Cricket 1884

DEO .2 5 , 1884. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 497 T H E C R ICK E T SEASON OF 1885. T he C ounty S ecretaries at L ord ’ s . Custom has sanctioned the second day of the Cattle Show week as the date on which the Secretaries of the various County Clubs are to meet for the arrangement of the cricket programme for the following season. In con­ formity with this understanding the annual meeting took place in the Pavilion at Lord’s on Tuesday the 10th inst. Mr. H. Perkins, the secretary of the Marylebone Club, was in the chair, and, as will be seen from the names of those present, twenty counties were re­ presented. Derbyshire.—A. Wilson and S. Richardson, hon. secs. Gloucestershire.—W. G-. Grace, captain. Hampshire.—Major Fellowes, hon. sec.; 3 . Bencraft, hon. treasurer. Kent.—Lord Harris, hon. sec.; G. Marsham. Lancashire.—S. H. Swire, hon. sec., and Jas. Maclaren, hon. treasurer. Essex.—J. J. Read, hon. sec.; C. E. Green, captain. Norfolk.—C. J. E. Jarvis, hon. sec. Notts.—H. Bromley, hon. sec.; and E. Browne, assistant sec. Cheshire.—Jas. Horner, hon. sec. Leicestershire.—T. Burdett, hon. sec. Middlesex.—A. J. Webbe, captain. Surrey.—C. W. Alcock, sec.; W. W. Read, assistant sec; F. Burbidge. Sussex.—G. Goldsmith, sec., and H. Cooke. Yorkshire.—J. B. Wostinholm, sec., and E. T. Atkin. Northamptonshire.—T. G. Vialls, hon. sec. Hertfordshire.—Captain Beresford Baker, hon. sec. Staffordshire.—J. Hill, hoD. sec. Somersetshire.—E. Western, hon. sec.; S. C. Newton, captain. Devonshire.—W. C. Sim, hon. sec. Warwickshire.—W. Ansell, hon. sec. C. W. Wright, hon. sec. of Cambridge University C. C., was also present. Before the commencement of the real business of the meeting, Lord Harris brought forward the proposal of which he had given notice: “ In all home and home County matches the side which loses the toss in the first match shall have choice of innings in the return." He urged that the system of tossing in force at present was calculated to operate at times very unfairly, as in the case of Derbyshire, who had not won a tosi during 1884, and that while his proposal might be a boon to the weaker side it could not in any way be prejudicial to the stronger counties. Mr. A. Wilson,of Derbyshire,seconded the resolution. Mr. Swire was instructed by the Lancashire Committee to oppose the alteration on the ground that it might give rise to unfairness iu the preparation of the wickets when it was known which side would have the choice. Mr. Bromley also had instructions to vote against the proposal on behalf of Notts, who were of opinion that the existing arrange­ ment had worked well for many years and did not need alteration. Other suggestions were made on the subject, one by Yorkshire that the visiting, another by Sussex that the home side, should have the choice. As ten counties voted for^ the proposal and seven against, Lord Harris deemed it advisable in face of the difference of opinion to defer his proposal for a year—more especially as it was not of vital importance to the game. The following matches were then arranged for next season. MAY. 6—Lord’s, Anniversary Meeting and Dinner, Mary­ lebone Club. 7—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Sussex. 11—Lord’s, Nortb v. South Colts. 11—Koaniugton Oval, Surrey v. Essex. 14—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Hants. 11—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Middlesex Colts. 14— Nottingham, Sussex v. Nott°. 18—Bradford, Yorkshire v. Sussex. 18—Lord1?, M.C.C. and Ground v. Kent. 18 —Cambridge, M.C.C. and Ground v. University. 21—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Leicestershire. 21—Oxford, Lancashire v. Oxford University. 21—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Middlesex. 25—W h it !M on d a y , Lord’s, N orth v. South. 25—Nottingham, Surrey v. Notts. 25—Brighton, Hants v. Sussex. 25 —Sheffisld, Kent v. Yorkshire. 25—Birmingham, Warwickshire v. Northamptonshire. 25—Manchester, Lancashire Colts match. 25—Oxford, Gentlemen of England v. Oxford Univer bity. 28—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Notts. 28—Derby, Surrey.v. Derbyshire. 28—Manchester, Lancashire v. Kent. 28—Cambridge, Yorkshire v. Cambridge University. JUNE. 1—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Yorkshire. 1—Ketnnington Oval, Gentlemen v. Players of South. 4 —Lord’s, Middlesex v. Yorkshire. 4—Oxford, Surrey v. Oxford University, 4—Manchester, Lancashire v. Derbyshire. 4—Gravesend, Kent v. Sussex. 5—St®ckport, Cheshire v. Leicestershire. 8-^Lord’s, Middlesex v. Surrey. 8—Cambridgo, Sussex v. Cambridge University, 8—Hudderslitld, Yorkshire v. Derbyshire. 11—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Gloucester.*hire. 11—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Giound v. Derbyshire. 11—Nottingham, Notts v. England. 12—Stockport, Cheshire v. Warwickshire. 15-r-Lord’e., Middlesex v. Notts. 15—Brentwood, Surrey v. Essex. 15—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Cambridge University. 15—Manchester, Lancashire v. Oxford University. 15—Brighton, Gloucestershire v. Sussex. 18—Kenningion Oval, Surrey v. Cambridge University. 18—Lord’s, Middlesex v. Gloucestershire. 18—Manchester, Lancashire v. Yorkshire. 18—Southampton, Derbyshire v. Hants. 21—Cambridge, University v. an England Eleven. 21—Cambridge, University v. Gentlemen of England. 22—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Oxford University. 22 —Lord’ s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridge Univer­ sity. 22—Brighton, Lancashire v. Sussex. 28—Birmingham, Warwickshire v. Herts. 25—Kennington Oval, North v. South (Humphrey’ s benefit). 25—Lord’ s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Oxford University. 25 —Southampton. Surrey v. Hants. 26—Manchester, Cheshire v. Lancashire. 29—Lord’s, Oxford v. Cambridgo. 29—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Sussex. 29—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Notts. JULY. 2—Lord's, Bar v. Army. 2—Kennington Oral, Gentlemen v. Plajers. 2—Manchester, Lancashix-e v. Essex. 8—Stockport, Derbyshire v. Cheshire. 6—Lord’s, Gentlemen v. Playeis. 6—Derby, Derbyshire v. Essex. 9—Manchester, North v. South. 10—Lord’s, Eton v. Harrow. 13—Lord’s, Middlesex v. Kent. 18—Brighton, Surrey v. Sussex. 18—Nottingham, Yorkshire v. Notts. 16—Manchester, Surrey v. Lancashire. 16—Taunton, Hants v. Somersetshire. 16—Gloucester, York-hire v. Gloucestershire. 20—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Lancash re. 20—Brighton, Notts r. Sussex. 20—Sheffield, Surrey v. Yorkshire. 20—Southampton, Hants v. Kent. 23—Nottingham, Notts v. Gloucestershire. 23—Gravesend, Surrey v. Kent. 23—Huddersfield, Yorkshire v. Lancashire. 23—Buxton, Derbyshire v. Cheshire. 27—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Clifton College. 27—Manchester, Lancashire v. Sussex. 27—Bradford, Yorkshire v. Gloucestershire. 27—Nottingham, Notts v Derbyshire. 29—Lord’s, Rugby v. Marlborough. 130—Manchester, Lancashire v. Gloucestershire. 80—Brentwood, Herts v. Essex. 31—Lora’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Clifton College AUGUST. 3—Canto bury, Kent v. Yorkshiro (Canterbury week). 3—Southampton, Hants v. Sussex. 3—Kennington Oval, Notts v. Surrey. P*—Derby, Derbyshire v. Lancashire. 3—Northampton, Warwickshire v. N rthamptonshire 3—Lt-ioester, Leicestershire V. Cheshire. 3—Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire v. Somerset­ shire. 8—Hitchin, M.C.C. and G. v. Herts, 6—Canterbury, Kent v. M.C.C. and Ground. 6—Clifton, Notts v. Gloucestershire. 6—Kcnnington Oval, Surrey v. Derbyshire. 7—Stockp rt, Lancashire v. Cheshire. 10—Brighton, Kent v. Sussex. 10—Derby, Yorkshire v. Derbyshire (Platt’s 1enefit) 10—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Somersetshire, 10—St. Albans, Herts v. Warwickshire, 13—Kenningtou Oval, Surrey v. Kent. 13—Buxton, Derbyshire v. Hants, 13—Clifton, Gloucestershire v. Lancashire. 17—Cheltenham, Gloucestershire v. Sussex. 17—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Lancashire, 17—Sheffield, Yorkshire v, Middlesex. 20—Nottingham. Middlesex v. Notts. 20—Tonbridge, Kent v. Lancashire. 20—Cheltenham, Surrey v. Gloucestershire (Chelten­ ham week). 20—Lord’s, M C.C. and Ground v. Herts. 20—Southampton, Hampshire v, Somersetshire. 24—Ciifton, Gloucestershire v. Midd’esex. 24—Tunbridge, Kent v. Hants. 24—Derby, Derbyshire v. Notts. 24—Brighton, Yo kshire v. Sussex. 24—Taunton, Surrey v. Somersetshire. 27—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Yorkshire. 27—Maidstone, Kent v. Middlesex. 27—Taunton, Gloucestershire v. Somersetshire. 31—Scarborough, Scarborough Festival begins— I Zingari v. Gentlemen of England. SEPTEMBER. 3 - Scarborough, M.C.C. and G, v. Yorkshire. 7—Scarborough, Gentlemen v. Players. Mr. C. W. Alcock (Surrey) brought forward the question of the status of the various county clubs, and as the representatives were thoroughly in accord that there should be no distinction between the counties in any way, the following resolution proposed by Mr. Alcock and seconded by Lord Harris (Kent) was carried unanimously. “ That in the opinion of this meeting it is unadvisable to draw any distinction between first and second-class counties that will affect their cricketing status or that of their represen­ tatives.” The subject of umpires was also brought forward by Lord Harris, and the names of those deemed competent were given to the chairman. Mr. Cooke (Sussex) brought forward the advisability of a uniform hour for commencing play as well as of draw­ ing stumps, but the general feeling was against any hard and fast line. A hearty vote of thanks to the Marylebone Club brought the meeting to a close. A FREN CH C R IT IC ON EN G L ISH CR ICKET . A French gentleman, M. Anatole Goujon, gave the St. James's Gazette the follow­ ing diverting view of the representative match at Kennington Oval between England and Australia :— “ I have heard say that there is at Paris an English cricket club which holds its reunions in the Bois de Boulogne. That may well be true, but I have never seen in France the great English game played, and it is to-day in England for the first time that I bave bad the honour to assist at a cricket match. At midday I rendered myself at the Oval at Kenuington. It was the occasion of the grand encounter between the champions of England and the delegates of Australia. In entering I paid for the privilege to observe the struggle, and I shall now say that never in my life have I seen at so cheap a price a spectacle so extraordinary. It was a scald­ ing day, and without losing time I have found myself a shelter from the rays of a tropic sun. ‘ Ah,’ I have said to myself in looking curiously around me, 4the combat has place then in the open air. ’ I was truly astonished, for naturally I figured to myself that when it was hot that they should play cricket in some pavilion. And I sit myself and regard attentively. The spectators have disposed themselves in an immense circle,in the middle of which a smooth lawn finds itself. Soon the players of the English party have ranged themselves irregularly in different corners of the field, and at certain distances from two light barricades of wood that had been erected face to face perpendicularly on the grass. I begin to interest myself. Then I see two players of the Australian party march firmly towards the barricades. Each one is Next issue o f Cricket Jan. 29.