THE DEMON BOWLER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 235, 15 December 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE DEMON BOWLER.

SPOFFORTH THE TERRIBLE. (All cricket enthusiasts know the name of F. R. Spofforth, the "Demon Bowler'' but few modern plajers kno-.v much more about him than the fact that his bowling was dreaded by batsmen. For a recent issue of the Athletic News, however, "Tityrus" penned some reminiscences of Spofforth which are not only very interesting, but also have their lesson for young cricketers. This is what "Tityrus" wrot.e)

The Australian cricket team of 1878 —the first of the whitc-ma.i series—landed in Liverpool on May 14. They were supposed to be a band of enthusiasts who had mastered the rudiments of the game. This impression was confirmed bv the first match at Nottingham, for Richard Daft and his companions won in a single innings. Frederick Robert Spofforth only took one wicket for 39 runs.

On May 27 the Australians appeared at Lord's against the M-C.C., and tho eleven of the premier club, including W. G. Grace, A. N. Hornbv. A. J. Webbe. A. W. Ridlev, Fred Wild, Wilfred Flowers, Alfred Shaw, and Fred Morley, were beatetn by nine wickets in one day! Ii the first innings Spofforth captured six wickets (three in succession) for four runs, and in tho second innings five for 16- The M.C.C. scored 19 in their latter venture. and three batsmen were decorated with "spectacles." The m-jtcli made the name and established the 'fame of Australian cricket for ever and ever.

THE ADVENT OF MEPHISTOPHELES.

When Spofforth bowled Giace before he could score in the second innings, he bounded into the air, and exclaimed:—"Bowled! bowled! bowled!" In the dressing-rooms, while gesticulating weirdly, he cried:—"Ain't I a demon? Ain't I a demon?" These are facts narrated by the late Tom horan in his inimitable chatter, but whether Spofforth took his title of "The Demon" from his own jubilant utterances is a moot point, because it is said that an old colonial player, Nat Thompson, called him "The Demon" before ho stepped on the shores of Ergland. "Which be Demon?" was the question of the curious crowds in the north, as the people flocked to catch near glimpses of the Australians. Was it rot said that a man at Sheffield went up to Spofforth, and said: "Give us a shake of the bond, owd lad." Then he went round Bramall Lane allowing all and sundry to shake the hand that had grasped the bowling hand of "Demon." And they eventually added that it was a long time before the fanatic washed his grimy hand- Grace, Ranjitsinhji. and Spofforth, representatives of the Empire of cricket, an English game, caused more sensation than any other three cricketers who ever lived. Happy is the man who has seen them all.

Spofforth was not only the object of heroworship, but he was positively feared. He struck terror into the hearts of Englishmen at their island pastime. But we can be thankful, for —he was British by descent. His ancestors hailed from Spofforth. being an old Yorkslijre familv. After two visits to Australia in 1820 and 1830 his father finally returned when gold was discovered there in 1851. and "The Demon" was born at Balmain on September 9, 1855.

THE EVOLUTION OF A BOWLER. This article is not. intended to be a life of Spofforth. It would be impossible to do justice to his career in so short a space a.; at command. From early boyhood he played cricket- When seven years old he was taken to see the first English team of cricketers at Sydney. He was seized with a passion to bowl fast, and all through his school days he steadily pursued his purpose. As a young lank clerk he played for New South Wales against Victoria, and in due time climbed 1o the pinnacle of the finest bowler in the world. It is well for us to consider his evolution. First of all he bowled underhand. Then lie concluded that to be like the Englishmen he had seen ho must throw. When he was quite an expert thrower and getting many wickets it was point.>d out tn iiin that his delivery was not cricket. one had told him that he was hi caking the cirdinal principle of nil real bowling. He adopted round-arm—and whatever was his style, swiftness and straightness were his desires. As an impressionable child he had seen Tarrant. old "Tear 'Em." whose lightning was proverbial. But in the ''.seventh In l watchM James Southerton and Alfred Shaw. Their slow bowling, break, and accuracy, and their success aniaz d him. For the time a doubt arose. Was pace the strongest arm in an attacking force? Was if not possible to combine the tearav.ay Tarrant and the strategic Shaw, and tlie scheming Sontl.erton? Spoffoi 111 aimed at a combination of the three.

What was the secret of Spoffortb's success? Long and anxiously he thought about howling. Always observant and open to advice, he was eager to experiment. Above all, he was most assiduous in practice. Thought, experiment. and practice produced "The Demon." Once it was said to him "Oei! bowling is a heaven-born gifi "N.it hit of it." answered "The Dem- a." w h ■ took a." his motto, "Bowl with 1-r li'i -." With SnnfForth as a youngster I'owlinrr w:i- a puzzle. a. problem. This hi in" solved and practiced lie looked for results to Divve tlint hj" was i (- lie discovered hov. to tuni a ball with spin. After seeing the English slow bowlers, hr decided that th n variation of pace and its competent disgui-e ill delivcrv were the event aid; to deception. I: was iliit

differentiation of pace which took England b.v storm in 1878—just as much as Blac-kham keeping wicket without a longstop.

NOTHING MECHANICAL ABOUT HIS BOWLING.

When he was at the height of his fame. "The Demon'' lay awake night after night studying how to get English batsman out It is not easy to make a name aud keep it. Tom Horan. to whom 1 am again indebted, once wrote: "He and W. L. Murdoch, as a rule, chummed together, and Billy used often to say, 'Spoff. has got a new play to-day. and says it will come off ail right if he doesn't meet a crosseyed woman.' If the plan didn't come off. Spoff. would say, "Well, you know. 1 met that cross-eyed woman, and what could Ido after that." " Many a time have I seen him on a fast, true wicket, standing md examining earnestly tfie spot where a length bail should go. After the examination he would shake his head and say, 'Oh, for just one pint of water to pour on that spot! Couldn't anybody get me a pint of water?' " You, good reader, and I may smile and laugh at these traits so vividly portrayed by that glorious gossiper. Tom Horan, hut let us understand what these things mean. They signify an intense enthusiasm for the art, because it is an art. of howling. Nothing great is accomplished without tliat dhine aid. They proclaim to all that the mechanical power is useless. Spofi forth stands forth as "The Demon," but he made himself by study, enthusiasm. and practice—not merely in the beginning, but to the end of his days in first-class matches.

A MENACE TO THE BATSMEN. The Hon. B- H. Lyttclton described Spofforth as the greatest bowler the world had ever seen. He never winced under punishment, and he was four or five different bowlers rolled into one. He was long,- 6ft 2in, lean, and sinewy. His arms were long and loose. His run was long, and ended in a kangaroo bound, and the moment after delivery there was a horizontal line from the right heel to the right hand, supported hv the left leg, which v>js like a pedestal- All the batsmon could see was the contortion of a hvman catapult and the distraction of a fluttering shirt.

Spofforth always conte ided that his bond after releasing the ball from his full height diminished the shock and strain. He thought that out too. No batsmen ever knew what to expect. His very fast "Yorker" was Jove's thunderbolt. Ever a menacing bowler, lie probably smashed more stumps than any man of his time. He married an English lady, eventually played for Derbyshire and the Hampstead Club, and being i. commercial magnate., sent hi? sons to Malvern. Long may he dweil in the country of his forefathers.