Cricket 1885

JULY 23, 1885. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 281 of only eleven runs. Robert Thoms, who was umpiring ©n the occasion, at Mr. Blackman’s end, writing to me yesterday, speaks in high terms of liis bowling at the finish, andconcludes a sympathetic notice of the fast bowler thus : *•No more kind-hearted and un­ assuming cricketer ever went on to a cricket field ; and Sussex has sad cause to regret the los3 of two such front-rank cricketers as Mr. Black­ man and Juniper.” A r t h u r S h r e w s b u r y ’ s performance at Lord’s last week for Notts against Middlesex was particularly noteworthy and for two reasons. In the first place it is a very rare occur­ rence for a cricketer to carry his bat through the innings in a county match, in the second his score of 224 not out is not only the best of the year as yet in a first-class fixture, but with the exception of Mr. W. Ward’s 278 in 1820, the highest everrecorded at Lord’s in an important match. This is, as far as I know, the third time in which Shrewsbury has exceeded two hundred for Notts. The following, I believe, are the other two occasions : 209 v, Sussex, Brighton, June 27, 1884, 207 v, Surrey, Oval, August 7, 1892, Writing from memory I cannot recal another batsman, bar Dr. W. Cl. Grace, who has got into the third hundred three times in first - class matches. B r ig g s and Pilling made history at Liverpool on Friday, when they scored 173 runs for the last wicket of Lanca­ shire against Surrey. I cannot indeed, myself, remember anything approach­ ing] this in a first class match, though I can recal more than one instance of over a hundred by the last two bats­ men. As I have remarked before, the best record in any match, as far as I know, is 198 by Messrs. A. G. Brown and G. N. Morrison—who, by the way, I hear is to be married shortly, with Mr. Brown as his best man— for the Toronto Club against Past and Present Pupils of Trinity College, Port Hope, in 1882. I am glad to hear that a collection of J628 8s. 4d. was made on the ground for the two Lancas­ trians, who well merited a substantial recognition of an extraordinary per­ formance. Briggs, by the way, was married on Tuesday last. “ The Boy ” has, I need hardly add, the con­ gratulations of all cricketers. A m em b er of the light-fingered fraternity, I presume in the absence of higher game, seems to be keeping his hand in by a tour of inspection of the pavilions of the principal clubs iu the neighbourhood of London. He, for I expect it is the same individual, has, after relieving the members of the Clubs at Erith, Lee, and other places in the same district— I was going to say, I suppose in a moment of abstraction, only it is not a subject for levity— effected a considerable clear­ ance of flannels, the better class of boots, and other articles indispen­ sable to the cricket wardrobe, from the pavilion of the Eltham Club. As this is the eleventh visit he has paid without molestation during the last few weeks, a friendly note of warning to secretaries may perhaps enable him to meet with the attentions physical or legal which are the custom when one has to speed a parting guest of such a character. I would suggest that clubs having pavilions at all isolated should be on the alert to provide this visitor with a handsome reception. No doubt his tour includes many other similar engagements during the remainder of the season, and as it is evident that his profession is mostly carried on during the night, particular care will be necessary. It seems hardly neces­ sary to hint to secretaries the advisa­ bility of having a watch of some kind kept to prevent, if possible, losses which, though perhaps trifling in themselves, cause great inconvenience as well as unpleasantness. As in a fit of momentary forget­ fulness, in commenting on Mr. J. S. Carrick’s extraordinary performance at Priory Park last week, I did an unintentional injustice to a cricketer (Mr. E . P. S. Tylecote) who for many years enjoyed the distinction of the highest innings on record, I think it will be best for me to correct my error by recording the only four individual scores of over four hundred runs as yet registered. They are— 419 not oat, J. S. Carrick, W est of Scot­ land v. Priory Park, July 13 and 14, 1885. 415 not out, W. N. Roe, Emmanuel L.V.C, v. Caius L.V.C., Cambridge, July 12, 1881. 404 not out, E. F, S. Tylecote, Modern v. Classical of Clifton College, finished May 26, 1868. 400 not out, W. G. Grace, United South of England Eleven v. 22 of Grimsby, July 12, 13, 14, 1876. A W e s t m i n s t e r writes me as follows — “ Beading in your last impression an account of the school deeds of Mr. E . M. Butler at Harrow, another striking example of the well-known maxim, mens sana in corpore sano occurs to me. Mr. C. A. Sherring, of Westminster School, has been in the cricket eleven three summers already and will be captain during the two coming seasons, so that before he leaves he will have been in the team for five years. In addition he will have been in the football team three winters. At the last athletic meeting, too,he carried off throwing the cricket ball, and the open quarter-mile chal­ lenge cup, which will therefore, in all probability, be his for good before he leaves. He also started from scratch in both handicaps and was only beaten by A. L . Fevez in throwing the hammer. Nor are his successes in school less marked. He is not only on the foundation but one of the three school monitors, and besides several school prizes has obtained the Ireland Greek verse prize.” Two bowling feats of quite an ex ceptional character were recorded on Saturday. Playing for M.C.C. and Ground against Epsom College, at Epsom, William Mycroft, the Derby­ shire veteran, took all ten wickets in the one innings of the College at a cost of only thirteen runs. At East­ bourne, for the Eastbourne Club against Bexley, Jesse Hide was credited with even a more remarkable performance. He not only scored 115 out of a total of 368, but took eighteen of twenty Bexley wickets, the whole ten in the second innings for 39 runs. If I remember rightly Hide for the same club in 1883, also at Eastbourne, against M.C.C aud Ground, took a’l en wickets for only 11 runs. t I t is satisfactory to find that an umpire has at last been found with the courage of his opinions in the case of a delivery to his mind not absolutely fair. I hope I shall not be accused of saying anything unkind of a body of men for whom I have a high respect in saying this, for no one can more readily understand the difficulties under which they labour. At the same time the laws have to be carried out, and no impartial judge cau honestly say that Rule 48 has been administered as it should have been of late. Umpires are the sole judges of lair and unfair play, and it is expected of them that they should not shirk a part but carry out the whole of their duties conscientiously. Platts