Cricket 1885

APRIL 16, 1885. CRICKET ; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 59 I t is stated that the committee of the Notts County Club have asked Lord Harris, Messrs W. G. Grace, A. G. Steel, W . W. Bead, A. P. Lucas, W. F. Forbes, and Christoph erson to represent England in the big match at Trent Bridge on June 11 and fol­ lowing days. Lord Harris was asked to captain the eleven, but as he is reducing his cricket he was compelled to decline. Mr. A. G. Steel, too, I hear, was unable to accept. Of the professionals Pilling, Barlow, Peel, Ulyett, and Peate, or Bates and M. Bead are likely to be asked. T he death of Henry Sampson, the once famous Yorkshire player,removes another of the few links which remain to unite the cricket of the present with that of the old school. Born in Shef­ field in 1813, he took part in most of the important contests played in connection with that town before the County Club was properly organised. He was a townsman as well as con­ temporary of the celebrated batsman Thomas Marsden, and students of cricket lore will remember his decisive defeat of that player in a single wicket match on the Hyde Park Ground at Sheffield, on May 17,18, and 19,1841, by an innings and 50 runs, though Marsden had then seen his best day. Sampson identified himself in the early part of his career with the United Eleven, and as a batsman for a short time had no superiors, his back play being particularly good. In 1848, he was presented with a silver cup by his cricket admirers in Sheffield, and few sportsmen have been more generally respected in that town. He died on March 29, having only passed his seventy-second birthday a little over a fortnight. S ince I wrote the remarks on the renewal of friendly relations between Murdoch’s team and our professionals, I notice that at a meeting of the Vic­ torian Association, held at Melbourne on March 5, a resolution was unani­ mously carried to remove the disquali­ fication passed on the Victorian members on condition that they should intimate their willingness to play for Australia against the Englishmen at Melbourne on the 21st of March, on receipt of their bare expenses. In compliance with this decision a special meeting ol the Association was to be called to rescind the disqualification. Subsequentevents.asalreadyremarked, lead to the belief that everything had been satisfactorily arranged. While on the subject of English and Aus­ tralian cricket it is satisfactory to learn that the South Australian Association has expressed its desire to co-operate with Victoria and New South Wales in arranging for the future visits of Colonial teams to England. In all probability the three Associations will be responsible for the management of further tours to this country. This will be a distinct gain to the game in more ways than one. L ast month I mentioned more than one cricketer as among the candidates for Parliamentary honours at the next general election. Mr. Wm. Nicholson, the present member for Petersfield, I notice since has announced his inten­ tion of standing for the Petersfield division of Hampshire. Mr. Nicholson was captain of the Harrow Eleven of 1843,and subsequently made aposition as one of the very best wicket-keepers of his time. For some years he has been one of the trustees of the Maryle­ bone Club, and was its president in 1879. It was Mr. Nicholson, too, who advanced the large sum required for the purchase of the freehold at Lord’s at a time of great difficulty, an act for which he deserves the thanks of cricketers for all time. M ost of ourbestEnglish bowlers have had at one time or other substantial proofof Percy McDonnell’s exceptional powers of hitting. During the present Australian season he apparently was in better form than ever. A Melbourne journal speaks in rapturous terms of his performance for the Melbourne Club against Fifteen of the County at Melbourne, on February 14. Such gigantic hitting as Percy’s has not been equalled for many a season in Victoria, Even the mighty swipes of the leviathan Bonnor were over-shadowed by the astonish­ ing efforts of the Melbourne skipper. Tnree times did he send the ball careering far over the boundary fence, twice high into the trees on one side of the ground, and once dear over the scorer’s box on the other side. Considering how Bonnor can smite this is high praise indeed. B y the way, I notice that McDon­ nell left Victoria on Feb. 26 for Sydney, where, as 1 have already intimated, he is to settle. The occasion of a match between the Melbourne Club and the East Mel­ bourne Bovers on the previous day, was utilised to give him an official farewell. A champagne luncheon was arranged for the purpose, and on behalf of the members Mr, F. G. President, of the Melbourne Club, wished McDonnell all possible success in his new sphere. I see that the latter in his reply, according to the Australasian, expressed a hope that in future contests he would uphold the honour of the place o f his birth, Victoria. This hardly agrees with the statement which appeared on authority in C ricket (No. 14, page 205), that he was born at Kensington. Perhaps someone will be able to say which account is really correct. M A TCH E S FOR N E X T W E E K S aturday , A pril 18. Bacup, Littleborough v. Bacup Bestwood, Nottingham Forest Amateura v. Bestwood Bowling, Dewsbury Savile v. Bowling Old Lane Bromborough, Sefton Park v. Bromborough Claphara, Alert v. Unity Huddersfield, Lascelles Hall v. Huddersfield United Oldham, Eighteen <f District Clubs v. Oldham Ormskirk, Southport v. Ormskirk lluddington, BasfordTurk v. Iiuddington Sherwood, Carrington Hucknell-road United y. Sher­ wood United Teddington,New Maldon v. Teddington Wandsworth Common, Munor v. Mitcham Gorringe Monday, A pril 20. Leicester, the County v. District Clubs W ednesday , A pril 22. OxforJ. Merton College v. Corpus College (two-days) CHELTENHAM COLLEGE. May 12, at Cheltenham, v. University College, Oxford May 14, at Cheltenham, v. St. John’s College, Oxford May 24, at Cheltenham, v. Keble College Oxford May 26, at Cheltenham v. Exeter College, Oxford May 29, 30, at Cheltenham v. Liverpool Club June 2, 4, at Cheltenham y. East Gloucestershire Club June 11, at Cheltenham v. Jesus College, Cambridge June 20, at Cheltenham v. Ciifton Club June 24,25, at Cheltenham v. Clifton College June 26, 27, at Cheltenham, v. Old Chettonians July 3, 4, at Cheltenham, v. Emeriti July 7, at Cheltenham, v. Old Malvernians July 10, II, at Marlborough v. Marlboroug College July 18, at Cheltenham v. R.A.C., Cirencest r July 27, 28, at Cheltenham v. M.C.C. and G T he Orientsteamer “ P o o d ,” which it is said is to bring Shrewsbury and the rest of the English team, with the exception of Alfred Shaw, who reached England the week before last, left Adelaide on Easter Monday. If they come overland they are due in England on May 12. M b . D . G . S piko , of the Cambridge University Eleven of 1884, who has been spending the winter in Australia, left Melbourne on February 26, and should by this time b 3 at home ready for the Cambridge cricket season. T he annual dinner of the Incogniti Club will be held at the Criterion, on Wednesday the 29th inst. Mr. John Shuter, the Captain of the Surrey Eleven, will be in the chair. I n a match between Birley Colliery and Killamaish West End, the latter were dis­ missed for four runs. W. Lancaster took seven wickets in four overs for two runs. T he f ricket F ield . By Rev. James Pycroft. The Standard Work on the Game. Cheap edition, just out, cloth bound, price 2s. 6d. , post free, 2s. 9d. Contains :—Origin of the Game of Cricket; The General Character of Cricket; The Hambledon Club and the Old Players ; Cricket generally established as a National Gaoie by the en'l of the last Century ; First Twenty Years of the Present Century ; A Dark Chapter in the History of Cricket; The Surrey—its History ; The Zingari—their Origin; Battalogia, or the Science and Art of Batting; Hints against Slow Bowling ; A Chapter on Bowling ; Hints on Fielding; The Gentlemen and Players Matches to end of 1883.— Wright and Co. (Cricket Press), 41, 8t, Andrew’s Hill, Doctors’ Commons, London, E.C