Cricket 1885

MAY 21, 1885. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 131 P U B L I C S C H O O L C R I C K E T IN 1885 . Seven old choices remain at Eton, so tha* there should be no lack oi good material to send to Lord’s on July 10, to oppose Harrow. F. Thomas, the captain, and H. W. Forster, who rendered Pbilipson such valuable help as an emergency in the racquet matches at Prince’s recently, are alone Jeft of the Eton Eleven of 1883. Of the other five left of last year’s team, Lord George Scott, E. G. Bromley Martin, H. J. Mordaunt, Philipson, and H. Barnard, the first four all did good service, either with bat or ball. Lord George Scott and Forster, as wili be remtembered, were the chief scorers at Lord’s, a'hd Martin and Mordaunt’ the most successful bowlers. Last season, though they only made a poor show against Harrow, Eton had on paper a strong batting side, and there is every promise that they will be fairly good this year. It seems, too, as if, in all probability, the bowling will be better than it has been just of late. Three old choices of the Twenty-two, T. W. Brand, S. E. Forster, and Hon. G. H. I). Willoughby, it is hoped will be of use. The two first-named both bowl, and all three are likely batsmen. The opening fixture is on Saturday, against an eleven from Christ Church, Oxford. The Winchester match will be played this year at Eton, on June 23 and 24. Harrow is only a trifle less fortunate in the number of its old choices, as six of last year’s eleven remain. E. M. Butler is captain, as in 1884, and he will be again able to claim the services of W. A. R. Young, A. K. Watson, M. J. Dauglish, W . H. Dent, and A. D. Ramsay. The places of such cricketers as C. D. Buxton, F. H. Oates, and C. H. Dent will not be easy to fill of course. Still, there is no lack of good players to form a nucleus for this year’s eleven, and there is reason to believe that Harrow cricket, in 1885 will be up to the usual standard. The customary fixture with Mr. E. E. Bowen’s eleven on Saturday next will open the season. The Eton match is arranged for July 10 and 11 at Lord’s. As is the case with Eton, only four of the Winchester choices of 1884 are no longer at the disposal of the Captain. A. L. Watson, G. M. Jones, C. H. Nichols, A. G. Watney, C. L. Hemmerde, H. Lyon, and J. S. Watney, twelfth man last year, are still in residence, though it is probable that A. G. Watney will be unable to play cricket this term, owing to recent illness. Watson and Jones were the two most successful batsmen of last season, and Nicholls’ slow bowling showed very creditable figures. There is promising talent among the candidates for this year’s honours. The Hon. F. J. N. Thesiger and A. C. Taylor, who are both stopping for two more cricket seasons at Winchester, are both slow bowlers and likely batsmen. A. Peale, who is a fast bowler, is an energetic cricketer. E. F. Gresson, who bats and bowls left-handed, and H. Gibson, a slow bowler and straight bat, should also train o d . Y. F. Leese, who is very young, ought to make a good bat in time. The professionals at Winchester are the veteran D. Pollard, Long, and EUiottof Notts. The last named, who is ground man, has taken considerable trouble to get the turf in good order. The wickets were very unsatisfactory last year, but this was owing to the turf being relaid. The College eleven, who have already played two matches against tlje Garrison and Mr. A. J. Webbe’s eleven respectively, are to oppose the Gentlemen of Hampshire'to-day. Cheltenham is singularly unlucky in the number of its tried players. Only three of last year’s eleven remain, A. A. Glass, A. Lutyens, and F. Oliver, and of this trio Lutyens, the most successful bowler of 1884, will unfortunately not be able to play this summer. Hence there- will be plenty of opportunities for likely youngsters to fill the nine vacancies to complete the eleven. Under such circumstances it is rather early as yet to form a definite opinion with regard to the composition of the team. There are, though, several.promising candidates. Among these the most likely, as far. as we can see, are E. Glass, H. Champain, E. Richardson and H. Wright. Glass ought to be a useful bowler as well as a bat. Champain’s batting is of considerable promise, and Wright,too,should make a good steady bat.- There are hopes that Richardson will prove of serviee. If >a good bowler can be discovered it is believed that there is every likelihood of a successful season. The'professionals engaged are L. C, R. Ford of Staffordshire, and Painter of the Gloucestershire eleven. The Marl­ borough match is down for July 10 and 11 (the same days as Eton and Harrow), at Marlborough; that with Clifton at Cheltenham on June 24 and 25. Marlborough have begun their season well with a handsome victory over a team—not over strong—from Beading, scoring some 150 for three wickets to their opponents 125. Two- old choices, Meyrick (Captain) and Meyrick-Jones, began well with 59 and 50 respectively, the latter being in as good form with the bat as with the racquet. The prospects of the eleven in the batting line seem promising, the old hands being in good fettle already, and scoring in house-m&tches liberal. The most promising colts in this department appear to be Kitcat, Lazenby, and Poynton. The first, who is a wicket-keeperiato the bargain, still lias much to learn, though Lytteltons and Tylecotes are, alas, as rare as ever at school. Of bowling there is plenty— of a kind. Ashfield, of last year’s eleven, is straight and steady, but wants sting ; Hay- hurst is a fairly fast and straight right-hand bowler who might pay at Lord’s, while Robertson, medium left, appears puzzling and promising, if we may judge from the way he operated on the tail of the Reading team. Cold weather, though, stiffens the bowler’ s arm, so that it is hardly possible to forecast the Marlborough prospects at all accurately till the season is warmer and more advanced. Quantity and variety—failing quality—have always something encouraging about them. Seeing that the fielding is generally respectable, though there are no giants on the earth at present, Marlborough may confidently look forward to a successful end to a season already well begun. Though Bichard Humphrey has only four of the Clifton eleven to rely on for this summer, there is reason to believe that he will have no lack of good material to shape into batting form. G. Fowler is the captain of the eleven, and the other old choices are G. M. King, C. Cuyler and E. G. Mayo. Of these King and Cuyler were second and third in the batting averages, and Fowler and Mayo also occupied the first two places among the bowlers, so that the little talent remaining is at least of the best quality. Although the weather has interfered con­ siderably with practice, some good bat­ ting has already been shown, and in this respect. Clifton should, be fairly good. The eleven will 8»dly miss its wicket­ keeper, R. H. Johnston, who was considerably above the average of stumpers, although there is some fair promise eyen in this department among the players coming on. The captain has greatly improved in bis all-round cricket, and, indeed, many are of opinion that ho will in a year or two take a prominent “position among amateurs. Richard Humphrey, of Surrey, coaches the Gliftonians, with E. Petty, of Yorkshire, as his assistant. It is expected on the whole, that the Charter, house eleven will be up to the average- There Will be plenty of excellent bowling, and with one or two good bata and a capable wicket keeper, the Carthusians should do well. Of last year’s eleven, only four remain—C. Wreford-Brown, who is in his third year, H. J. E. Burrell (who has already been showing capital form with the bat in the holidays, and should make a lot of runs for the school), C. H. Evan Thomas and E. S. Currey, who last year gave promise of turning out a capital bat. Of the other promising candidates with the bat, C. W. Parry, H. C. Price, H. L. Lewis, and H. S. Steele are the most likely. Batting will probably be the weak point in tho eleven. In bowling, though, the eleven should be strong. The captain, C. Wreford Brown, was one of the two most successful trundlers of 1884, and in addition to Burrell and Evan Thomas, there are in reserve, L. B. Wilkin­ son, H. L. Lewis, and E. Streatfield, all promising fast bowlers. At present there does not seem any sign of a good wicket keeper. James Street:, the old Surrey player, W. Jones, a younger brother of the Surrey professional, and J. Smith, the Lancashire umpire, are the Charterhouse professionals for this season. The ground has not been as yet at all in good order, and practice has there­ fore not taken place under favourable condi­ tions. The Wellington matohwill be played at Charterhouse on July 18, that with West minster a week later at Vincent Square. ETON COLLEGE. May 23, at Eton, v. Christ Church, Oxford May 28, at Eton, v. C. I. Thornton's Eleven June 6, at Eton, v. Free Forester.* June XX at Eton, v. Quidnuncs June 20, at Eton, v. M.C.C. June 23, at Eton, v. Winchester July 2, at Eton, v. Eton Ramblers July 4, at Eton, v. I Zingari July X0, II, at Lord’s, v. Harrow HARROW SCHOOL. May 23, at Harrow, v. Mr, Bowen’s XI. May 30, at Harrow, v. The Town June 6, at Harrow, v. Quidnuncs June II, at Harrow, v. Harlequins June 18, at Harrow, v. Household Brigade June 18, at Harrow, v. Lord Bessborough’s X I June 20. at Harrow, v. M.C.C. and Ground June 27, at Harrow, v. I Zingari July 4, at Harrow, v. Old Harrovians July 10,11, at Lord’s, v. Eton WINCHESTER COLLEGE. May 14, at Winchester, v. Th.e Garrison May 19, at Winchester, v. Mr. A. J. Webbe’s XI. May 21. at Winchester, v. Gents cf Hants May ?5 & 26, at Winchester, v. Old Wykehamists (2 elevens) May 28, at Winchester, v.New College (2 elevens) June 9, at Winchester, v. Butterflies •June 11, at Winchester, r. I Zingari June 18, at Winchester, y . M.C.C. Juno 20, at Winchester, v. Mr, W. A. Thornton's XI. June 23 and 24, at Eton, v. Eton College July 2, at Winchester, v. Longwood July 9, at St. Cross, v, The Garrison ~