Cricket 1885

OCT. 29.1885. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 439 gratulated for. the capital way in which all the arrangements were carried out. A little practice before play began at once told us that the pace of the ground would be very different to those on which we had heretofore played. A beautiful wicket had been prepared, hard, fait, and true. We lost the toss, and of course Mr, D. S. Newhall elected to bat first. Our fielding was dread­ fully at fault at the outset, as we seldom got our hands 'lown in time owing to the rapidity of the ground. Their batting all through was consistently good, thoughhad we had areliable short slip their total would have been much less. Our batting on such a wicket was decidedly weak, except in the cases of A. J. Thornton, Hine-Haycock, and Turner. On their going in to bat a second time our fielding showed a marked improvement, but our opponents were equal to the occasion, putting together 178. This loft us 232 to get to win in four hours and twenty minutes, an almost impossible task. In consequence we had nothing to do but to play for a draw, and so well did the two Thorntons play that we were only beaten within twenty-five minutes of time. The fielding of the Philadelphians was grand throughout, their smartness of return being particularly noticeable. Lowry bowled especially well, all our men showing too much desire to hit him, and being taken in by that peculiar slow hanging ball for which he is so famous. Morgan, too, must be congratulated on his wicket-keeping. When close up for the slows he never missed a chance of stumping, and while standing back to the fast bowling he was never seen to fumble ; he was very quick, too, on the return, and was accredited with eight wickets. The Philadelphians were naturally very jubilant at their victory, and we at the time very downcast at being the first English team to suffer defeat in America. There is no doubt they beat us fair and square, but had Roller played, no one can tell what difference it would have made. The attendances were enormous, and there must have b'en quite 8,000 people on the third day, the grand stand being fairly crowded with ladies. Vowing revenge in the return match to come, we left Philadelphia on the Sunday after­ noon for New York. Capt. Green, who was over with the Philadelphian team in England last year, kindly placed a car at our disposal, t should be mentioned that on Thursday evening we had two boxes at the Theatre, and on Friday night we were entertained with a magniScent dinner at the National League Club. Monday, September 21, saw us com­ mencing our second match on Staten Island, this time against All New York. Five of the team that played against us before again entered the lists, and they were further strengthened by the presence of Tyers and Cleverly, two English profes­ sionals, and Mr. McCaull, who played havoc with the ball against the Australians when in America. Another splendid wicket was provided, which though slow was nevertheless faster than when we had played there before. Bruen’s bowling was again too much for them, and we beat them easily in an innings and 120 runs ; Tyers alone showing any form with the bat. Our old opponent Pool, however, was again well on the spot with the ball. A more brilliant innings than Newton’s 129 has stldom been seen, his cutting being truly magnificent. His score contained two 5V, eighteen 4’ s, four 3's, twelve 2’s, and only eleven singles. Everyone, too, was delighted 1o see Roller once more playing, although he was still a cripple. On Tuesday evening a splendid ball was given at the Pavilion Hotel in our honour. We all, however, came to the conclusion that we were not fljers at the American waltz, although I think the palm must be given to Uobb, who, I believe, was given lessons on the sly by some fair American lady on the Island. Wednesday evening, September 23, saw us again at Philadelphia, but this time we stayed at the Wissahickon Inn, about 15 miles from the city and six from the cricket ground. We were driven there and back each day in grand style by a Mr. Miller, who kindly placed his four-in-hand at our dis­ posal. The weather was again superb, and the wicket just as good as ever and if any­ thing faster. We won the .toss this time, and strengthened by the presenoe of Roller, who put together 64 in quite his old style, made a good start. After this, however, for no reason at all, our batting broke down lamentably, though we managed to head them by 46 runs on the first innings. The second day we began play at 10.30 and drew at 4.45, the light getting very queer, owing to the shadows from the trees being cast right across the wickets. We made abrilliant start in the second innings, and fairlycollared their bowling from the first, at the call of time losing three wickets for 175 runs. On Saturday morning the captain’s orders were that all of us were to b3 out at 12.30, in­ structions we carried out to the letter, our last five men goin;' in without pads and slogging at every ball. Hine-Haycock and “ The Parson ” both playe.t brilliant cricket, and everyone was glad to see the latter appear again in his true form after a long spell of bad luck. The Philadelphians were now placed in exactly the same position as we were in the previous match—with no time to get the runs, and plenty for all to get out. They certainly stood a very good chance of making a draw of it, but after losing their first one or two wickets several of them came in and indulged in some reckless slogging at Bruen’s bowling, and therefore lost their wickets. Exception must be made in the case of Scott, who played the game, and his cricket as in. the first innings was of the highest type. It is a curious fact that had the Philadelphians made two more runs in the second innings, their totals would have been the same as ours in the first match, viz., 147 and 120. Bruen in the second innings bowled splen­ didly, and Newton kept wicket a la Sherwin. The fielding of both teams was very fine, but they certainly beat us at returning, and they seemed able to judge catches in the country better thanwe, Hine-Haycock saying the trees made the light puzzling. They say there were 9,000 spectators present on the third day. The English ladies would do well to imitate those of Philadelphia in their love of the game; they turn up in nearly as large numbers as the men, most of them pencil and scoring book in hand, even keeping the analysis. They get most excited as the game proceeds, which sometimes terminates in a loud scream. On Thurs­ day evening nearly all of us accepted invitations to a private dance at Mrs Thompson’s, where we enjoyed ourselves immensely, and the next night a grand ball was given at the Wissahickon Inn, which was attended by all the elite for miles ronnd. We left Philadelphia at 6.30 p.m. thoroughly pleased with ourselves, and travelling ail night, arrived at Boston on Sunday morning at 8 o’clock. After a quiet day’s rest on Sunday, we began our last match against Fifteen of New England, on a ground about three miles from the hotel. It is a charming little ground surroundel by tree3, but is of rather a peculiar shape. It is very long and very narrow, is may be judged by the fact that on one side a boundary hit only counts two runs, it is, however, a long hit to either end ; a hit clean out of the ground only scores four. The wicket was rather dead, and the sma'lness of the scores may he accounted for by its extreme trickiness. Some balls got up quite straight, others shot, and it was nothing for one to pitch outside the off stump and miss the leg altogether. It was really the most exciting match we played, and on their going in to get 45 to win, we thought it was all over with us. Bruen and Newton were, however, equal to the occa«ion and just pulled the match out of the fire. G. Wright and Chambers, a Notts professional, bowled well for the Bos­ tonians. and Pettitt, the tennis champion, made some good long-handled hits. The crowd, which was the largest except at Phila­ delphia, numbered some 2,000 each day, and consisting in a greatmeasure of Englishmen, were most enthusiastic, their remarks re­ minding one rather of the Trent Bridge cricket ground. After the match was over, at their request we showed them what we ought to have done with their bowling, and in one hour and a half knocked up 173 runs for the loss of five wickets. So ended the tour as far as cricket was concerned, and I am sure no team ever enjoyed one more. Although we were the first English team to suffer defeat in America, we do not now regret it, as it has done more to encourage cricket in that country than anything that has ever happened there. The hospitality and kindness of everyone wherever we went, and the trouble they took to entertain us and make us comfortable, cannot be expressed in words. We all acquiesced in one thing, that should another chance be afforded us of again visiting America on cricket bent we should certainly go. A word of thanks is especially due to Mr. Bissell for the able way in which he arranged the matches for us in conjunction with our manager, who had no light task, and a better manager I am sure could not be. Our captain, too, led us to everyone’s satis­ faction, and I think it would be impossible for any twelve men to have worked better together, or to have got oa with more unanim­ ity than we did. We left Boston at 10.30 in a sleeping car, arriving at New York on Wednesday at 7.30 a.m., where we spent the day packin ' and looking around the city. It was with heavy hearts that we went on board our old friend the “ Adriatic "and our grief was still more increased by a large number of the fair sex who came to bid us farewell, several of our number being not quite as heart whole as on the day they arrived. We steamed slowly away from New York at 10 a.m., amidst the good wishes and hearty cheers of the many friends we were leaving behind. The team was again most fortuna'e in experiencing a smooth passage, although 1,300 miles of fog was not very pleasant. Before finishing, we all join together most heartily in thanking the Captain and Purser of the ship for all the kindness we re­ received at their hand*, and for the many little things in which they put themselves out in order to make our passages comfort­ able. Should another opportunity be given us of again visiting America, and should it be our good fortune to again entrust our­ selves tv>the “ Adriatic ” we shall imleed be lucky. Continued on Page 442. Next Issue November 26.