Cricket 1884

4 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. j a n . s i , is m . These two questions ol straight-arm bowl­ ing and cutting up the wicket have been raised, not to promote any unpleasantness, but because certain members of the Austra­ lian eleven were a magnificent example of the one, and a sorry example of the other. If cricketers choose to observe the letter rather than the spirit of the law, the letter must be altered. In the field there is little to choose be­ tween Ivo Bligh’s and Murdoch’s eleven. They have nobody so quick as G. B. Studd, and nobody so slow as Morley; but they hold catches with a far greater amount of certainty than most English players. This quality is due partly to the size and strength of their hands, but still more to the strength of their eyes, a virtue which many an Eng­ lishman has before now envied, while field­ ing under a hot Australian sun. If there is one fact that goes farther than another to prove what a strong set of men the Australian eleven are, it is that they seem to bat in the same consistent form both in England and Australia; while, either from the heat or the unaccustomed climate, there were always one or two of Mr. Bligh’s team below par. The strong light, too, was very puzzling to some of our batsmen ; and it is significant that neither A. 0 . Steel nor W. W. Bead, who had the two top averages, ever made a long score in a strong light. C. T. Studd, would tell us, we think, if asked, that he was never really fit from the first to the last day of his Australian tour, and in no other way can we account for the disparity of his 1882 and 1833 form in Eng­ land, as compared with his form in Austra­ lia. G. B. Studd, too, though he excelled himself in the field, was of little service with the bat; while Barnes, who suffered from chronic diarrhoea, expected to make no runs, and fully realisedhis expectations. We see, therefore, that though Mr. Bligh’s team was successful as a body, there was no source from which runs invariably came ; the style of his team throughout, however, was sup­ erior to that of Murdoch’s ; with the excep­ tion of Barlow and Morley, each batsman combined hard hitting with good defence ; and on the perfect wickets a team, thus com­ posed, was sure to realise a big score against any bowling. The composition of Murdoch’s team was a peculiar one, Bannerman and Giffen were the only two we could ever hold up as ex­ amples of style. Murdoch seemed to fall off as Bannerman improved, and those who had seen the former in his days of greatness would hardly have recognised him as the same batsman ; this loss of form may have been, of course, only temporary, but we must not forget the old saying, that ‘ ‘ a stale horse never comes again.” Horan and Blackham are ugly bats, but good run- getters. Massie, McDonald,* and Bonnor, the hitters of the team, all did well at different times, the last-named being in fine form throughout the late international season. Palmer, Garretf, Spofforth, and Boyle, form a decided tail— “ which nobody will deny. ” The merits and demerits of each member of Mr. Bligh’s team are so well known, from their form in England, that there is no occasion to point them out; suffice it to say that, with the exception of Morley, they have all at times been very successful bats­ men against English and Australian bowl­ ers, and we must therefore come to the con­ clusion that they were a far better batting team than Murdoch’s eleven ; in fact, better * McDonnell.—Ed. C rick et. than any team Australia can put in the field. Whether Ivo Bligh’s and Murdoch’s rival teams will compete again remains to be seen; if they do, we shall be the first to predict a good match; yet we cannot refrain from ex­ pressing our opinion that the Englishmen will confirm the result of the rubber played in Australia. If, however, we look forward, and venture to predict the results of other first-rate matches which willbe played against our Antipodean rivals in 1884, we must bear in mind the fact that Mr. Bligh’s eleven was in no way representative of England’s full strength; strong team it undoubtedly was, but we fancy few cricketers would find difficulty in making one or two beneficial alterations; notably George Ulyett for Morley. We refrain from suggesting any other changes, because our representatives more than answered the expectations formed of them before leaving this country ; but we are anxious to impress on our readers the fact that England’s best eleven is, and al­ ways has been, superior to any eleven the world can produce ; and England’s best form must not be guaged by their one sorry ex­ ploit at the Oval in August 1882. We think Australia better than our best counties— Yorkshire, Notts, Middlesex, and Lanca­ shire; but we are firmly convinced that were any of these four counties to play under the same conditions, and with the same objects as Murdoch’s team, they would be in no way inferior to that successful eleven. In conclusion, we must congratulate the M.C.C.* on the number of representative fix­ tures which have already been made, with a view to giving the expected eleven a warm reception: and we shall be very much sur­ prised if the hitherto victorious team is not considerably levelled. Should our expecta­ tions turn out unfounded, we shall be most ^appy to see these few remarks stultified. N o t t s C a s t le . —The 24th annual general meeting of this Club was held on Jan, 8th. The following were elected officers for the ensuing year : - President, Sir H. Bromley, Bart.; hon. sec. and treasurer, Mr. H. Turner; committee, Messrs. Bates, Baints, Jas. Blackburn, Cooper, Baggalley, Mosby, Husbands, Swaine, Knight, Emmett, W. Shrewsbury, Kerry, and Carbon. On Dec. 1st, a match was played at Lucknow. India, between eleven officers and men of the 95th Regt., calling themselves “ the World,” and an eleven of the same regiment from Nottinghamshire. The county won by three runs (73 to 70) on first innings. Corporal Mellors took sixteen of “ the World’s ” wickets. A C o u n ty C lu b f o e C u m b erla n d . —- A meeting was held on Jan. 2, in the County Hotel, Carlisle, to form a county club for Cumberland. Sir H. Vane presided. Sir Wilfrid Lawson moved that it is de­ sirable that a cricket club be formed, to be called the Cumberland County Cricket Club, to play county and such other matches as may be deemed expedient.—Mr. D. Ains­ worth, M.P., seconded the motion, which was carried. —Lord Munoaster was elected presi­ dent ; Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Sir R. Brisco, Sir H. Vane, the Earl of Lonsdale, Sir P. Gra­ ham, and the Mayor of Carlisle were elected vice-presidents; Mr. Dykes was elected secre­ tary, Mr. P. H. Horrocks, treasurer. * The M.C.C. has had nothing to do with the arrangements of the fixtures.—E d . C ricket . A PEE P IN TO AN OLD C R IC K E T ANNU A L . B y T homas K eyw obth . I am secretary of the M.c.c. It is unfor­ tunate that the initials of our association are the same as those of the famous head quarters of cricket; but we try to guard against mistakes by writing our designation very small, and pronouncing it very softly. We are the Middle-aged Cricket Croakers ; so be it understood that by m .c.c. we do not mean M.C.C. We are amongst other things enthusiastic collectors of cricket literature, and during the winter months we meet together, that we may discuss the interests of the game, and grumble at everybody and everything, which in our opinion ought to be put right. If a member happens to obtain a fresh book which refers to old cricket, he is expected to provide a short paper, in which he gives an account of bis treasure. Not long ago, David picked up a copy of Denison's Cricketers' -Companion for 1846, and in accordance with established custom, he told us all about it. The following is his paper, which was read at the last meeting of M.C.C. It is not probable that many copies of this publication are now in existence. Cricket Annuals are prone to appear at their wonted season, and be well thumbed for awhile, and then to sink into the limbo of waste paper. This is a mistake. People would do well to preserve these yearly records of the game ; they are the best histories of it, and have a permanent value. Denison's Cricketers' Companion for 1846, is a pamphlet of 100 pages, with fifteen pages of introduction. It is bound in brown paper, and bears on the cover an announcement of the fact that it was published at half a crown. Anybody who could purchase it at that price now would be fortunate. It is “ By Authority, and under the Patronage of the Marylebone Club.” It contains the “ Grand and Prin­ cipal Matches of Cricket played at Lord’s and other Grounds in the season 1845, with, by Special Authority, the Laws of Cricket, as altered June 2nd, 1845. By W. Denison, Esq.” People sometimes complain about the late appearance of Cricketers’ Annuals, Compan­ ions, or Almanacs, at the present time ; but we are far in advance of 1846, for this Com­ panion did not see the light until the month of July. The author, however, gives a good reason for the delay, as is the habit of authors. But seldom have the scribbling fraternity an excuse as valid as that of Mr. Denison’s. He lent the MS. to a friend, and that friend went abroad, leaving the MS. under look and key. From the remarks made, it looks as if the friend had been mixed up with railway troubles, which were rife at the time, and to adapt words which Moore used about Ireland, he found England a splendid country to live out of. The author had to write his book again; thus the delay, and thus certain omissions, which are regretted. He believes he has given a full account of the matches, but is not able to give certain statistical facts which would have proved interesting. The introduction should be taken to heart by all societies which exist for the purpose of propagating the idea that wet summers are modern inventions. Mr. Denison says, that 1845 was probably the most unfavour­ able season that could be remembered. Constant rain and thuder-storms, especially Next Issue of CRICKET will be published Thursday, February28.