Cricket 1883

m a y 3,1883. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME* 69 Oval in July last year, or to T. Marsden’s 227 at Sheffield, in July, 1826, made against such bowling as W. Clarke and T. Barker’s, helped by a good field. Considering the state of the grounds in 1826, this may, perhaps, be thought the greatest batting feat on record, unless catches were missed. Marsden and Mr. Felix were pro­ bably the best left-handed bats ever known. (To be continued). THE SEASON IN SCOTLAND. From the Scotsman, T h ou gh a start was made with the popular summer game on Saturday, another fortnight will elapse before the majority of cricketers will begin play. From the cards received the coming season promises to be a busy one. While the “ big ” matches will be fewer, the club ones will be more interesting, embracing, as they will, visits from a greater number of the best English and Irish clubs than has been the case probably in any previous year. The Scottish clubs, on the other hand, have not been behind, and Eng­ land and Ireland will both be visited by touring teams. The Scottish Cricket Union, after clearing all their debt, mainly through the Aus­ tralian match last season, will, owing to the breakdown of the Lancashire match, content themselves with the inter-city match and the north and south—the former of which will be played in Glasgow on June 8 and 9, and the latter at Aberdeen on July 13 and 14. There is a prospect of the Union also arranging a match with the Gentlemen of Ireland, but nothing definite is yet fixed. Glancing at the cards, after the Grange and Academicals, which have already been noticed, that of Edinburgh University, em­ braces, in addition to all the leading clubs, in- ter-University contests with Glasgow on June 13, and with Dublin on June 27 and 28—both at Corstorphine. J. M ’Donald will captain the team, which will include a number of last year’s men, with several promising choices, including Palmer, of Lancashire. George Howell has been re-engaged as “ coach.” Dalkeith will be cap­ tained by Mr. Charles Craig, with Mr. J. Inglis as his vice. Close on forty matches have been arranged by Mr. G. W . Heathcote, opening on Saturday against the Boyal High School (F.P.), the contest with the Grange being fixed for May 5. For the Royal High School (F.P.’s), who will be led by Mr. W . M. Gossip, upwards of thirty matches have been fixed by Mr. James, and the team will be much the same as last year. The Carlton, with all last year’s men back and a number of new ones, expect to be stronger. The dub will play three teams, Mr. Blackadder again captaining the first, with Mr. J. Smith as his vice. For the first and second elevens Mr. Galbraith has [fifty matches fixed, opening against Forfarshire at Broughty Ferry on Thurs­ day. For Lasswade and the Etceteras Mr. II. P. Caldwell has close on fifty matches arranged, so that the ground at Polton Dell will be lively to the end of August. The ground has been im­ proved by the removal of the large tree in front of the pavilion ; and among the most noticeable of the visiting teams are North of Ireland (June 27 and 28) and Dublin University (June 29 and 30). A start was made on Saturday, when a long score was made. Mr. W. A. Somerville '"’ill again be the captain, while several ground Men will be engaged. The Watsonians are this year fairly in the front rank, opening on Satur­ day against Drumpellier, close on forty matches for the two elevens having been fixed by Mr. W. Pairbairn. Mr. John Young will be the captain, and J . Howell has been retained as professional. One of the neatest cards is t hat of the Merchis- tonian, founded in connection with the jubilee of Merchistonian Castle School, which happens this year. An ihfluential executive has been formed, including Mr. Rogerson, and Rev. J. Barclay, president and vice-president respec­ tively, with Messrs. W. Gibson-Bloxsom, J. Cross, A. M. Slight, J. R. Burgess, and W. Garner, hon. secretary and captain. The team will be made up mainly of old fellows, masters, and the coach, and about twenty matches are already fixed. Dr. J. Carlyle Johnstone will captain the Royal Edinburgh Asylum team who will open against the Press Club on May 5, and from then till August 25 Dr. R. B. Mitchell has twenty-four matches already fixed, so that the pretty little ground at.Morningside will be as busy as any in the district.TheWellington will again be led by Mr. G. L.Ingram,and about thirty matches have been fixed by Mr. W . S. Ingram, including the Grange on Saturday first. Mr. T. Mackenzie will captain the Franklin, for which Mr. J. Sturrock has upwards of twenty fixtures. The Leith Caledonian will be under Mr. D. Somer­ ville’s lead, and the card arranged by Mr. W. Helm includes all the leading clubs in a list of about forty matches. Among the junior clubs, the Alexandra, which has the Lord Provost as president, has nineteen matches fixed by Mr. T. Cowan, jun., with Mr. J. Anderson as captain. The Edinburgh Angus will be under Mr. J. W. Keith’s captaincy, Mr. D. Mann having fixed fifteen matches. For the Cronstadt, under Mr. Henrie, Mr. J. Mackenzie has eighteen matches fixed. Under Mr. R. Cumminjs, the Rosemount will meet some of the leading clubs, including the Grange, Mr. Hart’s list numbering twenty- two matches. Under the new name of Newing­ ton, the old Lauriston will play upwards of twenty matches with Mr. J. Anderson as captain. The Salisbury, under Mr. T. Gray, has eighteen matches ; the Clarendon, under Mr. J. Purdie, has twenty-one; the St. Andrew, under Mr. R. Henderson, sixteen ; and the Kingston, under Mr. A. M’lntosh, eighteen. In the Western district, the West of Scotland card, arranged by Mr. J. H. Miller, has close on forty matches, including visits from the North of Ireland (June 29 and 30) and the Crystal Palace (August 23 and 24). During the Fair holidays the North of Ireland at Belfast and the Leinster and Phoenix at Dublin will be played. H. Butler and A. Toplis, both of Notts, have been engaged as professionals, with T. Bingham as ground man. For the Clydesdale, Mr. M'Leod has close on forty, for the two elevens, besides fourteen for a new team called the Titwcod Eleven. Colonel Carrick-Buchanan’s Drum­ pellier team has as usual a long and heavy card arranged for it by Mr. D. Crichton, and among the visitors will be the Rathmines Wanderers (July 27) and the Crystal Palace (August 24 and 25). The United Northern has had one of the heaviest cards in Scotland arranged by Mr. J. B. Smith. During the Fair holidays a north tour will he undertaken, starting on July 4 against Inverness ; Tain, Golspie, Wick, Thurso, Stromness, and Kirkwall in turn being visited. Greenock has close on forty matches fixed by Mr. W. L. Inglis. Among the provincial clubs, Dunfermline has a card of thirty-three matches arranged by Mr. G. Erskine. The team will be much the same as last year, and be under Mr. D. Brown’s captaincy. W . Bancroft has been engaged as E rofeisional. For Perthshire, Mr. R. Hailey as twenty matches, while a two-day one with Aberdeenshire will be arranged for August. The Buccleuch has sixteen matches, and will be captained by Mr. Howkins. Dalkeith Park has nine contests, and will be under Mr. C. Hutchison’s captaincy. Prestongrange, under F. W. M. Kitto, an old Loretto boy, has nine­ teen matches ; Haddington, under Mr. G. S. Scott, twenty-two ; Gosford, under Mr. J. Osborne, twenty-one; Falkirk, under Mr. H. Smith, twenty; Bonnyrigg Dundas, under Mr. R. Rigg, fifteen ; Linlithgow County, thirteen ; Stirling Burgh United, under Mr. George Owen, twenty; Auchterarder, under T. W. Brugh Smeaton, fifteen ; Perth Union, fifteen; and Campsie, seventeen matches. The Border clubs also nearly all give promise of being busy, Mr. W. Robertson having fixed fifteen matches for Selkirk, which will be captained by Mr. J. Macaulay ; Hawick, about a dozen, under Mr.W. H. Young’s lead, including Merchiston and Craigmount here on May 17 and 18. P. Wood­ ruff will be the professional. Galashiels have over a dozen first-class matches, and with their new ground in good order the game in the Border town promises well. H. Murray, an old Craigmount lad, has been elected captain, and Huxby, of Lancashire, will be the professional. Kelso will be quiet, and so far as known, will only have home-and-home contests with Selkirk, Gala, Hawick, and Berwick. Burroghs, of Notts, has been engaged as professional. Dumfries has a heavy card of twenty-six contests already arranged by Mr. Blacklock. Moffatt will be led by Mr. A. J. C. Dowding, St. Ninian’s, formerly of Fettes College, and Mr. Tait has about a dozen matches fixed. For Peebles Mr. Melrose has already settled over a dozen contests. A dozen matches have been arranged byMr. Myles for Aberdeen University; while close on twenty have been fixed by Mr. J. Leslie Watt for the Stonehaven Thistle. Nairn County will be captained by Mr. A. M'Gillivray. Like most of the Northern clubs the list of matches is not arranged till later on in the season, but enough has been given to show that all over Scotland the season will be a busy one, and that there will be little cessation from now till September. THE WAKE CHALLE NGE CUP SHEFFIELD . The following matches in the first round of this competition are to be played on Saturday. Kiveton Park v. Eckington Half-way Houses, played at Kiveton Park. Hillsbro’ v. Reinshaw Works, atHillsbro’. Carbrook v. Springvale, at Carbrook. St. Michael’s v. Independent, at Millhouses. Lockwood Bros. v. Eckington Works, at Ecclesall road. Harthill v. Gannow Lane, at Harthill. Hallam v. Stavely Hartington, at Sandygate. Manor Grange v. Elsecar, at Elsecar. Ecclesall Carlton v. Aston Hall, at Ecclesall. Pitsmoor v. Typefounders, at Pitsmoor. Shiregreen v. Caledonians, at Shiregreen. Aldwarke Main v. Nether Hallam Rangers, at Bramall Lane. HandsworthWoodhouse y . Swinton, at Wood- house. WHAT THE PRESS TH INKS OF “ CRICKET.” That readable little paper, C r ic k e t, one of the best conducted and most interesting journals in any way connected with sport .— The People, March 19. That useful little journal, C r ic k e t . — Notting­ ham Guardian, March 17» C r ic k e t. —The Brookfield Cricket Club are open for a whole day match on Whit Tuesday, May 15, on their own ground at Highgate (private). Also for half-day matche3, on May 19, and June 9, both away, with strong clubs having private grounds. C. W . Smith, 54, Fortess Road, N.W.— A d v t .