FIELDING AT CRICKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 4

FIELDING AT CRICKET

LOST ART IN NEW ZEALAND OLD ENGLISH TEST CAPTAIN POINTS A MORAL SUGBESTS THAT IT BE A HOBBY

There was a mild sensation after i the 1937 New Zealand team was selected for England when the captain, M. L. Page (Canterbury), passed some strictures on the poor fielding in the Dominion. That his remarks were timely were proved later, when this long-standing weakness probably cost New Zealand the Test rubber, as four chances were missed at a critical stage of the only finished international at Manchester. So an article on fielding in “The Cricketer Annual” (edited by Sir Pelham Warner) to hand by air mail, will be read with general interest, as it is written by Mr. A. E. R. Gilligan, the English leader in the 1924-25 Tests in Australia, whose brother. Mr. F. W. Gilligan, is headmaster of the Wanganui Collegiate School. He says:—

Now that my active first-class cricket career is ended, it is most interesting to look back again to the early days when I was a boy of 16. We had at Dulwich College one of the greatest headmasters of all time, A H. Gilkes, and he was responsible for giving me some excellent advice in the art of fielding, which he placed on a far higher plane than batting and bawling. “If you can field well,” he said, “you are a welcome guest in any side, but if you are a passenger, you are a blot on the landscape.” He then gave me a short talk on the chief points of fielding, namely, alertness, anticipation of the batsmans stroke, and the necessity to throw the ball either full pitch or long hop into the wicketkeeper's hands; and he finished up by saying. “Always ce? that you have good nails in your boots, but mind you keep your finger na : ls short.”

Fielding became my hobby and I loved it far better than either dating or bowling; I resolved therefore that fielding came first, and at this e »r’.y had the fortune to captain a side I

had the fortune tocapt ain a side I would put a tremendous premium cn attaining first and foremost a fine fielding machine. When I took over the Sussex County XI. in 1922, we were a poor side. Our batting, with the exception of Bowley, was deplorable and our bowling, though it had possibilities, was weak. My first aim was, therefore, to try and create a really good fielding team. I explained the position to my side and they responded notiy. It is pleasant now to remember that by the end of 1923. Sussex fielding was a by-woid throughout England. Many spectators would come solely io see us dashing about the ground and I tn.uk that, without boasting, I can safely say that our work was of a very high standard.

Bar'.king Up Essential I turned down many useful batsmen from the Sussex XI., because they were unable to fit into the pb-ce and I made it clearly kno.vn that I would not tolerate in any shape or form slack or lazy fielding. There were two things upon which I ?n--sistea. First of all that no catch was impossible. Secondly, that backing up was essential, and woe betide the man woo allowed an overthrow. The one thing that irritated me was to watch an out-fielder stand anchored to the ground and allowing a ball to come to him on *.ie first bounce. “Go for the catch even at the expense of four runs.” was my motto, and I had soon instill ?d this doctrine into my players. The Australian team of 1921 under Armstrong’s captaincy was probably

the finest fielding side from overseas that had ever visited our shores, and it was certainly a great example to try to emulate. A good fielding side shows that the team spirit is sound, and I can recommend it to every captain and to every team. I remember the match most vividly in May, 1922, when I captained Sussex against Hampshire for the first time. At the close of play on the second day, Hampshire, needing 318 for victory, ha J actually scored 256 for two wickets, and when play began on the third day an easy vict •.y looked as:tired for our opponents. By the aid of three magnificent catches, and grand ah round fielding, we were succcsstui in the end by tne narrow margin of 1C runs. And I shall never forget the wonderful ovation we received from the Hampshire members rnd public, and also the kind congratulations of my old friend, Lionel Tennyson. “Best Catch of My Life.”

I have been asked by Sir Pelham Warner to mention in this article the best catch I ever made, so with great modesty, I will do so. now that my county career is finished. When we were in Australia in 1924-25, we were playing New South Wales at Sydney. We' had fared badly against Mailey and Gregory in the first innings, but R. Tyldesley (Lancashire) came to the rescue with a fine piece of bowling. And it was off Tyldesley that I achieved the distinction of dismissing Gregory by making the best catch in my life. Tyldesley bowled a tempting half volley and Gregory swung hard at it, hitting the ball away to my left side. I made about four yards, and dived at the fast travelling ball a few inches from the ground. Somehow or other it stuck in my left hand after I had turned two somersaults—and I had achieved the impossible.

I can still see that great cricketer, Jack Gregory, standing near the

bowler's end, to which he was running, and applauding loudly at my effort. I couldn’t realise for some moments afterwards that I had actually made the catch. I remember making a very similar catch at the Oval, in 1921, when Sussex played Surrey, only this time it was the right hand tha 1 - did the work. Bowley was bowling to Shepherd at the Vauxhall end and he hit the ball a full crack in the middle of the bat. I did the "flying dive act” and the ball had stuck. Shepherd's remarks, as he passed me amused all of us round the bowler's wicket. “You are not a fielder; you are an acrobat.” I think one of the finest catches I ever saw in Test cricket was the one made at first slip by W. R. Hammond in this year's series of Test matches against Australia, at Trent Bridge. Edrich was bowling to Fingleton, who snicked a very fast delivery between wicketkeeper and first slip. Hammond made three sharp paces to his left side and made the catch of a lifetime with his left hand outstretched, wide and about headhigh. I was in the Australian broadcasting box at the time and 1 jumped to my feet in my excitement and struck my head sharply on the roof, but it was worth it!

Hammond's catch was an example to everyone, young and old alike, of keen anticipation, and I doubt if anybody in our generation, except Gregory, or A. P. F. Chapman, could have made the catch. And have vou ever thought what really fine exponents of fielding all the star batsmen have been.