GREATEST CRICKETER-WHO?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1550, 20 September 1912, Page 4

GREATEST CRICKETER-WHO?

INTERESTING LETTER. 6 In a recent issuo Mr, Bert. stated that, in his opinion, J. B, King, of Philadelphia, was the best cricketer in the world. Tho following letter bearing on tho subject has been reoeived: — (To tho Editor.) Sir,—l read with interest a paragraph in The Dominion yesterday with reference to Mr. Kortlan|'s cricket experiences ill America. ' Mr. hortlang refers to a, Mr. J. B. King, of Philadelphia, as being 0110 of tho finest cricketers in the world. This sounds tall to one who does not know American cricket as well us Mr. Ivortlang, and perhaps, under the circumstances; the following extract from a letter of an "old school: friend of mine, who v,-as a member of the "Gentleman of Ireland" team tfliich l toured the Status in the autumn of 1909, will bu of interest, bearing out, as it docs, all that Mr. Kortlang says of Mr. J. 13. King. My friend writes:— "Wo wore beaten in each of our matches against tho l'hiladelphiaus by an innings. The result was mainly dui to the remarkablo bowling of Mr. .T. B. King, who captured all ten wickets in tho first innings of the first match. This bowler I consider to be, in his day, the best in the world. When he first appeared in big cricket twenty years ago lie bowled fast' right arm with a very pronounced swerve from tho off. Nowadays, however, he has somewhat moderated his pace, but not at tho exponSfe of his swerv,e, which is still as deadly an ever, while he lias added to his repertory , a ball swinging from leg, .which is very effective." As Americans have a reputation for telling t&ll yarns, I am glad to have_ the opportunity of corroborating Mr. Kortlang's statements.—l am, etc., L. OLLIVER KELLY. '