Cricket 1885

JAN. 29,1885, OBICKET; A WEEKLY <REGORD OF THE GAME. 11 ftfter tlie frequent and semi-official in­ timations that Murdoch and Spoffortli were to return to England, to receive the hands of two fair daughters of Derbyshire. Miss Watson, now Mrs. Murdoch, was a passenger in the “ Mirzalipore,” which took the Aus­ tralian team home, and I had the pleasure of seeing her at Gravesend on tbe occasion of their embarkation. M e . J. B. W atson , Murdoch’s father-in-law, who is one of, if not the largest mining capitalists in Australia, resides in Sandhurst, which, by the way, was the birthplace of the Austra­ lian Captain himself, and also of his trusty lieutenant, H. F. Boyle. The giant Bonnor acted as best man at the wTedding, and Alexander, the popular manager of the Fourth Australian team, gave the bride away. Murdoch spent his honeymoon not inappro­ priately, leaving Melbourne immedi­ ately after the ceremony,to take part in the match against Sliaw’s team. He declares his intention to settle down now to the active pursuit of liis pro­ fession, as a solicitor, at Cootamundra. Every one will wish him and liis wife the best of luck— in fact all that they could wish for themselves. T he annual Smoking Concert in ccnncction with the Law Club will bf held at the “ Freemasons’ Tavern” on Friday evening next. Mr; B . Iiomer, Q.C., will preside, and amoi g those who have promised to coi: tribute to the harmony of the prr ceedings is another Queen’s Counsel, Mr. B. E . Webster, well-known as a keen supporter of all kinds of athletics. All particulars, I may add, can le obtained of the Hon. Sec., Mend.'p House, Highgate, N. H e x d e k s o n , the young Surrey pro­ fessional, and G. F. Hearne, the Pavilion clerk at Lord’s, who have taken a trip to Australia for their health, reached Melbourne safely in the Orient liner “ Sobraon ” on the 13tli of last month. Everyone will be glad to hear that they are reported to have both received considerable benefit from the voyage. It is said that they will return to England in February. Alfred Shaw, the Austra­ lasian- adds, will return in the same vessel— the “ Liguria” — as he must be back in tho first week of April to fulfil his engagement with Lord Sheffield. I t will be a source of general grati­ fication to all cricketers to feel that the leaders of the gallant little band— whose courage and endurance daring tho perilous march across the desert, ending, as everyone heard yesterday with feelings of relief, in the capture of Metamneli, have added, if it were possible, new lustre to the already high reputation of the British soldier— have both to be grateful in some w'ay for the lessons learned on the ericket- field. Wykehamists can claim with pride General Sir Herbert Stewart, whom the Daily News of yesterday de­ scribed as one of the most dashing as well as skilful cavalry officers living, and whose prudence and boldness in most trying operations have been the theme of universal admiration even among tlie most captious critics, a3 one of themselves. He was in the Winchester Eleven of 1860, and many will remember him as a batsman who hit “ blooming hard,” aud a wicket­ keeper much above the average Major-General Barrow, who has had charge of the cavalry in tlie dash across tho Desert, has always been a keen and active supporter of our grand old game. I n o t ic e ill the Globe of yesterday that among other appointments to the staff of the army operating on the Nile approved by Her Majesty is that of Captain F. W. Rhodes, of tho 1st Dragoons, as Aide - de - Camp to Brigadier General Sir Herbert Stewart. Capt. Rhodes’ name has during the last few years figured very ; Reproduced by permission from The Graphic. prominently in the list of batsmen who have scored a hundred, and I find from “ James Lillywhite’s Annual” no less than six innings of three figures in 1882 to his credit in Dublin. Altogether cricketers have played an important part in this Soudan Cam­ paign. Capt. Darley, of the 4th Dragoons, who was unhappily killed at Abu Klea, was, too, a well-known mem­ ber of the Phoenix Crickct Club, in Dublin. T h e following are the averages of the English Team now in Australia in the eight matches up to that with Murdoch’s Team :—■ B attixg A verages . Times Most Inns. Ituns. not out. in Inns. Aver. Barnes 12 . . 462 .. 1 .. 134 .. 42. Ulyett 11 . . 841 1 .. 100 .. 34.1 Scotton .. 15 . . 840 .. 0 .. 82 .. 22.10 Shrewsbury 15 . . 261 .. 2 .. 8 ) .. 20.4 Bates.. .. 10 . . 190 . . 0 .. 43 .. 19. Briggs ... 12 . . 18T .. 2 .. 57 .. 18.3 Flowers .. 14 . . 2L3 .. 0 .. 74 .. 15.3 Read .. 12 . . 147 . . 1 .. 41 .. 13.4 Attewell .. 11 . . 108 . . 2 .. 25 .. 12. Peel .. 11 . . 83 .. 4 .. 21* .. 11.5 Sliaw.. 5 . . 15 .. 3 .. 8* .. 7.1 Hunter .. 9 . . 17 . . 3 .. 8* .. 2.5 B owling A verages , Balls. Ittins. Mdns. WktB. Aver Flowers .. 1241 .. 825 .. 159 .. 42 . . 7.30 Peel .. .. 22 >7 .. 620 .. 242 .. 75 . . 8.20 Attewell .. 1879 .. 369 .. 248 .. 41 . . 9. Bates 455 .. 142 55 .. 13 . . 10.12 Barnes £57 . . 238 .. 107 .. 21 . . 11.7 Ulyett 286 .. 113 .. 51 .. 5 . . 22.3 Bates b*wled two wides. J ohn W isd en ’ s C ric k e ter s ’ A lmanack usually forestalls tlie other annuals dealing with cricket matters. True to its character of late years, the Almanack for 18S5 just issued is tho first work to present cricketers with a complete record of the unusually busy and eventful summer of 1884. “ Wisden’s,” too, is the only one of the yearlies which gives the full bcores of all the principal matches played each summer, and consequently as a work of reference it is invaluable to cricketers every­ where. The edition for 18S5 now before us is, as was only to be expected with the Australian and Philadelphian teams to swell the records of the year’s cricket, even more extensive than any of its predecessors. It is no mean task to prepare, much less produce, a closely printed volume of 290 pages such as that just published by Messrs. John Wisden & Co., and the work is really unique of its kind. Full scores and bowling analysis of all the principal matches are given with introductions embracing the salient features of each game. “ Wisden’s Almanack ” has always been proverbial for the accuracy of its details, and in this respect the latest issue will be found quite up to the usual standard. Indeed, we can' ourselves bear full testimony to the pains expended in its compilation, and are able to. vouch for the extreme care taken to verify all the information. Cricketers will find it not only a complete but also a thoroughly reliable record of the most important cricket of 1884. Next issue of Cricket Feb. 26-