Cricket 1884

78CRI0KETj A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME, apbil 24 , *S84. fallen while fighting for the Queen’s colours at Rorke’s Drift or Isandula, instead of living to defend their own cerise and black against Australian invaders on an English cricket-ground: The colonial schools are affected by very much the same conditions as Rugby, for, as a rule, in this colony it is the sons of the wealthiest who work the hard est. Those who have paid any attention to this subject will have noticed that the English schoolboy, as a rule, excels in batting ; while the few Australian boys who find their way into the leading club elevens are generally offered that promotion on account of their bowling. The English colleges are generally provided with professional bowlers and ooaches, and the result is that the boys give special attention to batting. Since 1878 the only prominent bowler from the public schools has been Mr. A. G. Steel, who came to Australia with the last English Eleven. This might be a very serious defect, and would, no doubt, soon settle the matter of supremacy in a direction favourable to Aus­ tralia but for the fact that on the rustic cricket-ground all over Yorkshire and Not­ tingham the villagelads are learning to bowl almost as soon as they can walk, and from this source England will continue to draw her bowlers, thus making up for the lack of attention given to this important phase of the game by the public cchool boys. In Aus­ tralia, on the other hand, schoolboys, being without professional assistance, have to bowl to each other, and thus the faculty is developed. Several schoolboys who thus learned the art have afterwards shown special excellence in bowling. Australian cricket may attain the same supremacy that Australian sculling did a few years back, but unless the period of pros­ perity is to be equally brief some attention must be given to the recruits. The only argument against the establishment of inter­ colonial school matches is the inadvisability of allowing boys to go so far from home with­ out being under parental control. This is already done, however, in the matches be­ tween the Sydney and Melbourne Grammar Schools, and there is no reason, therefore, why the greater result should not be attained at the same risk. The boys to constitute the teams would probably be those between 15 and 18 years of age, who in Australia are fairly able to look after themselves. As the matches would take place during the holiday season there need be little difficulty in exer­ cising a proper supervision over the conduct of the boys when visiting the other colony to play a match. It is to be hoped that those gentlemen who have agreed to carry out the arrangements for the first of the proposed matches will not allow the matter to drop, and that the principals of the leading col­ leges will cordially unite in supporting the proposals. A m h tjrst C lu b .— The tenth annual draw­ ing - room entertainment, given by the members of this society, attracted a large company to the Manor Booms, Hackney, on Friday evening last. The programme con­ sisted of Andrew Halliday’s drama of “ Daddy Gray,” and Dilley’s farce “ Chisell­ ing.” Excellent management and acting, above ‘Jae average of such performances, con­ tributed to a very pleasant evening. The club has arranged 41 fixtures for the season, including four day matches at St. Alban’s, Ch-eshunt, Southend, and Pond Lane, Clap­ ton. HON. ARTILLERY COMPANY. May 8 , at Pond Lane, Clapton, v. Amhurst May 10, at Headquarters, v. Old Kensington May 14, at Headquarters, v. St. John’s Hall May 17, at Woodford, v. Woodford Wells May 28, at Headquarters, v. iEolian May 81, at Headquarters v. Colveston June 2, at Clapton, v. Upper Clapton June 4, at Felstead, v. Felstead School June 7, Athletic Sports, no match June 11, at Headquarters, v. West Green June 14, at Headquarters, v. Holborn June 18, at Headquarters, v. Merchant Taylors’ Schl. June 21, at Headquarters, v. Woodford Wells June 25, at Highbury, v. St.John’s Hall June 28, at Willesden, v. Willesden July 2, at Headquarters, v. St. Mark’s July 5, at Headquarters, v. Amhurst July 9, at Headquarters, v. Brixton Wanderers July 12, at Clapton, v. Clapton July 16, at Buekhurst Hill, v. Buckhurst HJL11 July 19, at Sidcup. v. Sidcup (Private Parkes’ Team) July 23, at Headquarters, v. Islington Albion July 26, at Headquarters, v. Holborn July 80, at Headquarters, v. Law Aug. 1 & 10, v. RegimentalCamp Aug. 18. at Headquarters, v. Rochford Hundred Southend Aug. 16, at Headquarters, v. City of London College Aug. 19, at Headquarters, v. Baltic Exchange Aug. 28, at Headquarters, v. Willesden Aug. 27, at Headquarters, v. Shakespeare Aug. 80, at Headquarters, v. Lower Clapton Sept. 6 , at Pond Lane Clapton, v. Colveston Sept. 13, at Headquartors, v. Heathfield LOWER CLAPTON CLUB. April 26, at Pond Lane, v. Phoenix May 8 , at Tufnell Park, v. Holborn 1st XI. May 3, at Pond Lane, v. Holborn 2nd XI. May 10, at Pond Lane, (S) v. Shakespeare 1st XI. May 10, at Pond Lane (L.C.), v. Shakespeare 2nd XI. May 17, at Eton and Middlesex, v. Old Kensington 1st XI. May 17, at Pond Lane, v. Old Kensington 2nd XI. May 24, at Loughton, v. Loughton 1st XI. May 24, at Pond Lane, v. Olympian May 81, at Tufnell Park, v. Dartmouth Park 1st XI. May 81, at Pond Lane, v. Dartmouth Park 2nd XI June 7, at Pond Lane, v. Bow & Bromley 1st XI. June 7, at Forest Gate, v. Bow & Bromley 2nd XI June 14. at St. James’-street, Walthamstow, v.Mayfleld June 14, at Pond Lane, v. Navarino June 21, at Pond Lane, v. Ravens June 21, at Eton & Middlesex, v. Junior Middlesex 2nd XI June 28, at Wanstead Park, v.Tinsbury June 28, at Pond Lane, v. SI. James’ the Less July 5, at Pond Lane, v. Old Kensington 1st XI. July 5. at Eton & Middlesex, v. Old Kensington 2 XI. July 12, at Ponders End, v. Ponders End July 12, at Pond Lane, v. Ariel Jnly 19, at Pond Lane, (L.C.) v. Shakespeare 1st XI. July 19, at Pond Lane (S), v. Shakespeare 2nd XI July 26, at Mr. Pleasant, Clapton, v. Phcenix July 26, at Pond Lane, v. Navarino August 2, at Pond Lane, v. Mayfield August 2, at Spotted Dog, v. Ariel August 9, at Forest Gate, v. Bow & Bromley 1st XI Augnst 9, at Pond Lane, v. Bow & Bromley 2nd XI August 16, at Pond Lane, v. Finsbury August 16, at St. Jaraes’-st., Walthamstow, v. Auburne August 23, at Mt. Pleasant, Clapton, v. Olympian August 28, at Pond Land (L.C.), v. St. Mark’s August 80, at Spotted Dog, v. Ravens August 80, at Headquarters, Finsbury, v. Hon. Artillery Company Sept. 6 , at Pond Lane, v. Holborn 1st XI. Sept. 6 , at Tufnell Park, v. Holborn 2nd XI. Sept. 18, at Pond Lane, v. Dartmouth Park 1st XI Sept. 18, at Tufnell Park, v. Dartmouth Park 2nd XI. Sept. 20, at Pond Lane, v. Loughton 1st XI. Sept. 20, at Pond Lane (St. M.), v. St. Mark’s] Sept. 27, at Pond Lane, v. Anburne DAY MATCHES. May 22, at Priory Farm, v. Star June 2, at Wandsworth, v. Balham June 16, at Southend, v. Roohford Hundred July 16, at Pond Lane, v. Rochford Hundred August 4, at Pond Lane (S.), v. Shakospeare F o r the Sefton Club against Bromborough Pool, on Saturday, F. Jones, for former, bowled 11 overs, 3 balls, for 11 runs and 7 wickets. G. C. H a rris o n , of Oriel College, Hon. Sec. of the University Cricket Club in 1882, took his B,A. Degree at Oxford last week. • £ C 0 I ^ E $ P e p E r J C E - > We are not responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents. No communications can be in­ serted unless they bear the name and address of the writer, as a proof of good faith, not necessarily for publication. THE FOURTH AUSTRALIAN TEAM. To t h e E d it o r or “ C k ic k e t . 1 D e a r S ir ,—Having read the letter of Mr. “ A tkins” in this week’s issue of C r ic k e t, will you favour me with a short space to endorse his remarks. I quite agree with 11 Sweet Seventeen ” and “ Mr A.” Why shouldn’t the Past and Present of the dark blue have a chance of lowering the Austra- tralian team, as well as the light blue? A good eleven of Oxford (P. and P.) including Messrs. A. J. Webbe, A. W. Ridley, Lord Harris, Evans, Patterson, Leslie, J. G. Walker, Page, E. F. S. Tylecote, and M. C. Kemp, etc., would, I am sure, render a good account of themselves. There are a few vacant dates in the Aus­ tralian programme, and I hope a match may be arranged. I for one, should not be sur­ prised to see the wearers of the dark blue victorious.—Yours respectfully, F. G . G re a b , 1, Northwold-road, Upper Clapton. To t h e E d it o r o f “ C r ic k e t .” D ear S ir , —As the time is now drawing so near to the arrival of the Australians on our shores, and with a view of the selected teams paving some practice together in order to meet the Antipodians on even terms. I would suggest the following Teams as likely to represent our full strength, going by the form of last season, viz:—Players.— Barlow, Barnes, Ulyett, Bates, Shrewsbury, M. Read, Flowers, Hall, Pilling, Peate, Harrison or Watson. Gentlemen.—W. G. Grace, A. G. Steel, A. P. Lucas, Hon. A. Lyttelton, C, T. Studd, Lord Harris, W. W . Read, I. D . Walker, W. E. Roller, H. Rotherham, or C. H. Smith, C. W. Wright. England,—W. G. Grace, C. T. Studd, A. P. Lucas, W.'W. Read, A. G. Steel, Hon. H. Lyttelton, Hall, Peate, Barlow, Ulyett, Barnes, and Harrison. The latter would be exactly the same as the team of 1880, sub­ stituting Mr. W. W . Read for Hornby, and Hall for M. Read, with Harrison as an extra fast bowler if required. As there are so many men almost on a par, I quite expect to see a difference of opinion ex­ pressed, but I hope, nevertheless, it will ventilate the question, because early prac­ tice together is advisable to ensure our Teams proving victorious.—I am, &c., C h a r le s L. B r o a d . W illia m S h e p h e r d (eldest son of William Shepherd, “ coach ” at Dulwich College), playing for the Alexandra Club against the Waddon Club at Waddon, on April 14, took seven wickets in the first and nine in the second innings. M e . AcGtrsTtts F r e d e r ic k B la k e , a member of a well-known family at Bury St. Edmunds, and a noted Suffolk cricketer, shot himself in his father’s house yesterday week. !..................