CRICKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 48, 25 February 1913, Page 6

CRICKET.

Speakiilg to' a representative of the Sydney Ai'row, in connection with the first match in which Victor Trumpcr took part, Mr Charles Tcumper, father of the famous Australian cricketer, said: “DO I recollect the first .•natch in which, Victor took part? I dliould rather tliihx I do. He was only a small boy, wearing knickerbockers. It Was on a Saturday afternoon, and lie Was passing through Moore Park, where a match between the second elevens of Carlton and Warwick was about to be commenced. These were the famous old’ now unknown, which played such big parts in the history and'development of New South Wales cricket. The Carlton second team was short of a man, and as soon as Victor was sighted he was asked to take the missing man’s place. This he readily consented to do, and performed so excellently as to open the eyes of jail’ H mepiory serves me right, he scored 24 runs off his own hat, and took no fewer than eight wickets. A precocious cricketer, eh? Oh, no. We did not/think eo. In connection with this match I would like to mention a little incident which at the time struck me as being somewhat humorous. Charlie Patrick —you know of him, of course—was present, and at the conclusion of play he mischievously, took up a bat and dared the youthful players to bowl at him. The latter' were not slow to accept the invitation. The first ball served to Patrick was sent soaring away skywards, hut the second, which was bowleg by Victor, scattered the stumps in all directions, to the amusement of all and the surprize, of the batsman. Just by way of showing the reputation which Victor, boy that he was, had already gained in those days, I will mention another little incident. He had' promised to take part in a match one clay—the names of the teams I forgot for the moment—in order td fill the place of an absentee. But when the teams arrived at the grounds where the match was to come off, and the opposing side saw that Victor intended taking part, they refused point-blank to play. I looked upon this as rather extraordinary, in view of the fact that nly son was, at the time, only 14 years of' age, while the two teams under notice were comprised of full-grown men!”