Cricket 1884

NOV. 27, 1884, CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 483 finite about the matches in which the County eleven are likely to be engaged. As already announced, that deserving pro­ fessional, A. Watson, is to have a benefit next year at Old Trafford. It was in contemplation to give him an extra match between Gentlemen and Players, but that idea, we understand, has been abandoned. The committee propose, though, to have a new fixture between North and South, and in all probability this will be played on July 9 and two following days at Manchester. W e hear on the authority of the captain of the Essex eleven that matches will in all probability be arranged between that county and Lancashire. Allen Hill, the Yorkshire fast bowler, joins the staff at the county ground, and the other pro­ fessionals engaged are A. Watson, J. Briggs, W . Copeland, J. Garner, B. Pilling, and W . Okell. Gloucestershire, we hear, will play the same county matches as in 1884, with the a dition of out and home fixtures with Somersetshire, which had to give way in 1884 to the two engagements with the Australians. It is stated on authority that G. B. Nichols, who has hitherto re­ presented Gloucestershire as an amateur, will for the future play as a professional. Derbyshire, as already stated, will not play Kent next year, but it is said that matches will if possible be arranged with Essex, as well as Hampshire. Mr. Maynard, the old Harrovian, who was un­ able to play last year, will captain the eleven next summer, and as the county has not been particularly fortunate in its field managers of late, Mr. Maynard’s acceptance of the captaincy should be of advantage to the eleven. The county ground at Derby was not in the best condition last season, but we understand that every care is being taken to remedy the defects for next year. It is probable that one of the home fixtures may be played at Buxton, where there is a good ground, and there is no reason why a match there in the season should not be successful. No news has reached us with regard to the probable programme for Sussex, but there is reason to believe that the county matches will be much the same as last year. Hampshire, with an untiring manager in Major Fellowes, is likely to regain much of its old prestige. The executive is not sparing money over the new ground it has secured, and the possession of a home of its own should act as a great stimulus to the development of the county’s cricket. The committee propose to play Surrey, Sussex, Kent, and Somersetshire, and also matches with Derbyshire if they can be arranged. Hampshire last year intro­ duced two promising young amateurs in Messrs. A. C. Bichards, of the Eton eleven of 1883, and A. B. Heath, o f the Chelten­ ham team o f1884, and withits full strength in the field the county ought to do fairly well. Mr. 0 . E . Green is bent on bringing Essex to the forefront of counties, and situated as it is on the confines of London it has ad­ vantages which cannot be over-estimated. There are several really good young players in the county, and with a little more interest in the cricket it is sure to improve. The committee propose to play Surrey, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Herts, and M.C.C. and Ground if all these fixtures can be arranged. In Jones Essex has a very promising young player, and though Pickett, the fast bowler of whom so much was expected on his performances of 1883, was of little use last year there is some chance that he may return to his proper form, more especially as he was suffering in 1884 from the effects o f an accident at football. A U S T R A L IA N IT EM S . A t a meeting held at Grafton (N.S.W.) at the end of September it was decided to in­ vite Shaw’s English team to play a match against a team of the Clarence Kiver. P la y in o fo r Byde against the Carthonas o n September 27, in Sydney, J. Docker took seven wickets for ten ru n 3. Is a match played at Urana (N.S.W.) at the end of September G. W. Lamb went in first for Mr. Lublin’s side and carried out his bat for 128 out of a total of 219. T h e Committee of the East Melbourne Club have decided to erect a grand stand on their ground at a cost of £3, 000. O n October 1 a crowded meeting was held atNarrabri (N.S.W.) for the purpose of secur­ ing the visit of Shaw’s English team to that town. A large sum of money was collected towards defraying the expenses. T h e annual meeting of the New South Wales Association was held in Sydney on Sept. 29. The following were elected officers for the ensuing year : Mr. F. H. Dangar, President; Messrs. M. H. Stephens, E. Barton, A. Cameron, and P. B. Walker, Vice-Presidents; Mr. D, W. Gregory, Hon, Sec. ; and Mr, S, A. Lindesaan, Hon. Treasurer. O n Sept. 20th the Hawthorn Club (Victoria) played its opening naixtch—the First Eleven against the Next Eighteen. The Eleven made 244 for one wicket, Coupar, of the South Melbourne Club, scoring 112 and G. Berry 120 not out. The latter is a son of the Chief Secretary of the Victorian Senate. J. W . Allee scored 116 for East Mel­ bourne v. Law Schools, at Melbourne, on Oct. 16, O n Oct, 4, J. Willing, of Canterbury, New Zealand, scored 132 in two hours and forty minutes, with nineteen in the field. In his hits were one five and six fours. T h e P. and O. Steamer “ Ganges,” with Messrs. I. D. Walker, and Spofforth, of the Australian team, on board, reached King George’s Sound on the 18th inst. She was due at Adelaide on Sunday, and Melbourne on Tuesday last. T he “ Mirzahpore ” (P, and O. Steamer) with twelve members of the Fourth Aus­ tralian team on board, reached King Grorge’s Sound on Nov. 5th. She arrived at Adelaide five days, and Melbourne a week later. T h e English professionals who left home in the “ Orient” last September for Australia, reached Adelaide on the 28th of October. M ID D L E S E X C O U N T Y C LU B . O n November 7, the annual meeting of the above club was held at the Charing Cross Hotel. Mr. George Lee was in the chair, amongst those present being Messrs. C. I. Thornton, V. E. Walker, A. J. Webbe, and P. M. Thornton (hon. sec ) A discussion took place on the position of the Club at Lord’s, and it was resolved that a letter be forwarded to the Marylebone Club on the subject of the continuance of the Middlesex pro­ gramme as part of the card at head-quarters, thanking the M.C.C. for their kindnes3 in past years, and stating their willingness to contribute £50 for the privilege of playing their matches at Lord’s during 1885. The accounts for the past twelve months showed a balance in hand of £529 18s. 7d., as against £429 5s. 2d., and a nettprofit of £138 17s. 6d. on the year’smatches. R eceipts . E x pe n d it u r e . £ s- a. s s. a. Nottingham .. 73 110 ............................. 58 11 6 Yorkshire .. 24 30 ............................ 68 19 6 Gloucestershire 148 7 6 .....................................610 6 K ent.................. 74 19 6 .................................... 3610 0 Surrey .. .. 79 8 6 ............................. 81 10 0 Australians .. 182 9 6 ............................ 170 10 0 Colts v.OrleansClub 5 0 0 £560 19 0 £422 1 6 BALANCE SHEET FOB 18S4. R e c e ipts . £ s. a. Balance from last y ea r........................................ 429 5 2 Nett balance from all oounty matches, after paying expenses, and those connected with out m atches........................................... I 3 g 17 <5 Subscriptions .............. .................................. 37 14 0 605 16 8 E xpe n d itu h e . Assistant Secretary............................................. 15 0 0 Charing Cross Hotel for meeting room .......... 1 1 0 R. Reeder, for luncheonB .................................. 7 1 7 Dark, cricket balls .............................................. 5 5 0 Police account for season .............................. 18 4 0 Bowen, printing posters and handbills.... 7 11 Or, H. Whittmann, printer.............................. 2 5 0 Postage, stationery, telegrams, and sundries 4 10 6 R. Thoms .............................................................. 5 0 0 M. Flanagan weekly allowance, 20weeks at 10 s. 10 0 0 75 18 1 Balance in hand ..................................... 529 18 7 605 16 8 Mr. A. J. Webbe was elected to attend the meeting of county secretaries at Lord’s on the 9th of December. It was decided that the programme should be the same as last year, with the return match v. Kent again part of the Canterbury week if possible. The resignation of the captaincy by Mr I. D. Walker gave rise to a sincere and unanimous expression of regret. A vote of thanks was passed in recognition of his untir­ ing zeal for Middlesex Cricket during the last twenty years. Mr. A. J. Webbe was ap­ pointed to succeed him in the captaincy. Mr. P. M. Thornton consented to act provisionally as Hon. Sec. for another year, not liking to press forward his resignation at a critical moment. Mr. C. I. Thornton was elected on the committee in place of the Bev, A. R. Ward (Cambridge University), deceased. T h e E nglish C ricketers in A ustralia .— A Beuter’s telegram, dated Melbourne, Nov. 24, states that the English team beat an Eleven of New South Wales on that day by four wickets. The New SouthWales eleven did not include any of the Fourth Australian I Team. Next issue o f Cricket Dec. 25-