Cricket 1883

412 CEICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OE THE GAME. SEPT. 20, 1883. BOWLING ANALYSIS, B arlo w ’ s E le v e n . First Innings. Second Inniugs. O. M. R.W . O. M. R.W. Peata . . .. 24 15 25 0 ........................ 86 14 73 5 Harrison.. .. 27 9 65 2 ........................ 18'3 3 43 1 Peel....................... 21-3 7 85 4 ......................... 23 8 6L 1 Bates . . . . 21 7 37 2 ........................ 10 4 18 0 Ulyett .. .. 6 2 14 0 Emmett . . . . 7 2 19 1 ....................... 23 10 43 2 E m m e tt ’ s E le v e n . First Innings. Second innings. 0 . M. R.W . O. M. R.W. Barnes .. . . 4 0 13 0 Nash . . . . 7 0 29 0 ......................... 17 0 67 3 Barlow . . . . 8 16 0 Crossland .. 2 0 6 0 .................... 0‘3 0 0 0 Watson .. . . 31 19 23 4 ........................ 29 13 33 5 Flowers.. .. 23*1 II 41 5 ........................ 11 8 28 0 T H E C R I CK E T SEA SON OF 1883 . (Communicated.) A t the close of the season of 1882, there were not wanting wiseacres who predicted that ’83 would be as dull and uneventful as its [prede­ cessor had been brilliant and exciting. But now when the summer is over we can look back with the pleasant feeling that the last cricket cam­ paign has been in no way inferior to many which have preceded it. Of sensation there has been perhaps little, but although we have had no visit from the Australians to put us on our mettle, the year just over will be long remem­ bered, if only for the new regulations regarding umpires, which, while though not altogether satisfactory in their working, have effectually removed any suspicion of bias and partisanship, to which expression was at times given in former years. It wilLalso be remembered for the strong ebullition of feeling emanating not only from the Press, but from the cricket public of ali classes against throwing, which it is much to be regretted seems generally to be on the increase. Its continuance does not argue any great energyon the part of the authorities. No remedy has at present been found for this growing evil, and it is earnestly to be hoped that immediate and determined action will be taken to check an influence that cannot but be injurious to the game. The umpires have been subjected to no mild censure for not no-balling a throw, but even still there is a great room for improvement in the quality of the men appointed as arbiters for the principal matches, and a selection of a few thoroughly well qualified and experienced officials might inspire the public with confidenee. At least, it is essential, tkat men placed in such an onerous position, should be thoroughly independent, and at the same time assured of the hearty support of the authorities in the exercise of their office. One of our best umpires, and a county player of twenty years’ standing, gives it as his opinion that the umpire at the bowler’s end is placed at a disadvantage to decide whether a ball is thrown or not, and that a far better opportunity of judging is offered to the umpire when standing at the batsman’s end. The somewhat exceptionally fine season has had a corresponding effect on the batsmen of the year, and much larger individual scores and larger totals have been chronicled than for several seasons past. That sterling batsman and most consistent scorer, Mr. W. VV. Read, repeats his Australian feat. During the last winter it will be remembered he scored the greatest number of runs for the Hon. Ivo Bligh’s team, and he now heads tho list of English batsmen with a total of nearly 1700 runs. Mr. C. T. Studd, Lord Harris, Messrs. Lucas, E. M. Grace, Holler, Paravicini, Gilbert, and Hon. M. B. Ilawke among the amateurs, and Shrewsbury, Ulyett,- Barnes, Flowers, Read, Gunn and Bates, have much better averages than last season. It is also curious to note the material improvement the season has had on the veterans. Lockwood heads the “ hundreds” with a grand innings (without a chance) of 208 against Kent at Gravesend, whilst Mr. I. D. "Walker is one of the heroes of the longest stands on record in a County match, in addition to scor­ ing over 800runs,and nearlycloubling his average of last season. Again, Hall, who in 1882 did next to nothing, tops the professional batsmen of 1883 with an average nearly treble what it was in the previous season, and Mr. A. W. Ridley, on the few occasions on which he has played first-class cricket, shows an average of 45, against one of only 5 in 1882. Mention should also be made of the Hon. A. Lyttelton, who played grand cricket for Middlesex in August, ofMessrs. Whitfeld,'Shuter, C. Marriott, Newham, Sainsbury, Key, Docker, Cranston, Wyatt, and Hornby. G. G. Hearne, Barlow, Briggs, Mills, Selby, Wright, Humphreys, Peel, and Emmett, among the professionals, main­ tained their reputation, while Abel, of little account last season, has developed into one of our most reliable professional batsmen. Among the new amateurs, Mr. Diver has made his mark, being hi 3 I 2 up in the averages of the year, and Messrs. E. Lumb, H. V. Page, Bowden, the Harrovians, Greatorex, Hildyard, with the young professional, Henderson, made a successful debut in first-class cricket. Notwithstanding a dry season, the bowlers have kept up their reputations, and it is a little singular that Watson, who heads the list, is a slow bowler, the fast wickets seemingly in no way affecting the deadlincss of his attack. In this department perhaps, the most wonderful performance is that of Barratt, who, having had to bear the brunt of the bowling for Surrey, has taken 182 wickets at a cost of a little over 14 runs per wicket. Shaw, although not so successful as last year, yet fairly maintains his reputation. Emmett, Flowers, Peel, Nash, Barlow, Woof, Batrs, Burton, Juniper, with Messrs. A. G. Sbeel, Roller, Studd, and Horner, have also done well. Peate and Rylott, although not showing so well as last year, have been of service, and Gunn and M. Read have shown a marked improvement. Wright, having been called on to succeed Morley as principal fast bowler in the Notts eleven, has worked well, and Ulyett, although not wanted so much as last season, has, nevertheless, done as well as ever. Although not getting so much work on the ball as usual, Mr. Grace has taken his fair share of wickets, and Jesse Hide has shown himself one of the most reliable bowlers in the South. Three uncommonly good youngsters have also made their mark in their first year. Henderson and Mr. Christopherson, an old Uppingham boy, have averages of under 20 runs per wicket, while Harrison, from a local club bowler, has jumped in his first season to be, with the exception, perhaps, of Crossland, the best fast bowler in England. Turning to the Counties, the most noticeable feature is the rapid improvement of Southern cricket, notably of Surrey, who, notwithstanding the absence of their best fast bowler, Jones, have shown better form than for very many years. With a batting side second only to Middlesex, it was only the want of a first-class fast bowler that prevented their attainment of even a better record. With the prospect of Jones being included in the team next year, they may yet materially imprcve on their position iu 1883. Nottingham are somewhat lucky to be at the head of affairs, as their number of drawn matches will show, but it would be churlish to grudge them the honour for which they have worked so hard. Shrewsbury, Barnes, and Flowers, three of the best batsmen in England, have all averages over thirty, aud Shaw’s bowling has been as straight as ever. Yorkshire, with such resources, has fully maintained its prestige, and although the eleven lost the championship when Sussex defeated them by throe runs, yet they have the large number of 0 wins in their favour out of 16 matches played. Middlesex, like their neighbours of Surrey, have been sadly in want of a first-class fast bowler, as with their great batting strength, it was only the failure in their bowling that pre­ vented them being at the top of the tree. The loss of a reliable wicket-keeper was also felt. The Hon. A. Lyttelton was unable to play for them until August, and Captain Borrowes, their wicket-keeper of last year, being unable to give his services, they have had to fall back on untried colts. Mr. C. T. Studd, not inaptly termed the modern W . G. Grace, has been of incalculable service. Middlesex, like their neighbours of Surrey, have been sadly in want of a iirst-class fast bowler, as with their great batting strength it is only the failure in their bowling that prevented them being at the top of the tree. The loss of a reliable wicket-keeper was also felt. The Hon. A. Lyttleton being unable to play for them until August, and Capt. Borrowes, their wicket keeper of last year, being imable to give his services, they have had to fall back on untried colts. Mr. C. T. Studd, n<>t inaptly termed the modern W. G. Grace, has been of incalculable service. Surrey, curiously enough, reversed the order of things in the previous season. In ;82 they began well, but ended badly, while in 1883, after a bad beginning, in a great measure due to the trial given to Colts of doubtful merit, ended in glorious style, not having been beaten in a county match on their own ground, a boast which no other County could make. Mr. W. W. Read was a tower of strength. Un­ doubtedly the best batsman of the past season in England, he had the enormous average of 51 for his County, in first-class matches for 35 innings. Perhaps his greatest feat was against Somerset, at Taunton, where, after scoring 147 for Reigate against Dorking, lie played two not out innings of 93 and 80, the three innings taking place on consecutive days, a performance almost if not altogether without parallel in the history of cricket. Several promising players have been grafted into tho team this season. Messrs. Diver, Bainbridge, Bowden, with Hen­ derson, are above the average, while the con­ sistently good batting of Messrs. Shufcer, Roller, Key, Cattley, and Chester, and Abel, with the probable return of Jones next year, gives every prospect of a still further improvement. M. Read was not in quite the best of health in the later matches, which somewhat marred his batting powers, and these in the early part of the season bade fair to be brilliant. Lancashire fell from its high estate, thanks, in a great measure, to the ill success of its Southern tour, losing all three matches against Surrey, Kent, and Gloucestershire. In batting, perhaps, the team have not maintained their reputations, but with such an array of bowlers, and perhaps the best wicket-keeper in England, they ought to regain their position next seascn. Derbyshire have somewhat improved on ’82, but they are still a long way from the top of the tree, and the illness of Mycroft, their most reliable bowler, was all against them. Mr. W. Ever­ shed came in wonderfully in baiting towards the end of the season. In addition they have good bats in Foster and Messrs. Maynard and Docker, but in bowling there is room for improvement. Sussex have also improved on their last year’s form. Messrs. Whitfeld, Newham, Wyatt, and F. M. Lucas with Tester, Juniper, the two Hides, Humphreys, andH. Phillips have worked hard for the success of the county, and it would be gratifying to find them improve still more in the future, if only for the sake of that liberal sup­ porter of the game, Lord Sheffield. Gloucestershire are indeed down on their luck