Cricket 1884

28 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. f e b . as, m m . Aug. 9, at Priory Farm, v. Navarino Aug. 16, at Priory Farm, v. Park Boad Aug. 16, at Dulwich, v. Alleyn Aug. 28, at Priory Farm, v. Finsbury St. Agatha Aug. 23, at Dulwich, v. Causton’s Aug. 28, at Priory Farm, v. Craya and Orpington Aug. 80, at Priory Farm, v. Champion Hill Sept. 4, at Priory Farm, v. Brixton Wanderers Sept. 6 , at Priory Farm, v. Clyde Sept, 6 , at Herne Hill, v. Brockwell Perk Sept. 18, at Priory Farm, v. Marlborough Sept. 20, at Priory Farm, v. Quebec Sept. 27, Club Match The new Private Ground is situated near Peckham Rye, on the Priory Farm, and is within five minutes of Honor Oak Station on the Crystal Palace High Level Line. Hon, Sec,, G, W. Largen, 74, Gellatly Road, Peckham, S.E. L a n c a s h ir e C o u n ty C lu b .— The annual meeting of this club was held at the Grand Hotel, Manchester, on Jan. 31. Mr. A. B. Rowley presided. The annual report showed that the membership roll was 1,237 strong. The gate money during the season amounted to £344, and the balance in hand £2,705, against £1,000 at end of previous year. The Chairman said that Notts did not play them this year, and it was a sub­ ject of regret to all cricketers that the Notts’ committee should have arrived at the decision they had. He thought it was most superfluous on the part of Notts to object to the Lancashire bowlers, and take upon themselves the work of umpires. The Lancashire professionals had played in all the county matches, and the umpires ap­ pointed by the Marylebone Club had not decided that any bowled unfairly. The action of the Notts in the matter was pre­ sumptuous, and if every county overrode the umpires all would be confusion and muddle. The Marylebone Club were quite able to deal with the matter, and, if they could not, they should be done away with, and an association of cricketers formed in their place. He hoped that in another season the difficulty would be overcome, and they could meet amicably again. A discussion ensued as to renewing the lease of Old Traflord Ground, as Sir Humphrey de Trafford’s agents require £2,250 and £200 annual rental to renew it 25 years, there being five years still to run. The meeting decided to acquire the lease for 21 years more. The officers were re-elected, and the committee was instructed to play a county match at Liverpool A C lu b in the Noith of London, of medium strength, with good ground and every convenience for opponents, desires to arrange more day matches within a 20 miles Metropolitan radius. Replies will be answered at once by Captain, 47, Dickenson street, N.W .— A d v t. N o ttin g h a m s h ir e C o lt s ’ M a t c h . — Easter Monday and Tuesday.—Applications to play in this match, stating age and quali­ fications, and enclosing references, must be sent to the undersigned on or before the 30th March next. E. Browne, secretary, Cobden Chambers, Pelham Street, Notting­ ham.— A d v t. C r ic k e t and T e n n is G r o u n d W a n te d , as close to Kensington as possible. Par­ ticulars to G . H. Butterfield, Admiralty, Spring Gardens, S.W .— A d v t. K e n s in g to n C r ic k e t C lu b have May 31 and July 26 open for half-day matches with strong clubs on own ground. Second eleven also have several dates open for matches with good clubs. Write to C. E. Bloomer, hon. sec., 33, John street, Bedford Bow, W.C.— A d v t. N O T E S ON U N F A I R BOW L ING . B y V . E . W alk er . From “ James Lillywhite’s Companion for 1884.” V a r io u s , and in certain instances absurd, as have been some of the suggestions as to the alteration of Law X., and the i.nfair bowling or “ throwing ” question, it does not appear to the writer, whilst agreeing with a good deal that has been written, that the real remedy has been adopted by anyone; pro­ bably the writers have scarcely liked to suggest such stringent measures; but if this so-called “ throwing” or unfair bowl­ ing is to be stopped, the remedy must be strong, as at present we see no notice taken of it, whilst many, rightly or wrongly, are crying out loudly against several bowlers. All true cricketers desire to see nothing but fair and legitimate bowling ; some of us may not have such strong opinions as others as to the fairness or otherwise of certain deliveries, but it cannot be denied that the tendency to “ throw” has been much on the increase of late, and the evil must be wiped out at once, or it will ruin the game— if we wish cricket still to be looked upon as the game of Englishmen. What then is to be done fora remedy ? To give both umpires the power of calling “ no­ ball ” has been favoured by many, and this seems in some degree plausible, since umpires themselves aver that it is not always ossible, considering their position at the owler’s wicket, ana having also to watch the foot of the bowler, to see the bowler’s arm at the moment of delivery. This might answer in the best of matches with the best of umpires, but surely it might give rise in many cases to unseemly disputes, especially in the event of close contests. To “ no-ball” any fast bowler, whose arm is bent at the time of delivery, has been sug­ gested by a well-known member of a great cricketing family ; in this case again there is a loop-hole for the umpire; he either cannot see, or he is unable to say whether the howler is a fast bowler or not, for be it observed the gentleman who ably advocates this would not have a slow bowler thus “ no­ balled.” As a matter of fact, there are fast bowlers who howl perfectly fairly with a bent arm, and whose delivery has not been questioned. There are many slow bowlers who bowl with bent arms, and in one case a well-known slow bowler who, as many think, throws, has decidedly rather a round or straight arm delivery. So much has been written about “ bent arms,” “ crooked elbows,” “ turned wrists,” and other eccen­ tricities of bowlers, without anyone abso­ lutely agreeing with another as to what con­ stitutes a fair delivery or otherwise, that it is next to impossible to define a throw. All these proposed alterations and defini­ tions of a throw we therefore take it would puzzle Btill more than now the unfortunate umpire ; for, if there exists in the minds of some, as they aver, doubt and uncertainty, these latter will surely not be diminished. So long as umpires allow any sort of bowling which to the mind of the majority is unfair, so long will the doubtful action or • ‘ throwing ” delivery be continued. It is said, again, that umpires do not like to “ no-ball” a brother professional, as it would be injurious to his career; but it should also be remembered that by not “ no­ balling ” A, who is supposed to be fast with a bent arm and unfair, they are also taking the bread out the mouth of B, who is a fast, but perfectly fair, bowler, and who would, and should in reality, be playing in place of A. Depend upon it then, the umpire who is placed in his position to be the judge of fair and unfair play is the proper man to tackle in the first instance. We must get umpires who will do their duty without fear, and act up to their opinions ; they will be supported by general opinion, and though they may have at first some little disagree­ ables to encounter, those will shortly dis­ appear, and we shall very soon get rid of any “ throwing,” and the old legitimate bowling will reign again. Let then the old Law X. stand as it now is, and if the M.C.C. will make the following, or some­ thing similar, their rules, and invite the co-operation of all the Counties, these rules will be taken up and obeyed by all true lovers of cricket:— “ Unless umpires ‘ no-ball’ any bowler whose delivery they consider to be unfair, they will no longer be employed in first-class matches. All cases of what is considered neglect of duty on the part of an umpire to be reported to the Committee of the M.C.C., who shall have the power of suspending the umpire for such time as they think fit. If a bowler has been1no-balled ’ once for unfair bowling, he shall, if he be at any time ‘ no­ balled ’ a second time, be liable to be de­ barred from bowling in any first-class match whatever.” C r ic k e t in A m e r ic a . —The Committee of Management of the Halifax Cup met on Jan. 18, and awarded the annual prizes as follows :—The Cup to the Young America Club, which played the full series of five completed matches and defeated all its com­ petitors — the Belmont, Germantown, Girard, Merion, and Oxford Clubs. A. M. Wood, of the Belmont Club, won the Cup for the best batting average (26-50), and S. Welsh 3rd, of Germantown, that for best bowling average (six runs for 21 wickets). W a n te d , a M an to look after ground from May to August; must be a fair bat and good bowler. Apply, stating terms and references, to Hon. Sec., Cricket Club, Ockley, Surrey.— A d v t . T h e following days are open for half-day Matches—May 10, July 26, at E. Acton, and May 24 away. Address, A . W. Gra­ ham, 24, Morland Square, W .— A d v t. S t. M ark’s C r ic k e t C lu b will be glad to arrange day matches for the Bank Holidays (June 2 and August 4), with a club of medium strength. G. Compton, hon. sec., Five Houses, Lower Clapton, E.— A d v t . C r ic k e t G ro u n d t o L e t , close to Park Station, fifteen minutes from Liverpool Street. For full particulars, apply, Hon. Sec., Distaff C .C ., 8 , Cannon Street, E.C.— A d v t. T h e P h ila d e lp h ia n C r ic k e t e r s . —The Daily News of yesterday states that the Philadelphian cricketers who are about to visit England have been obliged to decline to have Peate and Flowers over to coach them before they sail, the reason being that they cannot obtain a suitable ground for practice. Their present intention is to reach London about May 25, have a good practice, against Peate and Flowers if pos­ sible, and then carry out the engagement made for them against the Gentlemen of Sussex. They hope more matches will be made for them, and want to meet our best amateurs. Atthesame time, Mr. D, S. New­ hall, who writes for the teamto Messrs. Shaw and Shrewsbury, says the Philadelphians are by no means proud of their ability, their object in coming over being entirely educa­ tional. Next Issue of CRICKET will be published Thursday, March 27.