Cricket 1883

30 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. march is , im s . LAW CLU3. April 28, Club Match, Willesdea Green May 5, v. Highgate WandererF, at Willesden Gre n May 12, v. Willesden, at Willesden Green Muy 14, v. Kingston Hill, at Norbiton May 19, v. Upton Park, at Willesden Green May 26, v. Wimbledon School, at Wimbledon June 2, v. Sidcup, at Sidcup • June 7, v. Plaistow, at Plaistow June 9, v. Royal Naval School, at Willesden Green June 18, v. Merchant Taylor’s School, at Willesden Green Jnne 16, v. Surbiton, at Surbiton June 23, v. M.C.C. and Ground, at Willeaden Green Jnne 80, v. Eltham, at Elthara July 7, v. Felstead School, at Felstead July 12, v. South Wimbledon, at Willesden Green July 14, v. Old Millhillians, at Willesden Green July 21, v. Hornsey, at Willesden Green July 28, v. Stoics, at Willesden Green August 4, v. Willesden, at Willesden August 11, v. South Wimbledon, at Willesden Green August 18, v. Stjgians, at Willesden Green. PALLINGSWICK. May 5, at Lee, Pallingswick v. Northbrook May 5, at Acton’, Pallingswick v. Woodford Wells May 12, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Nondescripts May 14, at Acton, Pallingswick v. aWillesden May 14, at Henley, Pallingswick v. aHesley May 19, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Oakfield May 19, at Eynham Fields, Pallingswick v. Kensington May 26, at Sydenham, Pallingswick v. Crystal Palace May 26, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Christ’s College May 29, at Acton, Pallingswick v. aRavenscourt June2, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Broxbourne June 2, at Southgate, Pallingswick v. Junior Southgate June 6, at Richmond, Pallingswick v. a Richmond June 9, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Hampstead June 9, at Tooting, Pallingswick v. Clapham June 11, at Leatherhead, Paliingswick v. aLeatherhead June 16, at Putney, Pallingswick v. Putney June 16, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Clapham June 19, at Acton, Pallingswick v. a Chatham House Wanderers June 23, at Sutton, Pallingswick v. Sutton June 23, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Northbrook June 26, at Wormwood Scrubbs, Pallingswick v- Kensington Paik June 30, at Finchley, Pallingswick v. Christ’s College June 30, at Acton, Pallingswick v. South Norwood July 4, at Hampton Wick, Pallingswick v. a Hampton Wick July 7, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Godolphin School July 7, at Hendon, Pallingswick v. Hendon July 11, at Acton, Pallingswick v. aCharlton Park July 14, at Norwood, Pallingswick v. South Norwood July 14. at Acton, Pallingswick v. Oaklands July 16, at Petersfield, Pallingswick v. aPetersfield July 21, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Putney July 21, at Acton, Pallingswick v. King’s College School July 25, at Epsom, Pallingswick v. Epsom College July 28, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Hendon July 28, at Mitcham, Pallingswick v. Mitcham Aug. 4, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Sutton Aug. 6, at Eashing, Pallingswick v. aEashing Aug. 7, at Esher, Pallingswick v. aEsher Aug. 11, at Hampstead, Pallingswick v. Hampstead Aug. 11, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Kensington Aug. 15, at Woolwich, Pallingswick v. aCharlton Park Aug. 18, at Broxboume, Pallingswick v. Broxbonrne Aug. 18, at Acton, Pallingswick v. Junior Southgate Aug. 22, at Acton, Pallingswick v. aHampton Wick Aug. 25, at Croydon, Pallingswick v. Oakfield Aug. 25, at Willesden, Pallingswick v. Willesden Sept. 8, at Ealing, Pallingswick v. aEaling a 11 o’clock. ENGLAND v. 28 OF CASTLEMAINE. N ovember 24th and 25th. English score accidentally omitted from last number, page 7. G. B. Studd, cCampbel', b Grant.............................45 Barlow, c and b Davies.. 24 C. F. H. Leslie, b Cos­ tello .............................2 W . W . Read, b Costello 4 A. G. Steel, b Flynn .. 8 Bates, b Mathews .. .. 82 E . F. S. Tylecote, c and b Vick .............................80 C. T. Studd, b Mathews 52 Barnes, b Muirhead .. 5 G. F. Vernon, not out 82 Morley, c Costello, b V i c k ............................. 1 E x tr a s ....................8 Total ..238 T h e Somersetshire elevens for this year will in all likelihood e selected from the following : —Messrs. S. C. Newton, E. Sainsbury, A. H. Evans, F. J. Welman, W. N. Hoe, W. H. Fowler, H. F. Fox, F. A. Smith, D. D. Pontifex, L. D. Hildyard, C. F. Sweet, F. W. Terry, and C. Win­ ter, with the two professionals Fothergill and Scott. The county has suffered a great loss in the person of R. C. Ramsay, who was so suc­ cessful for Cambridge last season. He has leturned to Australia, and Somersetshire is de­ prived of its promising colt. > £ C 0 I ^ E $ P 0 P E N C E > We are not responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents. No communications can be inserted un­ less they bear the name and address of the writer, as a proof of good faith, not necessarily for publication. CPICKET LUNCHEONS. TO THE EDITOR OF “ CRICKET.” S ir , —The appearance of an issue of C ricket this month—as an outrider to the real pro­ cession—may be, if it seems good to you, used as a medium for putting before cricketers a subject affecting the game in a not unimportant degree. X do not wish to dictate to anyone, but desire to lay before your many readers some facts, and some inferences from them, concern­ ing cricket luncheons. It is, I regret to confess, almost hopeless to expect that one-day matches will be commenced at what appears to me a reasonable hour. It has come to be looked upon as a piece of good fortune by captains of teams if their men are on the ground, and the game begins at 12.15 o’clock. As I do not, on the present occasion, hold a brief in favour of an earlier start, I will state this fact without com­ ment : The game, we will say, commences at 12.15 o’clock, and, as trains have to be caught in order that the business of life—dinner—may be attended to, “ time ” is called at 6.30 o’clock. And now I state my first indictment against luncheons as they are—that is, loss of valuable time, which 'in many cases prevents each side completing an innings. The luncheon bell rings at 2 o’clock, and play does not re-commence until 3.15. I am not sure that, with things as they are, such delay is avoidable, for the diges­ tion must be of cast-iron that can assimilate, sooner, two plates of beef, some ham, gooseberry tart, with plentiful cream, butter, cheese, and a hard-boiled egg or two, without indulging in some such siesta as is found necessary by the not too fragile constitution of a boa-eonstrictor after a light meal consisting of a couple of rabbits. Again, most club—especially London club—officials agree in regretting that their playing strength is not more efficiently recruited by young fellows whose cricketing powers are at their best. This results, I think, in a great measure from the fact that cricket is expensive, for when our eye is truest and our nerve strongest our pockets are usually emptiest. This brings me to my second ground of complaint— the expense of cricket luncheons. Such a lunch as is now de rigueur, with a not immoderate amount of “ modest quenching,” means an ex­ penditure of not much less than five shillings. This, aclded to travelling expenses, makes the charge of expense often brought against cricket one hard to meet. My third point is one which, if not deserving of general sympathy, will, I think, meet with it at the hands of those neces­ sary evils, secretaries and treasurers. On this point I may, perhaps, speak from experience ; and it is no exaggeration to say that, of all the “ burning ” questions with which they have to deal, none is more perplexing than that of eatering. With unrivalled means at their dis­ posal, the premier London club was some time ago obliged to make a grant of some hundreds of pounds to their caterer, to rtcoup his loss on the year’s transactions. Of course, to hear of such a sum being given away makes ordinary mortals burn with envy, hatred, and all un­ charitableness ; but most clubs have, in a less degree, some such grant to make. If a hotel keeper undertakes to supply luncheons, he insists on a guarantee of a certain number of covers—say twenty. This number, from a variety of causes—some men not turning up at all, some lunching at home, some sturdy spirits, with commendable hardihood, refusing to lunch —is seldom reached, and the grant in such usual cases is enormously augmented in the not un­ heard of event of a wet day, or a suddenly abandoned match. Also, in some cases, it is not easy to get a caterer on any terms, yjen the club has no alternative but to supply itsen. In a case within my own knowledge a club so situated provided a lunch, without gooseberry— or any berry—tart, without even hot vegetables, at 2s. 6d. a head, and lost on every occasion ; and, on increasing the charge to 3s., just squared accounts. Now I do not want to push my case too far, and so, having unbounded reverence for the present race of cricketers, shall only submit that a big lunch does not improve eye, hand, wind, or head. If this state of things is an evil, the next question is, Is it a necessary one ?—I contend not. The late hour of commencing gives everyone a luxurious time for breakfast, and the “ early closing movement” affords an opportunity for the usual eight-o’clock dinner. In these circumstances, I ask if such luncheons as are now given are necessary ? A writer who takes on himself the unenviable task of com­ plaining of things as they are may not unreason­ ably be expected to give his views of things as they should be. I shall endeavour to do so. If it be generally understood (“ isolated action ” is undesirable no less in the case of cricket clubs than in that of nations) that cricket luncheons shall consist, say, of bread, butter, cheese, and salad, how does the matter stand ? Such a lunch—unlimited in quantity, and of the best quality—might, even with beer, be given for Is. Sandwiches, sardines, &c., might, too, be provi­ ded at a small extra charge for those who find them necessary. A half-hour might be allowed in the middle of the day, for the “ out” side to partake of these, the “ in ” side being able to “ help themselves” when they liked, and I venture to say that, as a result of this reform, a valuable portion of a too short day would not be cut to waste; youngfellows would not be put to unnecessary expense; clubs’ funds would not be needlessly expended; and, to conclude, the cricket would, at least, not suffer.—Yours &c., London, March 8th, 1883. A.H.B. P apw orth H a l l cricket week begins July 30. A subscription is on foot for the presentation of a testimonial to Captain Holden, who has just retired from the honorary secretaryship of the Notts CountyClub. We are glad to learn that it is meeting with a hearty response. Mb. E. P. S m ith has resigned the captaincy of the Derbyshire Eleven, and it is not decided who ?ill take his place this summer. The committee of the Derbyshire Club have arranged to play some Colts’ matches on the Midland County Ground at Derby, and others probably at Glossop and Chesterfield. I t is rumoured that in all probability the pro­ ceeds of the Cheltenham week of 1883, which is to commence on August 20th, will be reserved for the benefit of the family of the late James Lillywhite, by whom the meeting was originated and to whose untiring exertions its present nosition is entirely due. W e regret to have to announce the death of Frederick llandon, a well known professional cricketer. He was born at Stapleford in Notts on June 24th, 1845, but was best known in con­ nection with Leicestershire and the Marylebone Club in whose service he had been for some years. He was buried on February 28th, at Hathern in Leicestershire, where he had resided for some time. W a verley C ricked ’ C lub (Greyhound, Dul­ wich); have July 7 (home) and July 7 (away) open for all clubs of good strength, having pri­ vate grounds. Also two or three dates for second eleven fixtures.—George F. Teasey, Hon. Sec., 7, Harvey Road, Camberwell, S.E.— A d vt . Bow an d B ro m le y In s tit u te C. C. are open for a Day Match on Bank Holiday, May 14th, either at Forest Gate or on opponents’ ground. Latter preferred if a few miles out.—Kelly Smith, 1, East India Avenue, L ondon, E .C . — A d v t.