Cricket 1884

©EC. 23,1884. CRICKET; A 'WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 493 A f r i e n d lias called my attention to an article in Little Folks maga­ zine for January, giving an account of a new winter game, “ Indoor Cricket, and How to Play It.” I have not had time as yet to master the details of the amusement as pro­ pounded by J. A. M. A hasty glance, though, is sufficient to show that the idea is very ingenious, and as far as I can see there is no reason to doubt that Indoor Cricket as described by J. A. M. may furnish a fund of en­ joyment during the winter months, as its inventor claims, to those for whom it is chieflymeant, Little Polks. E. W . B a s t a r d , of Wadham Col­ lege, has been elected Secretary of the Oxford University Cricket Club, vice T. E. Hine-Haycock (New) resigned. A scheme which will, it is believed, meet with general acceptance, has been proposed by the Treasurer (T. Case, Corpus), whereby the College Cricket Grounds will be transferred from Cowley to the Parks, where the University matches are played. The advantages of this proposal are mani­ fold. The members of the Colleges will be saved a great deal of time, trouble and expense, and University Cricket, generally, will be improved by the centralisation of the play, and the aid thereby given to the Captain in his task of selection. The plan will probably come into working in 1880. I n o t ic e that several suggestions have been made in Metropolitan papers, the outcome of the discussion created by Lord Harris’ proposal to give, in home and home matches, the side losing the toss on the first oc­ casion the choice of innings in the return. Mr. H. E. Harris, in C r ic k e t of Sept. 11, pointed out through the columns of “ Pavilion Gossip,” that, in the Laws of Cricket, revised at the “ Star and Garter,” Pall Mall, on Feb. 25, 1774, by a committee of Noblemen and Gentlemen of Kent, Hampshire,Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and London, there was one to the effect that “ the party which goes from home shall have the choice of the innings, etc.” Mr. Harris, I would also point out, then urged that a return to this old system would be by no means inadvisable. I h a ve had occasion more than once to call attention to the perfor­ mance of a young Victorian of more than ordinary promise as an all­ round cricketer, W. Bruce to wit. As a bowler he has been credited with exceptionally good records, and that he is no mean bat was proved last season by his huge score of 328 not out for the Melbourne Club against Hotham, the highest individual in­ nings as yet made in Australia. Un­ less my memory is at fault the man­ ager of the Fourth Australian Team had some idea of bringing Bruce to England last summer, but circum­ stances prevented his coming. He must be this season in good bowling form, for I notice that on Octobei 25, playingfor theMelbourne Club,he took nine out of tenwickets of avery strong batting eleven of East Melbourne, including Groube, Horan, Lewis, and McShane, on an excellent pitch at a cost of only 58 runs. In the last issue of Boyle and Scott’s Australian Cricketers' Guide, a copy of which has just reached me, Bruce is de­ scribed as “ a good left-hand bowler with break from either side and at times almost unplayable, a good steady bat and magnificent field.” C r ic k e t readers will be interested in a matrimonial announcementwhich appeared in the Evening Standard of Monday week to the following effect— S tdd d — B e au ch am p . —On Deo. 10, at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, by the Bsv.H.Webb Peploe,John Edward Kynaston Studd, to Hilda, daughter of the late Sir Thomas Beauchamp, Bart. The best wishes of every cricketer who knows him will follow the Cam­ bridge captain of 1884 iu his new estate. I am glad to see that the delegates at the annual Conference of Secre­ taries last month passed a unanimous resolution that there should be no distinction of any kind between the counties to affect their status or that of their representatives. Considering that twenty county clubs sent officers to the meeting at Lord’s, and that there was not a dissentient in any way, the importance of the vote can be estimated. Some peculiar anoma­ lies have been witnessed in the well- meant attempts of different critics to determine what are first and second class counties, and the feelings of the counties—great as well as small— is that there should bo no such distinc­ tions, but that all shouldbe placed on the same basis. I see some captious writers have tried to impute personal motives because the motion was pro­ posed on behalf of Surrey. The perfect accord, though, with which the idea was received showed that the principle was thoroughly recognised. As far therefore as the counties themselves are concerned, there will be no line of demarcation to define first from second class counties. I t will also be satisfactory to many cricketers to know that the arrange­ ments for the provision of thoroughly competent umpires in county matches will for the future be more in accord­ ance with the original intentions of those who proposed the institution of neutral arbiters. The understanding was that the names of nominees of the various county clubs should be circulated among the Counties for general approval, so that none but those regarded as capable be allowed to officiate. This clause in the draft had been overlooked, and in some instances men not con­ sidered fully fitted by their own counties were nominated by others. More than once last year there were complaints of incompetent umpiring, and it is understood that for the future no county club shall nomi­ nate anyone belonging to another shire without having consulted the secretary of the latter. Anything which tends to ensure that the umpiring is in proper hands should be encouraged. The best of umpires can­ not help making mistakes. It is right, though, that these shall be mini­ mised by the appointment of men who not only understand the rules but can interpret them properly and administer them fearlessly. I t will be a disappointment to many to find the fixtures between Lancashire and Notts for the second year in succession missing from the cricket programme. I am not in the secrets of either, but cannot help thinking that a very slight effort would have been required to produce a renewal of diplomatic relations be­ tween the dissentients. The public would, I feel sure, be glad to hear that the differences hadbeen amicably adjusted. T h e mentionof Lancashire reminds me that in all probability next yearwill see the county eleven, after an inter­ ruption of the fixtures extending over two years, again opposed to Middle­ sex. At least I am able to state authoritatively that Mr. A. J. Webbe lias promised to arrange one match with Lancashire at Manchester if it can be managed during the visit of the Midd*esex Eleven to the North in August. Next issue o f Cricket Jan- 29-