Cricket 1892

MAY 12, 1892 CKICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME, 121 influential daily. Who, indeed, but those in theknowwould identify in the cricketer who was throughout disguised under the by no means euphonious name of Bunce, the graceful batsman who played such brilliant cricket in Australia during the winter, William Bruce to wit ? T he cricketers on the other side of “ the big drink” are apparently count­ ing on a visit of an Irish team during the fall of the year. American cricketers have such a pleasant recollection of the social qualities, not to mention the cricketal ability of the Irishmen who have already starred in the States, that the news of another trip has been received with all the joys of pleasurable anticipa­ tion. At all events it will be a satisfac­ tion to the leaders of Irish cricket to know that they are assured in advance of a hearty welcome should the arrange­ ments for an American tour assume a definite shape. I f the form of the trial matches at Oxford can be accepted as a reliable indication of the future, the chances of 0. B. Fry, the Bepton Freshman, attaining the very rare distinction of a triple blue, are exceptionally favourable. The comments of our Oxford corres­ pondent, one who has a particularly good opportunity of judging the cricket of the newermen, suggest the idea that Fry’s place in the University eleven, barring the accidents which conduce to the pro­ verbial uncertainty of the game, ought to be fairly assured. As everyone knows, he has the satisfaction of anEnglish record in the long jump. In addition to this he represented Oxford at the Association game, thus earning his colours in athletics as well as football. A native of Surrey, he made his first appearance for the County Cricket eleven against Warwickshire at the Oval last August. He ought to have played for Surrey against Essex at the Oval on Monday. Indeed he would have done so but for the intervention of the authorities at Oxford, who stopped the way. T h e cricket contributor to the Star newspaper calls attention to the consis­ tent success which has attended Albert Ward, the Lancashire professional, in the matches he has played at Lord’s. Ward’s first appearance at St. John’s Wood was for the Colts of the North in the opening match of 1889. On that occasion he scored 25, and it is worthy of note that in the thirteen innings he has since played there he has only been twice dismissed for single figures. So far, indeed, he has played in fourteen innings for Lancashire at Lord’s for an aggregate of 549 runs. His best washis 114not out against Middlesex in 1889, and the nett result of his eleven completed innings at head-quarters has been an average of 49.10. Not a bad record either as the out­ come of a first three years’ cricket. T h e hearts of C r ic k e t readers will go out in deepest sympathy with the family of Mr. E. N. Buxton in the terrible blow which has just befallen them. The one topic during the last two days among cricketers, with whom we have come into contact, has been the feeling of universal grief at the news of Mr. C. D. Buxton’s sad end. An attack of influenza from which he had barely recovered seems to have been followed by another complication, congestion of the liver. This producad great nervous prostration and accompanying depression of spirits. Returning home on Monday night, he was found dead on the following morning with a gun by his side. The evidence at the coroner’s inquest yesterday showed that he had left a hastily written note to his p irents stating that he felt something was going to happen, and bidding them good-bye. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had committed suicide whilst of unsound mind, expressing, at the same time, their deep sympathy with the family. A r e a l cricketer in the highest sense, whether as a boy at Harrow, at Cam­ bridge later on, or in the more responsible position of Captain of the Essex eleven, Cyril Buxton won golden opinions from all manners of men. Modest and unas­ suming in himself, he was the first to admit merit of any kind in others. Of a good cricket stock, he played the game as it ought to be played, in a broad spirit, and with the instinct of a genuine sports­ man. Never sparinghimself, his influence asCaptainwas bound to reflectitself inhis team, who will not only lose the personal assistance of a fine cricketer, but what is of more importance, of a guiding head and hand, which it will be difficult to replace. A correspondent has been good enough to furnish me with his doings in first-class cricket, which will be of interest. B atting . ’£5 ’86 >7 '88 ’89 ’90 ’91 Runs... 202 ... 408 ... 18) ... 278 ... 125 ... 0 ... 15 Aver....20.2 ...219 ...18.5 ...14.12 ...62.1 ... 0 ...7.1 Total Runs, 1,213; ]Average 19.16 B o w l in g . '85 ’86 ’87 ’88 ’69 ’90 ’91 Runs... 449 ... 468 ... 316 ... 200 ... £8 ... 21 — Wickets 21 ... SO .. 8 ... 9 ... 2 ... 0 — Aver....21.18 . 23.8 ...39.4 ...22.2... 3 4 ...— — Total Runs, 1,522; w ickets, 60; Average 25 22. F or E ssex . B a t t in g . ’83 ’85 ’86 ’67 ’89 'f9 '80 ’91 Runs................0...335 . 250...555 . 314...259...267 244 Average......... 0 . 30 5 16 10 29.4 17 8 17 1 25.7 19 9 Total Runs, 2,294 ; Average 22 50. B o w l in g . '83 ’65 ’83 '67 ’88 ’89 '90 ’91 Runs ............. 10 .. —...435...138...2fc8 . 155 .. 12 .. 25 Wickets.......... 0... — 27... 18... 19... 6 ... 1... 1 Aver............... 0... —...16.3...18.14 15.3 25.5 22 ... 25 Total Rurs, 1,073; Wickets 72; Average 14.65. T he notes on the trial matches at the Universities give such a true and par­ ticular account of the form of the new players, that there is little for me to add. Still, I may supplement an apparent oversight of our correspondent by infor­ mation of my own from Cambridge. I refer to the fast bowling of Bromley- Davenport. The Old Etonian, in fact, is bowling just now better, perhaps, than he has ever done. I may also add that J. Douglas, N. C. Cooper, and Gay have been chosen to represent the University in the opening match against Mr. Thornton’s eleven to-day. Cooper, as everyone will remember, played in most of the trial matches last year, and just failed to get his “ blue.’’ On his excellent form as a wicket­ keeper for Hampshire, Gay should be fairly certain of his place in the team. Douglas, the only Freshman chosen for the first match, is, too, such a good all­ round cricketer that his chances should be of the best. As captain of Dulwich College two or three years ago, he was quite in front of the Public Sch'.ol players of hi3 year. The Freshmen's match has shown him to be a reliable batsman up to date. But beyond that he is a useful slow left-hand bowler, as well as a fine field. MAY MEETINGS. Sing hey! tlie May meetings----- “ at Exeter Hall ? ” Nay—the meetings on level green swards: The pulse-thrilling meeting of bat and of ball In the smiling arena of Lord’s. The meeting of Lancashire’s cricketing sons With the foemen of old M.C.G. (With Cnatterton piling up runs upon runs Till their tale stood at numerals three). The meeting of “ freshmen ” on ’Varsity fields (The scene of one “ century ” more— A score to inscribe on Reptonian shields— Was the mead upon fair Isis’ shore). The meetings of combatants all the world o’er, In hamlet or town, in the match; The meeting of palms in “ the ring,” as a roar Kends the sky at some wonderful catoh. The meetings of memory-laden “ old boys ” With Oval or Lor&’s-liauntiog friends ; ’Tis meet thus to meet, and to own life has joys, For “ meetings like these make amends.” C.P. L ong before these notes see what Mr. T. W. Russell has termed the light of cold print, the majority of Lord Shef­ field's Team will not only have reached home, but what is of more importance from a cricket point of view, have already gone through the routine of preliminary practice. Attewell and Briggs, who hurried home in advance of their fellows by the overland route, were, as our scores will show, making their first appearance of the season at Lord’s this week, and with a gratifying amount of success. Lohmann and Maurice Read were both at work yesterday at the Oval, where Abel has been in evidence during the last two dajs. All the three Surrey men, unless appearances belie them, are in the very best of health. “ The Guv’nor ” arranged his arrival at home it would appear rather cleverly,just in time in fact to receive the first “ bawl ” from another little Abel, who only came into the world early on Tuesday morning. PRINCIPAL MATCHES for NEXT WEEK. Thursday, M at 12 —Lord's, M.O.C. & G. v. Derby- shire ; Cambridge, The University v. C.I Thornton’s X I .; Oxford, The Eleven v. Next XVI.; Brighton, Sussex Young Players- Match. M o n d a y , M a y 16.—Lord’s, M.C.C. & G. v. York­ shire ; Kennington OvaJ, Surrey v. Essex ; Cambridge, University v. Gentlemen of England ; Lancashire, Lancashire v. Cheshire: Nottingham, Lord Sheffield’s Team v. England (Alfred Shaw’s Benefit).