The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17
BEST CR1oKErEH ~ THB WORLD.
Prince Rantitsinhji Coming Here with an
English Team.

Prince Rantitsinhji Coming Here with an
English Team.
Kumar Shr Ranjitsinhji is certainly not q
| name one would associate at first sight with
cricket. Still. wherever the game is played
| the name is known. and among active cricket-
| era all over the world is it almost ma familiar a.
that OF the Grand Old Man Of the game. W. @.
| Grace. The announcement that Prince RAN
lttstEJh would bring n team to tho United
States in September has caused furry OF exc
element among the devotees OF the game hero.
The fame Of the Prince has spread: his skill al
the game has drawn forth the greatest admit
ration Of those who have witnessed his play
and the curiosity OF those who have not, and
that he will prove an att raCtion here 10 beyond
all question
In England Prince Ranitsinhji is a popular
idol. HIS appearance on the field is the signal
for loud anp'ause. and his success with the
willow IL always followed by an ovation. His
graceful style, variety OF strokes. mary ellous
power OF placing fast straight balls to leg COM
bined with his modest demeanor and retiring
disposition have endearsd him to every British
sportsman who loves best Of an the heroes OF
the nat oral game
Prince Ranjitsinhji was 81 years old on Sept.
10. He was born at Sarodar. in the province Of
kathiawar. Western India. and has the dusky
complexion OF his race. lie is the second son
OF Jiwan Sinhj which In a younger branch OF
the family OF the Jam Tor Sovereign of Nawan-
agar. the largest state under British protection
In kathiawar. Raniitsinhji attended the COLI
leRe of Raj-Kumar tcoleEe for Prncesl. at
Rajcote. where the rudimrnts OF the game were
first insted into him by Chester Macn aghten.
an old Cambridge cricketor. He went to Eng
land when he was 1B years old. and al
ona time played in matches Mt Twokenham.
Worm wood Scrub 8 and kensngton Park.
Ranjitsinhj Gays Ii mself that ha did not learn
TO play cricket properly until 1890. when he en-
gagei Hayward. the Surrey professional. to
coach him at Bournemouth.
When Ranjtsinhji first went to England he
had many experiences which his good nature
never allowed to be anything but amusing to
him. He relates a story Of playing q game In
Yorkshire when one Of the opposite side asked
II he could speak English The Cassandra Club.
with which Ranjtsinhji was then playing,
thought they saw a chance Of having SOME fun.
no they told their opponents that he could speak
just few words. such as yes" and no"
mot yet" and run" Ranjisnhji continues
the story thus
Our fellows DIDN'T tell me about this. and
when went into bat our opponents criticised
me somewhat freely. Imade big score. and
every now and then nobody said. Here. it's
time this beggar was out or something or
that sort. more or less complimentary. When
was hit in the face with a ball they hoped
this joker would have some OF the steam
knocked out OF him now All the time had
not found any occasion TO speak to anybody.
and my few remarks TO my partners were short.
At luncheon. OF course. | smoke English to my
companions and then there was considerable
commotinn among our opponents. Twas much
amused when learned what had occurred.
had thought while | was batting that the
strangers were uncommOnly outspoken.
RanjitsinhJi did not make his appearance In
what Is termed nrsl-cass cricket until 1865.
when he played for Sussex. His d6b1t in county
cricket is the most extraordinary on record.
1t was against powerful team OF the Maryle-
bone G. G. at Lords" when he shone In all
departments OF the E0me-hatting. bowling
aud felding. Ills contributions from tho bat
realized II. not ont. and 100; he captured the
wick"ts OF W. G. Grace, c. IIeseltine. A.
Knowles. Flower. Hearne and Storer for 100
runs. and made two brilliant catches at point.
His subsequent achievements for Sussex are
far too many to enumerats in detail. In 1898
he was credited with 1.773 runs. with the
splendid average OF 40, and the following sea-
son he eclipsed all previous records with 2.7S0
in AZ completed innings In honor OF the
achievement banquet was given at CAM
bridge. In 1897 he began the season in grand
form with his record score Of 300 against tho
ID. G. Can innings that has only been exc
celled at Lords on o occasion. viz: In 1870
when W. Wa com lied u,
During the present season In Eng and he has
kept we'll to the from. and he ID practically drst
in the averages. although Major Poore. who
has not played half so many innings. heads the
list. The latest sdvces from England show
Ranjtsinhii average to he 81. 40 for ffty-threO
innings. Any team with such crlcketer on
its eleven would be we'll worth travelling long
distance to see. hut RanjitSin hi does not mean
that he should be the sole attraction and he
has invited to accompany him other prominent
cricketers who should be themselves a mar
ticular attraction.
Prince RanItsInhji during the English sSa-
son Just closed added another record to his
long list OF achievements by SURPRISING his
own aggregate Of runs-2. 7SO-and passing the
5000 mark. lie accomplished the feat on
Aug. 80 in the game between Sussex aad
Hampshire. when he scored -. not out. and
brought his total to 3.O3G runs. Eanjitslnhjrs
record for this season is likely to stand for
many years. Up to now It has been thought
impossible for any batsman to reach 5000 runs
In one season. but there Is no telling where
tho Indian Prince will stop. and after he has
placed few centuries to his credit by his play
in this country. his total for the year will be
large enc. indeed.
Tne Prncc'- team will arrive here on the
White star liner Majestic next Wednesday.
They will Immediately proceed to Philadelphia
whore they will have two DAYS practice before
they begin their game against the Colts. which
will be PLAYED on tine Odd. 25th and 26th in-
stend OF I'D 23d and 25th. as at first arranged,
Baltimore will be- encountered on Sept. AZ and
p. and then the great game OF tho trip against
tn" Gentlemen OF Phi adelphia will be Played
saturday and Monday, Sept. 70 80 and Oct q.
The men who viii accompany the Prince ara
Mel Gren. captain; G. B, Fry. &. L. Townsend.
A. O. Jones; q. Bran. A. Priestley. A. z. stod-
dard. j. Il. Mason, &. Robson and Barton.