Cricket 1883

456 CEICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OE THE GAME. d e c . 27, us.-. is wrong in one of his statements. He says that the Cantab “ won the Cam­ bridge match against the second Austra­ lian Eleven.” I may point ont that the University did not play the second Aus­ tralian Eleven at all. It was the Cam­ bridge match of 1882 (the third visit of the Australians) which Eamsay helped to win. ■ W h ile on the subject of Australians who have vegetated on English grounds I see the name of W . C. Wilkinson as one of the Selection Committee for the second eleven of the Sydney University Club. Unless I am mistaken this is the amateur who did such excellent service for the Inter-Hospital Cricket Club a year or two ago. lie also figured more than once in the Middlesex County Eleven, and took part in three innings in Eng­ land for the first Australian team of 1878. T hebe must have been a peculiar dis­ play of cricket in the match between the Warwick and University Clubs, played at Sydney on Oct 20. “ Censor,” in his comments in the Sydney Mail at least, presents some members of the Warwick team in a condition which would be con­ sidered very unsportsmanlike, and from a cricket point of view hardly decent in the old country. “ Both teams,” writes “ Censor,” “ are to be complimented upon their punctuality in starting the game at the appointed time, but those members of the Warwick eleven who went into the field without iiannels arc to be severely censured for their disre­ gard of cricket custom. The two or three who were without uniform caused the eleven to have a generally dissipated and slovenly appearance. One of the delinquents went in to bat with a pair of shoes many times too large for him, and when running between the wickets they both flew off and lay in the middle of the pitch like canoes.” I n the last number of C kicket , in re­ sponse to an enquiry of a correspondent, I asked for particulars of two matches played on the Goodwin Sands, A friend has kindly forwarded me a copy of tlie Illustrated London News of August 20, 1854, which contains in addition to an engraving the following account of one of the two matches referred to. The ex­ tract is as follows:— “ The Goodwins,” which have been from time immemorial associated with destruction, have just been the scene of exhilarating sport. It appears that on the 10th inst, a party, got up by Mr. Morris Thompson, Mr. Hammond, and others at Walmer, visited the Sands for the pur­ pose of playing a game of Cricket. Capt. Pearson, and a picked crew of the Spartan, one of the finest luggers on Deal Beach, were se­ lected for the occasion. The day was beauti­ fully calm, and the party (twenty-four in num­ ber) arrived, aud were safely landed at five in the evening. After walking about a quarter-of- a-mile, a place sufficiently high and dry was found; when the match commenced, and con­ tinued until sunset, the winning party obtaining fifty-seven runs. The Sands were intersected in every direction with narrow but deep gullies, or, as they are termed by the sailors, “ swatches,” with swift running streams, into which it was dangerous to step. A sad association of ideas crowded the mind on looking over this awfully melancholy place. Here thousands of gallant fellows have been entombed—here millions of property have been engulphed ; and here was a picture contrasting with the present scene of pastime. The party returned home about ten at night. The evening was fine, and the ripples on the surface of the sea, as the lugger ploughed homeward, were most beautifully illuminated with phosphorescent light. How doctors differ ! In tho last num­ ber of C r ic k e t I quoted from the annual report of the Now South Wales Cricket Association to the effect that the Com­ mittee hear with regret of the organi­ sation of a fourth Australian team for England. The Victorian Cricketers’ Association evidently holds views diame­ trically opposed to those of the represen­ tative cricket body of the sister colony. “ The Association,” (I am quoting now from the annual report of that of Victoria) “ are of opinion that irrespective of the advantages gained from a cricket point of view by these periodical visits of Aus­ tralian teams to England the gain to these Colonies both socially and com­ mercially is of the utmost value.” Which nobody can deny! Tms number completes the second year of C r ic k e t ' s existence. I hope I shall not be accused of pride if I venture to claim for the paper a best on record. C r ic k e t is, I believe, the only journal in this or any other country which has solely devoted its pages to subjects con­ nected with our national game. C r ic k e t et pm lerea nihil has been and always will be its motto. To cricketers everywhere The Gossip heartily wishes A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. T h e Amhurst Club held a Smoking Concert, at the Manor Booms, Hackney, on the 18th inst. In answer to a correspondent, the English 12 who visited the United States in 1859 consisted of John Lillywhite, H, H. Stephenson, .Julius Caesar, Caffyn, Lockyer, Wisden, Grni.dy, George Parr, Dive Jackson, Hayward, and Carpenter. T h e first match of the season, between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire, will be played on May 8th, at Moreton-in-Marsh and not at Glou cester as first announced. T h e return match between Kent and Somer­ setshire originally fixed for Sept 4, at Graves­ end, will be played at Tunbridge Wells on August 25, 26,27. M E E T I N G O F C O U N T Y C R I C K E T E R S THBOWING AND UNFAIR BATS. A large meeting of representatives of coun‘ cricket clubs was held in the Pavilion at Lor.i’ Ground, London, on December 11. Loid Harris presided. The C h airm an said that of the two subject! mentioned in the circular he had sent out, h s proponed that they should first consider th second, namely, the width of the bat now used. It was the simplest of the topics before them, and the most likely to be speedily settled. 1 was at the end of last year that, going into » bat-'sellers shop in London, he took up an 1 measured many of his bats, only to find that they were allfrom one-eighth to one-quarter of a'i inch too broad. As the year went on he too . every opportunity which presented itself o'1 measuring the bats now being used, and he found that they were invariably too bl’oad. How absurd it was for them to say a bat should be a certain width, and then allow this width to be exceeded. He could not help thinkin ; that they were all of opinion that the law o i the subject should be observed, and he therefor, trusted that they would be willing to pass som • such resolution as this—“ Iu all county matche tho counties engaged will, to the best of their ability, insist upon bats being of the proper regulation width.” If they set the example the batmakers would quickly endeavour to keep within the proper width. Indeed, he knew that at the present moment one of the largest makers in London was making his bats of the true regulation width. Captain H olden asked what practical stepi t}ie Chairman would recommend to counties The Chairman thought that each countv should empower its captain to see that every man who played for his side used a regulation bat. Captain H olden remarked that he had been told by a very old cricketer that if a bat was made of regulation width it got broader as it got old. Mr.BuRBicGE thought the unlpires ought to have a guage. It would always be open to a captain in the match to call attention to a bat which was too large and have it guaged. Indeed, if everybody knew that the umpire had a guage in his pocket bats would soon be reduced to the proper width. The Chairman considered that it would be very unpleasant to have a bat measured before a lot of people, as it would suggest that there had been unfairness. He thought the passing of the resolution he had proposed would result in the matter being placed in the hands of the county captains, and the evil thus prevented. Ho did not believe that a single bat played with last season was of the regulation width. Mr. G eo . M aesham (Kent) moved, “ That tho captain of each county eleven be requested to see that Law 2 is observed in its integrity.” Mr. W ilson (Derbyshire) seconded this resolution, which was carried unanimously. The C h airm an said the next subject for con­ sideration was unfair or doubtful bowling. There was, he Baid, an idea among the public that those who had been agitating in this matter were afraid of fast bowling. There could not be a greater mistake. What they objected to Was equally objectionable whether practised by fast or slow bowlers. Another idea that, had arisen among the public wa3 that the agitators in this matter were making a set against pro­ fessional bowlers. That was also a great mistake. The objection had been first made in the ease of a gentleman, and not a professional, and he could not help saying that if he (Lord Harris) had been supported in the objection he made some years ago to the mode of bowling of a well-known amateur, bowling would never have got to the state it was in now. Nor werj Next Number of CRICKET will fee published Thursday, January 31,