LORD HARRIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 926, 20 March 1930, Page 13

LORD HARRIS

GRAND OLD MAN” OF CRICKET HIS WORK FOR SPORT The congratulations of the cricket world will be extended to Lord Harris, who recently celebrated his 79th birthday, and whc, to the delight of everyone who realises his value to the national game, is apparently well “set” for a longer innings, writes C. W. Packford in London “Sporting Life.” To say that Lord Harris is indispensable to English cricket, and lias been over a very long period, is not a lnere figure of speech. The very high standard of sportsmanship so characteristic. of him in all his dealings with the game, has done much to keep it free from any suggestion of anything which would tarnish its high reputation. He is regarded as a typical example 'of British sportsmanship—and this by thousands who have never even seen him! It may be surprising to many, who have always associated the “G.O.AL” of English cricket with Kent, to know that he was born in the West Indies. Rut at a. comparatively early age he camo to England, and was entered at Eton. The Hon. George Robert Canning Harris, as ho then was, quickly made his mark at all sports and games. CAPTAIN OF ETON He played for three seasons in the Eton cricket eleven, of which he was once captain, and, to show his versatility, he won honours at swimming, fencing, single-sticks and secured the walking race. Cricket, however, was his real love all the time, and his form was such that he appeared destined to represent his Varsity when, about 1871, he went up to Christ Church, Oxford.

He obtained his Blue as a “fresher,” but be was clean bowled in his first Varsity match before he had scored by AY. X. Powys. However, Oxford won the game by eight wickets chiefly as the result of a remarkable bowling performance by S. E. Butler, who in the first innings of Cambridge obtained all 10 wickets for 38 runs. This was the only occasion this feat has been performed in the Varsity match, but while at Cambridge in 1890 “Sammy” Woods obtained a similar distinction against C. J. Thornton’s eleven. Curiously enough Lord Thornton was a contemporary of Lord Harris in his Varsity days, as were several other really great players. Among these were E. F. S. Tylcote who played in six test matches, two in England and four in Australia; and C. J. Ottaway, with possibly the exception of C. B. Fry and the late R. E Foster, the finest all-round athlete Oxford ever had. Ottaway represented Oxford against. Cambridge at cricket, athletics. “Soccer'’ football rackets and tennis, four times playing in the cricket match. KENT REPRESENTATIVE It was in his third or last year at Cambridge that Lord Harris came into his title, ahd on “going down” he represented Kent, for whom he played regularly for over 35 years, being captain from 1574 to ISS6. He was a fine batsman and a brilliant field, and in IS7S he was invited to captain the England team to visit Australia. This he did, and he al§o

led England against Australia over here in ISBO and 1884, an indication of the trust and confidence his brother cricketers- liad in him. It would be impossible to say how many times Lord Harris, who was president of the M.C.C. in 1895 and is now its hon. treasurer, has played for the worldfamous club, but he must have assisted them, on and off, nearer 60 than 50 years. Even today he is keen on an occasional game, for lie possesses the heart of a boy, so far as cricket is concerned. In spite of bis many important public duties Lord Harris is still regarded as the most valuable asset to English cricket. Nothing so delights tourists from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and the A\ r est Indies as to be met on their arrival by the man for whom they all have genuine affection. I was present on one occasion .when Hubert Deane, the South African captain, said: “Cricket throughout the world owes more to Lord Harris than to anyone else.” It was impossible to dispute this.