James Carrick

CARRICK, MR. JAMES STEWART, one of the best batsmen Scotland ever produced, was born in Glasgow on September 6, 1855, and died at Seattle on January 2. He was a left-handed batsman, and when at the wicket took guard for the leg-stump only. He could hit freely, bowl slows (varying pitch and pace), and field well. His first appearance at Lord's was in June, 1882, for M. C. C. and Ground v. Nottinghamshire, and three years later he came suddenly into note by making 419 not out for West of Scotland against Priory Park at Chichester, then the largest individual score on record. On that occasion he batted for eleven hours and a quarter, gave only two real chances, hit an 8 (to square-leg), two 6's, two 5's, thirty 4's, and made 326 for the first wicket with A. D. R. Thompson (112). The total obtained by the side was 745 for four wickets. He did not take part in many matches of the first importance, but as early as May, 1871, when only fifteen years of age, he represented 22 of Scotland against England at Edinburgh. Had he been identified with one of the first-class counties he would probably have performed well in the best company. His 112 for Scotland at Glasgow in 1889 was the only three-figure innings played against Nottinghamshire bowling between 1887 and 1890. He was also a capital football player, assisting Glasgow v. Edinburgh and Scotland v. England, and he excelled at golf and curling. He was educated at Glasgow Academy and subsequently joined the Caledonian C.C. Between 1876 and 1881 he played cricket but seldom. His portrait and biography appeared in Cricket of September 24, 1885, and the Scottish Cricket Annual for 1885-6.