Cricket 1883

MAY 17, 1883. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 9 9 COMING “ CRICKETS.” T h e cricket season o f 1883 may now be said to have been fully and fairly inaugurated, that most welcome of “ May meetings ” at the head­ quarters of the Marylebone Club having given the signal for action to commence ; and the old routine of business was carried through in that regular, quiet, and dignified style which is wont to characterise the deliberations of our cricket parliament. No pastime, perhaps, whatever changes may have taken place in its surround­ ings, has stood so stedfastly fast by its original rules and ordinances as the “ noble game; ” whose practical exponents and patrons alike seem to pride themselves upon retaining all the old features and traditions in connection with a recreation, the rights of which they regard as prescriptive, and respect accordingly. Perhaps this conservative sentiment may be one of the secrets of cricket’s ever-increasing popularity among all classes ; for nothing tends so decided­ ly to abate enthusiasm and interest in any out­ door trials of strength and skill as a constant succession of alterations in rules, not unfre- quently calculated to split up into factions the most devoted followers of the department of sport thus injuriously affected. It is almost superfluous to state that the season just now commencing teems with plentiful promise of good things in store, and that none of the ancient landmarks have suffered displacement, familar features for which we should be especially thankful, seeing that chiefly by their influence the game is held together, and such contests as the Universities and Public School matches stand forth as permanent fixtures. Were it not for a substantial leaven of this kind, we shall be bold enough to assert, there might be some slight chance of cricket declining in popular estimation, occasionally fickle and inconstant perhaps, but inclined to be correct and fair in the end. Complaints have arisen, mostly among the “ old boys” (on whose tales of the tented field we still fondly hang) that latter day matches for the most part are lacking in that “ indi­ viduality,” if we may so express it, which dis­ tinguished them in days long gone by ; and fur­ ther it is objected that there is now a greater Multiplicity of high-class matches, by means of which partisanship is spread over a larger area, instead of being concentrated upon important fixtures few and far between. There is more home truth in these strictures than is apparent first sight, as a purview of the coming cricket campaign will duly testify; for in these go-ahead times so many clubs are continually springing into existemce as to confuse the minds of all save nose enthusiasts who make a special study of fie various tribes, sects, and confederations composing the kingdom of cricket. Of necessity ? Kv,a^er plenty of leisure to pursue his 1Qbby belongs to one—often many more—of the Powerful fraternities which have sprung up of Me years, some few, perhaps, rather in mush- 'oorn fashion, but the great majority on more ?~manent foundations. It becomes matter of ' f'ulty, therefore, to identify him with any ft? .i'1Pai’^°ular of the clubs of which he is en- *° wear the colours ; and hence he is re- 3 ^ d somewhat in the light of a freelance, and Rotators are attracted to matches for the sake ,c“ *ng what we may term sensational indi- eith c.r‘e'Jet rather than with partisanship for lie ‘!u Side‘ -^is *3 surely not quite as it should >the “ mixed” condition of affairs speedily ,° * m g so confusing to all but “ experts ” in i'icerning. distinctions and differences that in­ ference is apt to take the place of that absorb- lnterest in the final result, which contributes, >f \ ^ e-a a* leas^' one °f ^ e chief pleasures je 'Vi™essing the various fortunes of the fight, jg ?f our ancient cricketing foundations can aid to keep their heads above water in this overwhelming flood of novel institutions : and this is the reason why a sort of glamour con­ tinues to surround the doings of such dis­ tinguished survivors of the old regime as the Marylebone, I Zingari, and a few others still managing to retain their ancient reputations. Surely it is nothing else than the strong indi­ viduality stamping the contending elevens of Oxford v. Cambridge or Harrow v. Eton which draws such vast assemblages to the annual dark and light blue tournaments at Lord’s as mid­ summer comes round ; and though fashion of late years has of course been in great part responsible for the marvellously enhanced at­ tendances on these occasions, yet underlying the important influence of “ society ” there is much genuine public enthusiasm evoked by the excitement of such real “ tooth and nail ” en­ counters. Therefore the constant multiplication, and it may also be termed intermingling, of cricket clubs must be regarded as not altogether an unmixed benefit to the good cause ; and the practice has increased to an almost incredible extent of late of supplementing “ teams” with so many outsiders that the representative char­ acter thereof becomes a mere mockery, an unin­ teresting game of brag, in fact, between the rival captains. The professionals, too, are split into for too many cliques and factions to be able to furnish forth an old-fashioned “ All England Eleven” worthy of the name; and eternal wrangles and disputes seem te be ever arising between heated partisans as to the qualification of this or that professional or amateur to figure as his country’s representative against conti­ nental or colonial talent. Over the recent Australian tour it might be better to draw a veil, not, be it understood, from the least desire to call in question the management, administra­ tion, or the general results of the expedition; but there is a season for everything, and we do not care to hear or read of the doings of our countrymen at the Antipodes when other re­ creations claim to be taking their turn in the curriculum of sports and pastimes. In one respect connected with our fine old national game we are amply entitled to rejoice, namely, that amid the many corrupt influences which have degraded far too large a proportion of our public amusements, cricket still stands out a conspicuous exception to the operations of the betting mart, and all attempts to bring it within gambling areas have resulted unprofitably and ingloriously to their promoters. In fact, the cricket field may be regarded as quite beyond the corrupting influences inevitably engendered by contact with the pettifogging pencillers who are occasionally heard proffering wagers as they make the circuit of the ground, which occupa­ tion has at length come to be regarded even by the loafing division as “ flat, stale, and un­ profitable.” So that of the essentially “ noble ” pastime just inaugurated for the season 1883 it may truly be said that it shows a healthy and pure as well as a bold front; and is now suffici­ ently firmly enough established in the affections of all classes to be able to repel the faintest sus­ picion of any connection with the “ ring and the book.” May it long continue to flourish far above all monetary considerations, and to edu­ cate the rising generation without reproach, certain in its action to bring to the front all good qualities of head, hand, and heart developed in its practice .—Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. I n the match between Liverpool Club and Marlborough College commenced at Marlborough on Monday, the first innings was a tie, each side scoring 8S. For the College, Buckland took eight wickets for 26 runs. C r ic k e t . —For Sale, a Square Tent, complete, Telegraph board and figures, practice net, pads, gloves, stumps, &c., in fair condition.—Apply J. D., 3, Faulkner Terrace, JEast Ferry Road, Poplar, E.— A d v t. BARLOW ON BATTING . Not the least of the natural qualities of ad­ vantage to a batsman is a keen and quick vision, which, if not possessed naturally, must be trained to the Dest perfection attainable by practising the eye to follow objects, and especially cricket balls, in quick motion ; in my own experience I take it as an indication of being in good health and form when a cricket ball is as easily seen as a football, to miss which is almost a crime; it is, therefore, too much to expect to make a good batsman out of one who lacks, in a marked degree, this important ad­ vantage. Next to good vision I place a strong and cool nerve, resulting in freedom from fear of being hit, or of what the crowd will think and say—this does not imply an indifference to being hurt, or the fool-hardiness which thinks it pluck to go to the wicket without full and proper pro­ tection to every part of the body; such pro­ ceeding is not pluck but impertinence. I say protect yourself well by good fitting, well padded and ventilating leg-guards, with batting-gloves to match. The practice must, however, he against the best and most varied bowling that is obtainable, and let your practice wicket te as good as your match wicket. The secret of why our University men so early attain the art of skilled batsmen is, doubtless, the fact that they are always being bowled at by professionals who thoroughly understand the science .—Itarlow on Batliny. MURDOCH ON BATTING . The forward cut is made off a short ball out­ side the off stump, and to do this, place your left leg over, watch the ball from the pitch, and, moving towards the ball, make your stroke. There is no donbt that the forward cut has its advantages, as you get to the ball with greater quickness, and intercept forward what you would be too late for going back. Tho cut is, without doubt, the best stroke of the game, and one which delights the batsman to make and the onlookers to see. It is very few that are able to cut perfectly, and with English batsmen I at­ tribute it in a great measure to the very many wet and slow wickets upon which they have to play. Cutting is all wrist work, and a ball that may be cut could far more easily be hit on the off. It is most dangerous to cut at the pitch of a ball; it must be by sight at the ball itself. As in ail off-play, the left leg must be moved across. Leg hitting is not so often indulged iu as that to the off, simply because the opportu­ nities do not occur so often. The draw is very seldom done or even attempted, it having given place to the glance to leg. The forward leg- hit is done by advancing the left foot near the pitch of the ball, and then, when struck with a free arm and nearly a straight bat, the ball will go to square leg. If you cannot reach within a foot of where the ball pitches, sweep your bat in a horizontal position where the hail ought to be.—From Murdoch’s “ ,Cbat about Cricket ” in Longman’s Magazine. E. W. B a sta r d , who is playing for the Oxford University eleven, on Monday last—the second time within a week—achieved the hat trick. For the Eleven against the Sixteen he took three wickets with successive balls. The first five batsmen went out for eight runs. F. Maitland went in first for Phcenix Club v. Curragh Brigade, on Saturday, and carried out his bat for 115 out of 241. F o r M.C.C. and Ground V. Cambridge Uni­ versity, at Cambridge, last week, Flowers took fourteen wickets for 61 runs.