Sydney Busher, a brisk seamer from Solihull who made his name with Barnes in west London, made the most impressive of debuts, twice dismissing WG Grace in what was his last game, and finishing with match figures of 7 for 92 for Surrey against Gentlemen of England, as well as scoring 52. The Guardian reported he "varied his pace, keeps a good length and can break the ball both ways, his best the one that comes in from the leg". Qualified by birth for Worcestershire, he played four times for them as an amateur in the summer holidays. In 1908 he again made an immediate impression, taking career-best figures of 6 for 63 on his Championship debut against Gloucestershire, and following with 5 for 78 against Sussex, finishing the season with 20 wickets at 14.60. One of his two outings in 1910 was ruined by rain, but in the other he took 5 for 13 against Somerset, to leave him with an impressive career record of 26 wickets at 14.61 in five matches.
Martin Williamson