1931-08-06 — Page 5

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1931.

THE VERY LATEST

IN

BERETS.

ANGORA

SPD WOOL'

BOUCLET

ALSO

A NICE RANGE

OF

PLAIN

ASSORTED SHADES

LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.

E

DABSCHLOSS

Children's Department.

THE CHINA MAIL.

STORIES IN

CRICKET

BATS

OLD FRIENDS USED BY THE

GREATEST PLAYERS.

IN WISDEN'S MUSEUM

In the heart of the West End of London-next door to the Leicester Square Tube station, in fact is the greatest cricket museum in the

world.

Unlike the great national museum of South Kensington, it is housed in no pretentious home: thousands of busy people pass it by every day, probably unaware of its existence. For this museum is in the West End showrooms of John Wisden und Co., and it is open to the public by courtesy of the firm.

Nearly every one of us knows the Joy of collecting. When we were hays we collected stamps, and know the thrill of capturing some com- paratively rare specimen: as time. went on we gave the collection to some young friend-er kept it for our sons,

and they, too, derived pleasure from it.

There is hardly an article which, of some time or another, has not attractel the attention of the col lectors. But few private collectors have persevered in their hobby as have the House of Wisden in secur- ing the famoits bats of cricket, To-day there are as many stories told by the bats of the museum as the sermons of the stones of St. Paul's.

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Walk round.

The Oldest Bat. There is the oldest bat in exist- It looks more like a scoop ence. thun a modern bat. It is dated 1760-the year that the Hambledon Club was being formed at Broad- halfpenny Down, in Hampshire; a bat commemorating the birth of Britain's greatest Summer gaine.

Then there are bats that have made records; bats that great players used and loved; bats that

i

This but look somewhat weather beaten. It is bound in three places: ings is a piece of wood let into the and between the two upper bind-

alade, giving it an appearance like Dan Leno's famous trap-door bat.

Some of these bats had a long life in the field. Here is one used by Mr. Leveson-Gower

"I used it for nearly three sen- nons," say the Inscription on it "I have scored nearly 5,000 rana with it."

Sp.

Next to it is a bat that Charlie Lavender, for many years profes sional to the Hastings Cricket Club, used. Four thousand runs be spored with it.

Old Campaigner.

And here is an old campaigner. At first glance It tells of many strenuous days in the cricket-field. A huge crack runs down one side of the bite, which is studded with pegs. It looks, rather like a dis- alpated old gentleman, in fact.

1 belonged to George Lohmann, one of the greatest hitters who ever played for. Surrey. He used it con alatently during seasons 1890, 1391

regained the Ashes fur England, they said that Brown had dug them up again.

Hence, the "Gravedigger."

For many years Brown used to call at Wisden's Museum to handle his famous bat again. In those moments, with the roar of London's traffic in his cars, he lived again;

when he those stirring moments saved England from defeat in Aug-| tralia.

Brown had a real affection for this bát. And other cricketers, too,; have loved their trusty willows.

"I feel as though I am parting from a very old friend," wrote M. A. Noble, sending to the museum a bat with which he had. scored 2,000 runs. Constantine, the West Indies player, who was over here in 1928, paid a remarkable tribute to his bat. He wrote:

The best but I have ever used. See the face and look at the scores on the back. Hits the ball as hard as ever, and still it's perfect.

Nearly every one of these bats

and part of 1892. During that bears a message from the distin- time, too, most of the Surrey play-guished cricketer who played with ers used the bat. It is believed to it. have nearly 6,000 runs to its credit.

But some of these bats had shorter lives, but none the less merry ones. The Inscriptions on them bring memories of great feats flooding back to the cricket lover..

Mr. V. F. S. Crawford used this playing for young Surrey amateure against the professionals in 1896. It was one of the first games of the season, in April. He scored 218 out of a total of 296.

566 Runs.

King Edward. There is one, however, which at first glance has

no distinction whatever. But if you look at it closely you will find a piece of silver let into the blade, at the back. It bears the Prince of Wales's

Feathers.

This bat belonged to King Ed- ward when, as, Prince of Wales, he used to play for the Prince's Club (now on-existent) at Knights bridge.

King Edward, in his younger days, was keen on the, game, but did not always figure among the leading

have crossed and recrossed the set up the world's record score50i scorers of his side. In one match)

world and they all have a story to

tell.

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There is a bat used by the re doubtable Dr. W. G. Grace. He had promised Wisden's that if he

made over 1,000 runs with it he would let them have it for the museum. Well, the 1,000 runs ac complished "W. G." sent the bat along. His scoring with this bat in the 1000 season included 126 for the South against the North at Lord's.

There is a bat that belonged to the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar- "Ranj"-prince of cricketers and uncle of that fine batsman of to-day, K.-S. Duleepsinhjl: Writing from Cambridge In October 1895, "Ranji"

said:

"It was the very best bat that I have ever used. I made all but 91 runs in first-class cricket this year | and close on 2,400 runs in all matches with it. Included in my scores were four centuries in first- class cricket-namely, 150, 137. not eut, 110 and 100. I also made the only 200 I have ever scored with it

in a local match here."

Mr. A. C. Maclaren. Mr.A. C. Maclaren's famous bat te here, too. With it he set up hie record score of 424 at Taunton in 1895,

One of the veterans of the collec- tion is the bat used throughout the season of 1893 by F. S. Jackson.

Altogether this bat piled up a score of 2,000 runs, including the 108 Mr. Jackson scored in the mem- orable England v. Australia match at the Oval.

Mr. C. T. Eady, the record maker, has a place here, of course.

Here is the bat with which he runs, for Break Day against Wellington. Next to it is the bat he used when he made two centuries for Tasmania, against Victoria thereby creating an

inter-colonial

recurd.

Here, too, is Warwick. Arm- strong's bat. No collection would be complete without representing

of all Australian cricketers. this great-porhaps the greatest

With this, Armstrong scored 303 net out against Somerset. The bat helped him to over 3,000 runs in England and Australia.

Talking of Australia. Here is the most travelled bat in the world: it belonged to George Giffen. He brought it to England on two of his visits; and scored over 2,000 runs with it. The bat must have

travelled about 60,000 miles-yet it looks nothing of a globe-trotter, hut fresh and youthful.

The Gravedigger.” These two, bata were made in a pair, other for J. T. Brown, when they one for Albert Ward, the

went on their Australian trip with Mr. Stoddart. They were not used great deal, however, until the last Test match. Then Brown acored 140 with his, and Ward 98 with the other.

he was bowled with the first ball of his second over. This is what a repprter wrote:

"Owing to intense heat, his Royal Highness deemed it prudent to re- tire, after a somewhat lengthy stay at the wicket, with a masterly play- ed three to his name."

There are stories, too, yes, and memories, in the cricket balls. Take three inscriptions at random-~

Great, Test Match at the Oval 1902. This ball (a Wisden's Special) is the one with which Wilfred Rhodes made the winning hit,

Gloucestershire

Somerset.

Dr. W. G, Grace made his 100th century, May 1894. Bowled 80 12 overs, 30 maidens, 140 runs, ⚫ wickets.

Three times through the pavilion windows at Lord's. What

memories these little apheres recall.

And now for the secret of the Museum.

When it was started, the idea was to collect bats and balls used in famous feats or by outstanding cricketers. As time went on it was found that practically every famous butaman used bats made by Wisden's: and nearly every cricket Brown's bat became known as the club used balls made by Wisden's. "Gravedigger" for a curious reason. Thus if is that in this musaum, Australian newspapers, commenting with its mementoes of the greatest on the earlier defeat of Lord deeds and players of the-ericket, Sheffield's team in the final Teat game, nearly every bat and ball was match, said that "the ashes of made by Wisden's, English cricket were left in Aua tralia." After Brown'a 140, which

A great tribute to a great house. The Evening Standard,

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