Cricket 1885

APRIL 16,1885. CKICKET; A WEEKLY EECOED OF THE GAME. 61 time3 he preferred twelve-a-side matches, placing his spare man deep behind him, or as a provincial critic once desoribed it when recording a missed catch— “ longstop over the bowler’s head.” Some of his critics and eulogists have spoken of his “ artful twist,” but as a rule, although no doubt he could and often did make his balls break very con­ siderably, he bowled a plain ball, and depended upon his pitch for the effect which he expected and seldom failed to produce. It is scarcely surprising therefore that his dtitum was—“ The first thing in cricket is patience ! and the second patience !! and the third patience!! ! ” He had a rather higher delivery than most slow bowlers of modern times, from the height at least of the hip, a peculiarity noted by Mr. Pycroft, who however, mis-spells his name. Where he met second class batsmen, or men unaccustomed to his peculiars, he was very deadly. In a tour in Scotland, comprising five matches, in 1865, he bowled 981 balls for 313 runs and 49 wickets. Perhaps, however, the most interesting and characteristic match in which Mr.Goodrich ever figured was played in 1863, at Nottingham, for Frank Tinley’s benefit— Fourteen Free Foresters v. the County of Notts. Lillywhite’s “ Scores and Bio­ graphies ” rightly says that for sustained excitement it is probably the most remark­ able match on record. In the first innings, a short one on both sides, the county had the advantage of one run, and in the second innings the amateurs compiled the respect­ able score of 212 (including a grand 61 by F.W.Wright,of Bossall and Oxford), and had nine of their opponents down for 148, when AVooton and Biddulph, after a miss at wicket from Goodrich, began a stand which frightened the out-side into changes of bowlingwhich simply threw away the match. At length, as the scorers stood up for the tie, Goodrich went on again, and Biddulph, who had not as yet faced his bowling, was out “ leg before ” at the first ball. In this innings Goodrich bowled 238 balls for 79 runs and 7 wickets. Mr.Goodrich’s last appearance with Free Foresters, and very probably his final match, was at Sutton Coldfield, in 1874, against a local twenty, captained by the late Bev. J. H. Gibbon, who played for Oxford in 1869. That he had not lost his cunning was evidenced by his taking nine wickets (two c and b) and making another catch off his partner’s bowling. Mr. Goodrich, though quiet and reserved in manner, was very highly esteemed as a social companion by troops of friends. During the greater part of his cricket career he was an assistant in a school at Weybridge, but latterly he was in business at Stamford, which was his native place, and there he died. B ow AND BllOMLEY INSTITUTE C. C. first eleven have open August 29 and September 19, and second eleven August 8 and 29, at Forest Gate or away. Kelley Smith, 1, East India Avenue, E.C. F . Butler, who has played for Notts during the last two or three years, will b 9 in America this summer fulfilling an engage­ ment with the Staten Island Club, New York. C ases for binding volumes of C ricket (dark green with gilt lettering), price 2 s. 6 d. can be had of the Publisher, 41, St. Andrew’s Hill, Doctors’ Commons, E.C. Beading Cases for holding four numbers can also be had, price Is. 6 d. * H A R R O W SCHOOL AND ITS SU R R O U N D IN G S . D e. B c t l e r , who is just vacating the Head - mastership of Harrow, to the universal regret of all in any way connected with John Lyon’s foundation, in a kindly notice of the late Hon. Robert Grimston, speaks of “ the romantic’ spot which he supposes is to be found in every Public School of heart.” There is truly something romantic in the sympathy which binds all who have studied at the same School, Nothing is more pleasurable in the memories of Public School life than the ties which unite even different generations in one common bond of freemasonry. Har­ rovians of all ages will find a link of interest in the bulky volume just published under the above title. Nor could the Old School have found a more careful or studious chronicler than the author of “ The Foreign Secretaries of the Nineteenth Century.” Deeply interested in everything pertaining to Harrow, Mr. Percy M. Thornton has given us a full, true and par­ ticular account of the vicissitudes through which the School has passed since John Lyon gave ‘ ‘ twenty marks of lawful money of England” annually for the teaching of thirty poor children of the town of Harrow, Founded by a plain country gentleman and without any rich endowments,Harrow School has, despite occasional troubles, flourished free from internal dissensions, carrying out fairly the intentions of its benefactor. Three centuries of Harrow life are recorded with the greatest possible detail, although with­ out superfluous verbiage. Mr. Thornton’s researches have proved that a school ex­ isted at Harrow before 1571, although he argues with good reason that John Lyon’s bequest in that year practically amounted to the foundation ot the present institution. Harrovians will find plenty to interest them in the progress of the School as it is recorded during each mastership, Some very useful appendices add to the value of Mr. Thornton’s notes on the first days of the School, and, indeed, there is no more instructive matter than in the opening chapter, ‘ ‘ Harrow in Early Times.” The most readable portion of the work, though, from our point of view, is that which tells of Harrow Cricket. Here Mr. Thornton is thoroughly at home, and as he has had in this part of his book the additional advantage of assistance from the Earl of Bessborough, the greatest authority on the subject, it will be understood that full justice is done to a sport at which Har­ rovians have always shown themselves to be proficient. John Lyon, in his statutes, directs his scholars amongst other diversions to toss a hand-ball. There is no mention, however, of actual cricket till the commence­ ment of the present century, though it must be added that the destruction of the pavilion at Lord’s by fire in all probability destroyed many of the early records of the game. The pick-up match on old Lord's ground (where Dorset-square now stands) in 1805 between Eton and Harrow is the earliest score extant of Harrow cricket, and Mr. Thornton records that Lord Byron, whose participation in the game made it more than ever memorable, was not only not in the eleven proper but would not have been played at all had tbe captain, the late Mr. C. Lloyd, had his way. During the eighty years that have passed since then Harrow School and its Surroundings. By P ercy 51. T hornton . W. H. Allen & Co. Harrow has produced numbers of prominent cricketers, and all these Mr. Thornton brings up in review in proper order. The Earl of Bessborough, better known to Har­ rovians as the Hon. Frederick Ponsonby, his life-long friend, the late Hon. B. Grimston, Charles Wordsworth, now Bishop of St. Andrew’s, the Pophams, the Davidsons, Ward, who, during an M.C.C. match at Har­ row, caught one of his opponents whilst leaping over the old railings of the cricket ground, Charles Harenc, of whom old Lilly- white said, “ I bowls the best ball in Eng­ land and Mr. Harenc the next,” Broughton, Nicholson, Haygarth, to whom the cricket world owes a debt it can never repay in the compilation of “ Scores and Biographies,” Longe, Hankey, the wonderful brotherhood of Walkers, Crawley, K. E. Digby, Bob Lang, Arkwright, Daniel, Butler, A. N. Hornby, Money, Cobden, A. J. Webbe, Fryer, and M. C. Kemp, these are a few, very few, of the many brilliant players who have made the name of Harrow famous wherever cricket is played. As we have said, the chapter on cricket is one of the most readable of the work, and we can only regret that space will not admit of more than a passing glance at an admirable review of Harrow cricketers. Mr. Thornton’s latest contribu­ tion to historical literature will enhance the reputation he has already made. No one in any way associated with Harrow can fail to derive instruction as well as pleasure from its perusal. We will, with Mr. Thornton, quote Mr. Howson’s school song. And if they ask what made her great, Harrow upon the Hill. Was it hor riches, pride, or fate 1 Harrow upon the Hill. Say that she rose because she would, Because her sons were wise and good, And bound in closest brotherhood, Harrow upon the Hill. T he annual general meeting of the Surrey County Cricket Club will be held in the pavilion at the Oval on Thursday, May 7th, at 5.30 p.m. P. C oles , of the Rugby Eleven of 1884, a Freshman at Oxford, scored 105 for Jack­ son’s team v. J. Hide’s team at Eastbourne on Easter Monday. This is the first century of the season. A n ew covered stand is in course of erec­ tion at the Oval on the eastern side of the pavilion, to replace the wooden uncovered structurewhich has occupied the space in front of the tavern since 1882. It will be similar to the covered stand to the west of the pavilion. NoRTHCTMBEltLAND COUNTY ClUI3. — On Thursday last a meeting was held at Mr. Sayer’s, Boyal Exchange Hotel, Newcastle, Mr. W. Cail in the chair. The committee and treasurer’s reports were submitted, the latter showing a balance in hand of £14 11s. 7d., with £16 13s., outstanding. Consider­ able discussion took place in reference to the future of the county, and ultimately the following resolution was carried unani­ m o u s l y T h a t this meeting forma sub­ committee to consider the feasibility of obtaining additional support by calling a public meeting, to which all the cricket clubs in Northumberland county, and as many leading supporters of the game as possible, be asked to attend, and that this meeting be adjourned until after Such meeting be held.”