Cricket 1883

“ Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.”— B y r o n . No. 33. VOL. 2. Registered for Transmission Abroad. CRICKET IN CANADA. By H. D. H elmcken . I t will doubtless be a matter of sincere grati­ fication for our readers and cricketers in general to know that our national game is making slow but sure progress in the Dominion of Canada. The several visits of our teams have helped con­ siderably to stimulate Canadians to a greater appreciation of, and a more intimate acquaint­ ance with the game. The great drawback to the progress of the game in Canada is the want of professional coaching, which, in its real sig­ nificance, means lack of defence, without which essential quality it is impossible for any one to make any very decided headway. A large pro­ portion of the Canadian youth prefer boating to playing cricket, exposed to a scorching sun, and, as is to be expected, lacrosse has its regular crowd of attendants. It is very obvious that it would be no easy matter to secure the services of a really first-class professional, as, viewed from a purely monetary point, the game is not worth the candle. A step has been taken in this direction by the Toronto Cricket Club, who have, by a mere chance, secured the services of a profes­ sional for the season, and also by the Trinity College School, of Port Hope, who have engaged Norley, formerly professional to the St. George’s Cricket Club, of New York. The Toronto Cricket Club have very kindly arranged to allow their professional to attend on certain days at the Grounds of Upper Canada College, for the purpose of coaching the young collegians. The benefits likely to result from this step cannot be over-estimated when it is taken into consideration that from these two leading schools, the Eton and Harrow of Canada, our youngest and most pro­ mising cricketers graduate. The annual contestbe- tween the two schools is one of the events of the year, and is looked forward to by the admirers and friends of both with almost as much plea­ sure as our great annual school contest at Lord’s. Tho centre of cricket is Toronto, the capital of the province of Ontario, otherwise known, as the Queen City of the West, and it is here that the greatest activity is exhibited in cricketing THURSDAY, JUNE 21, circles. The Queen’s birthday is generally re­ garded as the grand opening day of the season. Besides possessing the premier club, Toronto has a very large number of clubs, amongst others Toronto University, Trinity College, the Nelson (lastyear’s champions of the Association), the Beaverwicks and Parkdale, and a few junior clubs ; it is also the headquarters of the Ontario Cricket Association, having for its president the Marquis of Lorne, which, was organized some three years ago for the purpose of encouraging the game generally, more particularly in the outlying country districts,and also for the selec­ tion of the team to represent Canada in the In­ ternational contest with the United States which is played annually and alternately in each country. This year the match will be played in Canada.. Our cricketers who have visited Toronto will have carried away pleasant remem­ brances of the old cricket ground. Unfortun­ ately this ground has fallen a sacrifice to the grasping greed- of the speculator, and what was formerly a beautiful cricket ground, the scene of many a stubborn and hard fought contest, is now the site of residences. The transfer of the property had the effect of sadly handicapping the Toronto Cricket Club,who for a whole season were thrown out of practice for want of a ground, and valuable time lost waiting while getting the new ground in proper order, which when in thorough condition will be sepond to none on the continent. The immediate effect of this was to allow the supremacy to pass out of its hands, but it has since regained the leading position. The club possesses a very large membership, of which a great proportion is composed of the juniors. Next in importance, ranks the Hamilton Cricket Club, of Hamilton, commonly called the Ambitious City. The game is well patronized by the people, and although the club does not possess such a large membership as its rival, still it has an exceptionally strong eleven, which gained an undying reputation by defeating the leading clubs in Philadelphia and New York. Montreal at one time had a very good eleven, but owing to there being no clubs clo *e at hand the club has lost a great deal of its strength. Ottawa, too (the Capital), cculd boast of a PRICE 2d. strong team, but suffers from the same complaint as Montreal, and owing to the seductive charms of Lawn Tennis, the team has fallen away to the rear. Guelph, Port Hope, Kingston, London, and Windsor (opposite Detroit), have each good elevens, while to the North such towns as Aurora, Newmarket. Barrid, Otillia, Collingwood and Meaford can muster fairly strong teams. During the rush two years ago, a good many young Englishmen were at­ tracted to Winnipeg, like Jason in search of the golden fleece. It was not long before our countrymen joined the cricket club of that city, which had for its president one of the Judges, viz.,..Judge Miller. A tour was speedily ar­ ranged, a lirge amount of dollars was soon subscribed to pay for the team’s expenses; matches were played beginning with Chicago and ending with Montreal, and of the eight matches played only one was lost; viz., London. The Hon. W. Nelson Hood captained the team, which included among 3 t others Mr. A. H. Stratford, who formerly played for Middlesex, and who is now a member of the Pittsburg Cricket Club, in the State of Pennsylvania, U.S. Other cricket clubs will be found at the principal towns along the Canadian Pacific Railway. Such is a short review of the noble game, and it is confidently expected that at no distant date it will be able to hold its own with lacrosse. The Kensington Cricket Club have open July 7 and 21, and August 25 at home (private ground); and August 11 and 18 away for half­ day matches with good clubs. Write to C. E. Bloomer, 33, John Street, Bedford Row, W.C.— A d v t . W o odford W e l l s C. C. would be glad to ar­ range a match with a club of moderate strength for Bank Holiday, August 6 , at Woodford.—J. H. Thorpe, Hon. Sec., Woodford Green.— A d v t . C k ic k e t T e l e g k a p h B oard for Sale, nearly new, cheap.—B,, 76, Winston Road, Stoke Newington Green, N, [Advt,] I n a match played on June 16, between En­ field and Wood House, the last three men of the latter team lost their wickets by three suc­ cessive balls. They were all stumped.