Cricket 1884

JUNE 5, 1884. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 167 head. Having so many old players available there is every ehanoe of a successful season, more especially as there is some likely new material. H. J. Sedgwick, J. E. Aldridge and P. W. Boosey, of the rising players, all show promise. The Repton match will be played at Malvern on June 25 and 26. Brighton College, though only three mem­ bers oflast year’s eleven are left, still retains its best bat, G. H. Cotterill, and at the same time its two most successful bowlers, F. H. O’Donogliue, and E. W. Ritchie. G. L. Wil­ son, C. H. Bond, E. H. Cole, W. W. Eggar, and W. S. I’askin are the most promising players, and the bowling will be fairly strong in the hands of O’Donoghue, Ritchie, G. L. Wilson, and H. A. Daniel. The cricket all round will certainly be an improvement on last season. The Lancing matches are fixed for June 24, at Brighton, and July 12 at Lancing. G. Wells, the Sussex player, is the coach at Brighton. Radley College has nine of last year’s choices left, C. Von Vogt, the Captain, G. H. Nelson, L. Cooyer, C. Langley, W. F. Hilton, R. H. Moss, M. M Barker, H. Waters and A. Moultrie. The Bradfield match is down for June 24 ; the other fix­ tures are with Brasenose, University, Mer­ ton, Hertford, St. Catherine’s, Magdalen, Corpus College, Cuddesdon, Reading and Old Radleians. At Bradfield eight old choices remain—in Hare, Gellibrand, Bidwell, Humphrey, Paine, Hearn, Menzies and Haig. The batting shows a great improvement on the form of last year, but the bowling is by no means as good as could be wished, and in this depart­ ment the eleven certainly want strength. At Fettes College there will only be five vacancies, W. Greenstock, the Captain, N. H. Stephen, the Secretary, J. Aitken, A. J. Duncan, W. B. Macher. and F. W . Spencer of last year’s eleven all remain. The fact of the School being broken up last summer has made it rather difficult to determine the capabilities of the rising players, though perhaps the most promising is Southey. The batting with the exception of that of three or four is rather poor, but the bowling will be decidedly above the average. Of last year’s Loretto eleven remain R. C, Kitto, Captain, W. P. Gornall, L. R. Pater­ son, A. Pearson, G. Paton, A, S. Caldwell, and J. F, Park. T H E U N I V E R S IT Y E L E V E N S . B y One w ho has P layed A gainst B oth . Though the visit of the Australian crick­ eters to our shores this season must natur­ ally tend to depreciate the interest in those fixtures in which they do not take part, yet the University match will be sure to com­ mand very considerable attention, especially because Oxford gained a glorious victory over the Colonials, and because the cricket prospects at the older University are brighter than they have been for several years. It is a very long time since Oxford has received so many good recruits. Two of these— O’Brien and Key—are tried cricketers. The former, by his two splendid innings against the Australians at Oxford and at Lord’s, has proved himself to be one of the most danger­ ous batsmen in England at the present time, and the performance of the latter in the return match between Lancashire and Surrey last season stamps him as a cricketer of no ordinary merit. As yet he certainly ha3 not played quite up to the form expected of him, but he cannot be left out of the eleven. Nicholls, too, is a thoroughly good all-round man, for besides being a very fair slow bowler he is a very fine field at short slip (his performance of catching seven men in the Australian and Oxford match speaks for itself), and a dangerous hitter. Whitby is a fast bowler with anice easy action, and if he is not overworked, ought to be sure to get wickets at Lord’s. These four we may con­ sider certain to obtain places in the eleven. Of the other freshmen Cobb has distinguished himself by making the enormous score of 190 on the Parks’ ground. He is a good sound bat, with plenty of confidence, hit­ ting woll all round, and has taken to fielding point, where he acquits himself creditably. Brain, too, the Clifton captain of 1883, is a very pretty bat, and has got a good many runs. He is almost, if not quite, the best field in the eleven, and keeps wicket well. Then there is Buckland, brother of F. M. Buckland, who made his century against Cambridge in 1877, a capital all-round cricketer, who would have been certain of a place in most years. Hildyard is another very useful bat, and i3 thought by some; to be deserving of a trial. Higgins, of Westminster, seems to be out of form this season. There are several other freshmen who are good cricketers, but as none of them are likely to have a chance of getting into the Eleven this year, we will pass on to the seniors. There are only two worthy of mention. The first is Tristram of Hertford, an old Lorettonian, who played full back for England at Rugby football. He is a very steady bat, and as there are several hard hitters in the team, he might perhaps be given a trial. E. D. Shaw, who two years ago scored 60 aaginst Cam­ bridge, and also carried his bat through the first innings against the Australians, is still in residence. He does not seem, though, to have regained his 1882 form, and is a poor field. Nowwe come to the members of last year’s eleven who are still available. Kemp, the captain, is in excellent form with the bat, and behind the sticks. No one who had the good fortune to witness the last day’s play in the Australian match at Oxford will readily forget his plucky and finely hit inn­ ings of 63, not out. He is a rare man at a pinch, just what a captain ought to be, and manages his men fairly well in the field. Hine-Haycock, the secretary, is also in good form, and ought to be invaluable to his side. He is a very steady bat, with unwearied patience, and though last year only a moderate field, by assiduous practice has now become first-rate, and has already made some really brilliant catches. Page is batting very consistently, and like his captain pos­ sesses great nerve, and watches the ball well. He is certainly the best all-round man in the team, as though his bowling is not deadly he “ sticks to it,” and keeps up an end capitally. Bastard is the best bowler in the eleven, and keeps a good length, giving fewer balls to hit than most left-handed bowlers. He has been fairly successful hitherto, but it is a pity he is a poor field aud bat. Asher is a dashing bat when set, but is nervous when starting. He has much improved in fielding and takes more pains than he did last year. Bolitho has unfortunately injured his knee, and it is unlikely that he will be able to play this season; he was batting capitally and got runs almost every innings he had,so that he will be a great less to the team. Cambridge has not been strengthened by so many good freshmen as Oxford, but though the Eton and Harrow representatives, Mar­ chant and Greatorex, have done very much less than was expected of them, yet they are doubtless a great acquisition to the eleven, and we shall be surprised if they do not give very valuable assistance to their more ex­ perienced comrades. Marchant is a free bat and a beautiful leg-hitter, though he some­ times chooses a straight ball lor this stroke ; he is also an active field and can bowla little. Greatorex is generally a steady and correct bat, but he is a little too free in his driving on the off-side. Unfortunately he injured his hand at the commencement of the season, and has thus been unable to get into thorough practice. Knatchbull-Hugessen has been tried on two occasions, each time with suc­ cess ; he is a very good field, so ought to have a good chance of the eleven. Porter, from Marlborough, and Richards, from Eton, are both fair men, but there pro­ bably will not be room for either of them. Bainbridge is the only senior likely to get a place, in fact he cannot well be left out, for he has always made a moderate score, his fast bowling is useful, and he is a good field aud a safe catch out in the countiy. Eaton is a good bat, but a poor field. Spiro is a hard hitting bat and a very good field, and it seems odd that he ',ha3 not yet been tried. Milner, who was captain of Wellington last year, has been tried in the two first matches. He bowled fairly well and batted decently, but as Topham is also a left-handed bowler about the same pace, his services wil hardly be required. Rock, an Australian was up last year, but did not appear on the University ground. He would probably have gained his blue, as he can bat and bowl well, but being in for a tripos will not be avail­ able. Of the old members of the eleven, J. E. K. Studd has been in fairly good form, but as yet has not made so many runs as usual on Fenner’s. This may be accounted for by the ground being in a very different condition from that of previous years. He is fielding grandly, and in that respect sets an admirable example to his side. Wright has scored consistently in every match, and is keeping wicket tolerably ; it is curious how much better he plays for his University than for his county. Hawke has hardly played at Cambridge, but on the occa­ sion he represented his county, he appeared to be dead out of form, though, no doubt, he has had very little practice. Mansfield has been in for liis tripos, so his name has hardly appeared this season, but on last year’s form he should be very dangerous, as he hits finely all round, and also fields capitally at point. Paraviciui has been batting well. He is a most useful man; though he could always hit well, he has improved of late in defence. He is too a splendid field, very quick and active as a rule, but occasionally goes to sleep. His bowling is now very indifferent Smith is the best bowler at Cambridge, and he always bowls well in the University match. Like Wright, though, he plays much better for tho University than for his county. He is a good field but a poor bat. Turner is a good all­ round man. His batting is uncertain, and he had made very few runs until the York­ shire match last week, when he played a good innings of 63 not out. He is fielding very well and bowling fairly. Topham is getting a few wickets and seems to be bowling i good length. He nearly always gets some runs, so it is difficult to know why he is put in last. He is, too, a good field and sure catch off his own bowling. With regard to the probable result of the annual contest, it certainly appears at the present time that Oxford are the stronger in batting and bowling, while both elevens have