in a long time, got another run, Notts won by 1 wicket. That was one of the closest and most exciting contests I ever witnessed or took part in.
"Just let me think a moment of the rivalries of the All-England and United teams. Old George Parr was so keen on his side winning that he would at any time have given ^100 rather than be beaten by the United. When the teams met at Old Trafford in 1867, on the last day we had an innings each to play, a
nd we thought the match could not be finished. However, we were finally left requiring only about 50 to win. Parr naturally thought his team had a 'good thing' on. But when Daft had made 4 George Freeman broke his middle stump. Parr then said, 'Look at that devil, how he's pelting them. I hope I shall not have my first ball from him.' But he had; and down went his middle stump. Other wickets fell, and when I was in a ball from Freeman whipped back like a flash of lightning. I played forward at it and missed it, and the ball striking my trousers there was an appeal for a catch, but the umpire gave me 'not out.' We just won at the finish. At the hotel after the match, one of the United's supporters told Bob Carpenter he would have given ;£100 to have beaten Parr's team. Carpenter replied, 'We should have beaten them easily enough if the umpire had given Oscroft out.' But I was really not out.
"Mention of that grand bowler George Freeman reminds me that the popular Yorkshireman, who liked his bit of fun as well as any of us, once tried to play a trick on me when Notts and Yorkshire were playing at Sheffield. We were at a hotel together, and he showed me a box of cigars, and asked me what I thought of them. I said they looked very good. He invited me to take one, which I did, but, being suspicious, I managed to obtain access to George's cigar-case, and exchanged the one he had previously given me for one out of his own case. At night we went to a music-hall, and Freeman during the evening innocently took this very smoke from his case. He hadn't been puffing more than a minute or two before off it went like a squib, to the great consternation of himself and those sitting near him. His practical joke, therefore, recoiled on his own head.