CRICKET.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 25 November 1927, Page 3

CRICKET.

STRUDWICK RETIRES. HIS CAREER BEHIND THE STICKS. London, Nov. 23. Strudwick has retired from cricket and becomes scorer for Surrey. Altogether he has caught 1235 and stumped 258 in first-class cricket.— (A. and N.Z.) The retirement of H. Strudwick from active cricket will occasion ro little surprise in cricket circles throughout the world. Born on January 20 i'RO, he is still a comparatively young man Up till two or three years ago he was acclaimed the world’s lending wicket-keeper and at the end of the 1926 season he had to his credit 1200 catches behind the sticks in addition to having stumped 256 batsmen. His first appearance m Test matches was in the 1911-12 season when he went to Australia with the famous “Johnny Won’t Hit To-day" Douglas team. Then the war intervened and it was not until 192021 that the Tests were resumed Once again Douglas took an English team to Australia and Strudwick was the ’keeper. On his return he played in

two Tests in England, while in 1924-5 he played in all five Tests against the colonials in Australia doing the same in the last Australian tour of the Home Country. Practically the whole of his cricket has been played under Surrey colours and his famous club mates. Hobbs, Sutcliffe. Sandham, Fender, Holmes, Gregory and Geary (all internationals) will no doubt miss the amiable “Struddy’’ behind the sticks. The greatest honour that can be bestowed on a cricketer is to have his portrait in Wisden’s Almanack. In 1912. Strudwick attained such prominence as to warrant him being so honoured. Amongst the cricket records in Wisden’s Strudwick finds fourth place for the most- wickets taken m any one season. In 1903 he caught 71 batsmen and stumped 20, making a total of 91.