Cricket 1885

April 10 .1885. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 57 of the Colonial Office, well-known as the Hon. Sec. of the Incogniti Club, during the recent Congo Conference at Berlin, as assistant to the British Ambassador, Sir E . Malet. It is satisfactory to find that Mr. Hemming’s services have not been allowed to pass unrewarded by a grateful country. Cricketers will congratulate him on the receipt of a well-deserved distinction — the Companionship of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.), which was announced in Tuesday’s Gazette. A n oth er Member of Murdoch’s Team has left Victoria to seek fresh fields for cricket glory. Some time ago I announced that Palmer and Bonnor had parted company with Melbourne Cricketers, the former to settle in Brisbane, the latter for Sydney. Now according to the latest advices from Australia, the most brilliant batsman of Victoria, Percy McDonnell, has decided to make his home in Sydney, where he has obtained a clerkship in one of the leading banks. The question is not unnaturally asked in the Colonies, whether the recent disqualification of the Victorian Association has had anything to do with one or all of these departures. In any case, McDonnell's loss will be severely felt by Victorian Cricket. Mokf. than one instance of big hits has been recorded in these columns. Cases in which more than six runs are scored from one stroke are by no means so plentiful as they used to be when boundaries were practically unknown, and there was plenty of room for everything to be run out. The Adelaide Observer of February 21 re- cals a match some years ago in which fifteen runs were made from one hit. “ The ball was driven into a creek and floating on the water, and lost ball could not be called. One of the fieldsmen was obliged to undress and swim for the ball, and while doing this the batsman had run fifteen.” I h e a r that preparations for the Colts’ match in connection with the Middlesex Club are already very for­ ward. Nay, more, I am assured that Thoms, who is assisting Mr. P. M. Thornton in the selection of the youngsters, lives in hopes of, to use his own expression, netting an eye- opener in the way of a fast bowler, a rara avis not only in Middlesex but in Southern cricket generally for some years past. Me. W illiam Y a rd le y , the old Cantab, who in Ms day afforded enjoyment to thousands on the cricket field, has been busy this Easter sea­ son iii providing amusement of another kind. In conjunction with Mr. H. P. Stephens, who, if I mistake not, was also connected with cricket some years ago, he is responsible for the first portion of the entertainment at German Beed’s, a piece called Hobbies. A version of Le Train de Plaisir, in which he had the author of The Candidate as a coadjutor, was selected by Mr. David James to open his tenure of the “ Opera Comique ” on Easter Monday, although it has not proved a success. S everal Australian Cricketers, well- known in this country, took part in a match between the Melbourne Univer­ sity and the Incogniti (New South Wales),at Sydney, on Feb.3. Spofforth was the principal scorer for the latter with 27, and Garrett next with 24. C. W . Beal, the manager of the Aus­ tralian tour of 1882, carried out his bat for 10, while H. H. Massie, the brilliant hitter of that team, contri­ buted a single to the total of 123. Palmer,who played for the University, took nine of the eleven (the match was twelve a side) Incogniti wickets at a cost of only 49 runs. The Uni­ versity scored 79 for six wickets, so that the game was left in a very even condition. T he following is taken from the Warrnambool Standard .— A one-innings cricket match, which in one respect is phenomenal, if not indeed unique, in the annals of cricket, was played yesterday between teams representing the Union and Press Clubs. On the last occasion these two clubs met the result was a tie, each side scoring 32 runs. The second game had a precisely similar result, thescore of each club being again 32. Matches in which ties occur are rare, a repetition of the tie on the return match is still rarer, and rarest of all are the occurrences of matches like the second which was played yesterday. It would be interesting to know whether any two matches ending similarly have erer been played before. I should fancy myself that this occurrence is quite unique of its kind. A g o o d friend in the Colonies has also been courteous enough to send me particulars of some peculiar cricket in a match between East Melbourne and Dandenong Clubs, played on the East Melbourne ground on Feb. 7. Dandenong, after dismis­ sing their opponents for 217, were all disposed of in thirty-five minutes for 60 runs. The pace of the run-getting and the brevity ofthe in nings com ­ bine to make this performance of the Dandenong players a real curiosity. I. Keys took nine of the ten East Mel­ bourne wickets on this occasion. I t is with great regret that I have to record the death of another old cricketer, William Henry Luck, of Kent. The compiler of “ Scores and Biographies ” states that Luck’s name figures in those volumes as early as 1854, but no details are given of his career. He was for several years engaged as coach at Tonbridge School, where he was much respected by all from the head master downwards. After giving up active pursuit of the game he went to Tunbridge Wells, and as host of the “ Nevill A rm s” was exceedingly popular not only with cricketers of all classes but among his fellow townsmen generally. I t was, though, as an umpire that he was more generally known. He stood in County and Public School matches for many years, and indeed he had officiated as cricket arbiter for a quarter of a century, always enjoying the repu­ tation of a reliable, honest, and con­ scientious man. He was very keen in anything relating to cricket, as I can vouch. Only recently he called on Bobert Thoms to make arrangements for umpiring for this summer, and the latter will sorely miss anoldcompanion, one with whom he had acted behind the sticks for more than twenty years. Luck died at his residence,Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells, on Monday, March 30, in his Gist year. He leaves a widow and son to mourn his loss. A c o r r e s p o n d e n t , who signs him­ self “ Subscriber,” sends me the following:—The initial letters of the popular game bring to our remem­ brance famous players, past and pre­ sent “ CRICKET.” C affyn B owbotham I ddison C arpenter Iv empson E mmett T inley As I have pointed out, cricket has been powerfully represented of late years even in the highest offices of