Cricket 1885

m a t 7,1885. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OE THE GAME, 105 iTwasquitein thefitness ofthingsthat the highest score should have fallen to the captain. According to all accounts, Shrewsbury has rarely, if ever, shown better cricket, many as have been the good performances recorded to him, both here and in the colonies. It was the first “ century” he had made on Australian soil, and in proof of the high opinion of his batting on this occasion I can hardly do better than give the comments which appeared in the Australasian from the pen of “ Felix,” a thoroughly practical and reliable critic. His play throughout was a treat to look at, and that neat and effective stroke of his between square-leg and mid on is worth copying. He made a large number of his 105, not out, in this spot. His defence was splendid, his cutting clean and telling, his timing could not well be excelled, and his care and judgment in dealing with enticing balls to the off formed a lesson which young cricketers, and indeed some old ones, could study with profit. During his long stay at the wickets, Shrewsbury never once lost his patience, and on returning to the pavilion after his masterly and finished exhibition of batting, he was greeted with loud and long continued applause. Everyone was thoroughly pleased to see this admirable exponent of the art of batting reach the century on Australian turf. He had often gone close to the three figures in matches with us, but he had never quite reached them until this match. B a r n e s , I learn from the same source, though a little lucky, only gave one chance in the attainment of his 74, and that a very difficult one to the wicket-keeper on the leg-side, off the first ball he received from Spofforth. Briggs, Scotton, Hunter, and Bead all seem to have played well, though a like compliment can hardly be paid to Bates, whose inn­ ings, it is said, contained no less than five chances. He does not seem, though, to have been at all in good trim, as when his score stood at 54 he was so weak and done up that he had to leave the field and could not resume until the following day. From what I can hear the team seem to have had more than a fair share of work, and, indeed, considering the slight amount of rest they have had, the consistently good form they have shown is the more surprising. P e e l , Ulyett, Atewell and Flowers bore the brunt of the bowling, but they were greatly indebted to excellent all­ round fielding, and in this department the team have throughout the tour shown up in brilliant fashion. “ Felix,” in his remarks on their out-cricket, adds,“ Hunter was in greatlorm behind the wicket, and Briggs at cover-point surpassed all his previous efforts, which, as we all know, were really brilliant. Attewell must be accorded a special line for that magnificent catch which disposed of Walters.” I t is much to be regretted that any­ thing should have occurred to mar the general effect of the English success. The behaviour of certain members of the team in commenting offensively on a decision of one of the umpires, Mr. G. J. Hodges,should not, however, be overlooked. I have often had occasion to deprecate in no measured terms the habit of cavilling at the decisions of the officials, and I am sorry to have to record a charge of unsportsmanlike conduct against English cricketers. Mr. Hodges, I may add, in consequence of his treat­ ment declined to continue umpiring. T h e English team, it is pleasant to have to add, were most liberally treated by the Melbourne Club in connection with this match. No charge of any kind was made either for the use of the ground or the stands, and indeed the members of the Premier Club of Australia, according to all accounts, have displayed the greatest hospitality to the English profes­ sionals during their sojourn in the Colonies. The captain of the first Aus­ tralian team which visited England, D. Gregory, too, seems to have done his best to make the tour of our men enjoyable. In appreciation of his many acts of kindness to them during their New South Wales and Queens­ land tour, they presented him with a handsome locket. M r . W. W. B e a d , everyone will be pleased to see, has begun the season in a brilliant style, and is evidently in a run-getting vein which bodes well for Surrey cricket. As yet he has had three innings in connection with the Surrey Club without once losing his wicket. On April 30, in a trial match at the Oval, he retired after making thirty-one, and in a similar match on Saturday he had to leave after getting forty-one, in which were two sixes, two fives and two fours. On the intermediate day he carried out his bat for 100 against the Broadwater Club at Godalming, so that in three innings up to the pre­ sent time, he has got 172 runs with­ out being out. S u r r e y , by the way, opens its county season on Monday next, when it meets Essex at the Oval, Mr. Boiler, I hear, will not be well enough to p'ay, and as it is not certain that Maurice Bead will be home in time, a place will not be kept for him in the opening match. The Surrey eleven will, I believe, be Messrs. J. Shuter, W . W. Bead, C. E . Horner, E. J. Diver, and M. P. Bowden, with Wood, Barratt, Abel, Lohmann, Beaumont and Bowley. T h r o u g h the courtesy of the Earl of Sheffield I am able to give the names of the players who will form his eleven in the match against Shaw’s Australian team, to take place at Sheffield Park on the 21st inst. and two following days. They are Messrs. W . G. Grace, E . M. Grace and W. Newham, with Hall, Emmett, H. Phillips, Peate, Grim- shaw, G. Hearne, F. Hearne and J. Hide. I am pleased to notice Mr. W. G. Grace’s name in the list. If it is only to be regarded as a sign that he has not yet definitely made up his mind to devote his attention exclusively to Gloucestershire cricket, the public will be highly gratified. A n accident resulting fatally took place in a match played at Adelaide Oval, on March 18. Messrs. E . A. Stow and Frank Finlayson ran against one another in going for a ball, and the former suffered so severely from the collision that concussion of the brain resulted. He was almost incessantly unconscious from the time of the accident, and died on March 27. He was the third son of the late Mr. Justice Stow. T h e Committee of the Yorkshire and Notts County Clubs have both good reason to be satisfied with the form shown by their young players in the recent Colts’Match at Trent Bridge Ground, some notes of which have been kindly furnished by a first rate judge of the game. The executive of the Notts Club, I know, is thoroughly satisfied with the supply of really good youug talent at its disposal, and everyone will be gratified to see the reputation of Bichard Daft perpetuated by two such promising players. I understand that the four Colts selected to represent Notts at Lords on Monday, in the match between Colts of North and Colts of South, will be M. Wright, engaged