Cricket 1885

10 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. jan. 29 , -we*. not go, lias fully justified the prediction in C r ic k e t that he only wanted the opportunity of a good trial, such as this trip presented, to prove himself even a better howler than he had as yet had a chance of showing in Eng­ land. T h o u g h not himself, as far as I am aware, directly identified with our national game, the news of tho death o f Mr. Alfred Head Baily will be received with regret by the large number of cricketers to whom he was known. The deceased gentleman was an intimate associate of the. late Hon. Robert Grimston, and the Matter’s practical acquaintance with most sports was, as I have reason to know, frequently of great service to Mr. Baily in the conduct of the excellent monthly founded by him in 1860, and now known all over the world as “ Baily’ s Magazine.” Though essentially a sportsman of the old school, and best known in con­ nection; with racing, he took interest in most outdoor exercise.?, and at one time was often to be seen at Lord’s aud the Oval on the occasion of the more important matches. He enjoyed the esteem of a very large number of friends, aud forming as he did a link with a past generation will be greatly missed. He died at his residence, 10, College Terrace, Belsize Park, on the last day of 1884, in his 77th year. G e o r g s G if f e n , though he appears to have been altogether unfit an^ou t of form in the recent contest between Murdoch’s team and the English cricketers, at Adelaide, seems likely to make it more than usually warm for some o f the Colonial bowlers during the Austra­ lian season now in progress. In a match on December 6tli between the Norwood and Kensington Clubs, on Adelaide Oval. he contributed 209 not out to the former’s total of 898 for live wickets. This, the statisticians may like to know, is the largest indi­ vidual score as yet made in South Australia. “ Ccclum non ariimum mutant qui trails marc currunt." Was Horace gifted with the true prophetic instinct, and had lie cricketers specially in his mind’s eye when he penned the words familiar to every schoolboy of the smallest . pretensions to classical knowledge ? The thought is pressed on me by the receipt of a very kindly letter received from an enthusiastic C r ic k e t reader now located in the far-off region of Christ Church, New Zealand. “ Knowing,” he writes, “ your craving (‘ I thank thee, Jew,’) for records in cricket, I venture to send you one which, though it may appear small to the insatiate run- getters of the old country, is at least the best of its kind. In a match in the Domain here on Nov. 29th, be­ tween the Auckland United and Gordon Clubs, tho former scored 375, of which 316 were contributed by the first four batsmen: This is the largest total ever made on the Dominion ground, or even in the province of Canterbury.” M y correspondent adds: “ It may bo of interest to some of your readers to know that D. Ashby, who played for Surrey some years ago, lias just been appointed captain of the Midland Club of Canterbury, N.Z., in succession to tho late George Watson, the best batsman in this colony, whose death has pro­ voked universal regret among the cricketers of New Zealand.” I may say I myself knew George Watson by repute. He scored 175 for Canter­ bury against Otago in the Inter-pro­ vincial match of 1880-81,and was chief scorer with 24 and 15 for Eighteen of Canterbury against Shaw’s English Team, at Christchurch, on Jan. 23rd, 1882. The Globe of Mob day last gave publicity to a rumour current among the masters at Harrow School that Dr. Butler, the headmaster there, would probably be elected to the Bishopric o f London. Hitherto, as far as my knowledge goes, it has been usually given to one who has already had some experience of episcopal duties. There is though, I believe, a possibility that Dr. Butler may have the offer of the vacant see. Should he accept it he will add another to the list of cricketers occupying the highest positions in tlio English Church. At the present time three old blues hold Bishoprics— Herbert Jenner, Cam­ bridge eleven of 1841, Bishop of Dunedin; J. C. Ryle, Oxford elevens 1836 and 1838, Bishop of Liverpool; and Charles Wordsworth, Bishop of St. Andrew’s, who played against Cambridge in tho two first recorded Inter-University matches in 1827 and 1829. The Bishop of Lincoln, Dr. Christopher Wordsworth, was in the Winchester eleven of 1825, and the Harrow and Winchester match of that year included two present bishops — the two Wordsworths— and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of West­ minster, Cardinal Manning, one of the Harrow eleven. Dr. B u t l e r was in the Harrow Eleven of 1851, when head of the School, and in addition to fielding very well at point, made 41 against Eton, the highest score on the side being 42 by the Captain, the Hon. E. C. Leigh. A well-known authority on Harrow affairs, tells me a curious occurrence with regard to his innings. It is recorded and is really, I believe, a fact that Butler was out first ball. He received the last ball of tho over and played it. The leather was sent in to tlie wicket-keeper, who put the wicket down, although “ over ” was called immediately afterwards and no appeal made. The batsman, thinking that it was “ over,” had been standing out of his ground, and after the next ball had been bowled the umpire, then at the bowler’s end, said, “ Well, sir, if the wicket­ keeper had asked me I should have had to give you out first ball.” It is also said that Butler learned his “ Trial Rep.” while sitting in the Pavilion awaiting his innings. I may add that Dr. Butler’s son (E . M. Butler) is now School Racquet player, a? well as Captain of both the cricket and football Elevens at Harrow. A moxg the announcements of recent weddings I notice one which will have been read with interest by many cricketers, especially by old Harrovians and the bridegroom’s contempo­ raries at Oxford University. I allude to the marriage of Mr. Henry Sey­ mour Hoare to Eleanor Mary, eldest daughter of the Hon. and Rev. W il­ liam Byron, at St. Andrew’s, Wells Street, on tho 20th inst. Mr. Hoare played for Harrow against Eton at Lord’s in 1868, and subsequently identified himself actively with cricket at Oxford. Though of late he lias not been seen much on the field, he is well known in London as a keen supporter of the game. He has been, I know myself, for many years a member of the Marylebone, Surrey, and Prince’s Clubs. In another column, too, will be found a brief notice of the wedding of a more celebrated cricketer, to wit W. L. Murdoch, the Captain of the last three Australian teams which have visited this country. The intel­ ligence has created a little surprise in \ cricket circles on this side, especially Next issue of Cricket Feb. 26.