Cricket 1886

M a y e, 1886. CKICKET? A WEEKLY EECOED OP THE GAME. 105 consented to preside. The under-mentioned gentlemen were to form the committee:— Messrs. Jalbhoy Ardasir Sett, Jehangir B. Murzban, K. N. Servai, R. M. Patel, Jehangir Dossabhoy, D. J. Tata, with E. D. Setna and J. M. Framjee Patel, secretaries. I do not, it must be under­ stood, guarantee absolute accuracy in the spelling of the above names. H e n d e k s o n , according to all accounts, must have had what, in slang parlance, is called a high old time of it in Bombay. His departure, indeed, seems to have par­ taken something of the character of a triumph. The Parsees appear to havelostno possible chance of displaying their hospital­ ity during his short stay. In aletterjust re­ ceived, written on board the P. and O. steamer “ Assam,” in the Gulf of Suez, under date of April 26, he gives an amusing account of the way in which the Parsee Cricketers sped tlieir parting guest. He was decorated with wreaths of flowers, with a large bouquet in his hand, and, pro­ vided by the forethought of his hosts with a painted cocoanut to throw into the sea, to ensure calm in the event of its being rough, he was driven through the streets of Bombay to the Docks. Henderson adds that he was in­ formed this was an exceptional mark of Parsee respect. I am inclined to think that it must have been. After all it is only another instance of history repeating it­ self. Ancient Home used to crown its successful athletes with laurels, and why not Modern India ? It is to be hoped, though, that the enthusiastic folk at the Oval will not, pro Sting by Henderson’s treatment in Bombay, take to honouring their favourites in the same way. My esteemed correspondent, “ Old Harrovian,” sends me the following re­ marks on the subject of the introduction of pads :— Pads came into use (of course, gradually) soon after, and in consequence of, the intro­ duction of round-arm bowling, in and about 1827. At first there were pads much smaller than those now used. Those used at Harrow in and about 1842 would not cover the knee and ankle simultaneously, and one of them is now in existence, and a very skinny object it is. I also recollect small pads, made for the knee only. L a s t year I had occasion to notice the success which had attended the introduc­ tion of our national game into Holland. Cricket has already taken a strong hold on the phlegmatic Dutchman, and there is every reason to believe that it will occupy a regular place among the sports of the Low Countries. Scratch teams, composed of. Metropolitan players, have already paid flying visits to Holland, and en­ joyed the hospitality of the Dutch sports­ man. This year will, I believe, though, bs the first in which an English Club has undertaken a tour in Holland to meet bona fide Dutch Clubs. The card of the Dalston Albert Club for the present season con­ tains three fixtures which will present a novel sound to the ears of C r ic k e t readers. The first is on August Bank Holiday (Aug.2) against Rood-en-Wit, at Haarlem; the second two days later against Con­ cordia, and the third against Eleven of Haarlem and Hague, on Aug. 6, both these two last at the Hague. The Hon. Sec, of the D. A. informs me that he has received many letters giving most encouraging accounts of the growth of the game in Holland. Mynheer, I hope, will take his cricket as the song declares he takes his liquor, gaily. G i f f e n ’s all-round cricket in the Inter­ colonial match between Victoria and South Australia, full details of which appeared in last week’s C r ic k e t , was of such an exceptionally brilliant character, that I need hardly make any excuse for a somewhat tardy reference in this column. In dealing with his performance, I can hardly do better than reproduce the com­ ments of “ Felix,” in the Australasian :— Standing out prominently as the lion of the South Australian team is that grand all-round player, George Giffen. In bowling he was head and shoulders above any man 011 either side. His results are simply splendid. All down the line, that is to say, the score-sheet, it is “ b Giffen.” Your eye catches this no fewer than 17 times out of the twenty Victorian wickets, and as one of these was run out, Giffen is credited with 17 out of the 19 that fell to the South Australian bowlers. His record in the first innings of Victoria is 9 for 91, and in the second 8 for 110, or, in all, 17 wickets for 201 runs, giving an average of less than 12 runs per wicket. As the wicket was in first-class condition, these figures may be submitted without explanation or comment. Had it not been for Giffen, South Australia would not now be wearing the wreath of victory. I have given first mention to Giffen, and placed him prominently in the forefront, because I feel that his magnificent performance merits it. Indeed, I question whether it has ever been surpassed in a first-class match. In batting, as well as in bowling, he acquitted himself with conspicuous credit and distinction. His scores of 20 and 82 were made in admirable style and with all the ease, elegance, and freedom for which the celebrated Adelaidian is noted. The first appearance of the Australian Cricketers at Sheffield Park on Thursday, will be awaited with more than ordinary interest. Admittedly of exceptional strength in bowling, the question of the hour, undoubtedly, is how the batting will compare with that of the previous teams. “ Mid-On,” in the Melbourne Leader , deals with the problem in the following remarks, which I fancy represent a large section of public opinion here:— Still I think that if the team shows any weak­ ness at all it must be in batting, and I confess that I am apprehensive of not only the champion, Murdoch, but both M‘Donnell and Bannernwn, being sadly missed. The imperturbableAustralian captain,who could bat for a couple of days without in the least vary­ ing his play, usedto inspire asmuch confidence into the comrades who were waiting to bat after him, as despair into the bowlers who were pegging away in utter hopelessness at his well-guarded wicket. The batting of the tail end will be stronger than before, no doubt, but the question of greater importance is whether the first four or five will, as a rule, start as well as the 1881 team generally did. Jones, certainly, during the present season has shown himself to be the best batsman in play in Australia, but the question is will he, M’llwraith, and Trumble replace Murdoch, M’Donncll, and Bannermaii? and in solving the question it must not be forgotten that in the case of M’llwraith and Trumble against M’Donnell andBannerman,the first-namedpair should average at least 25 per cent, more than the latter to square the difference in fielding. However, they are off on their long trip, bearing with them the good wishes of all Australia, and I heartily hope that when they are welcomed back home in November, it will be as conquerors who have “ beaten the records.” V ic t o r ia , as far as one can judge from the reports of the Inter-colonial match between that Colony and South Australia, has in H. Trott, of the. South Melbourne Club, a youngster of exceeding promise as an all-round cricketer. Indeed, I should fancy that a more successful debut in an Inter-colonial match has rarely if ever been recorded. Trott, who, I understand, is about twenty-two years of age, was not only the principal run-getter on the side, with scores of fifty-four not out and twenty-one, but also had the best average of the Victorian bowlers. His analysis in the match showed 342 balls for 121, runs and 7 wickets. The Melbourne Leader describes this as a “ double first,” adding that such a success has never before, as far as the writer can remember, fallen to any Australian player. S p o f f o r t h , according to the Australa­ sian , has backed himselfto take 100 wickets more than Evans during the English tour of the Australian Eleven. “ If Evans,” “ Felix ” adds, “ shows anything like his old inter-colonial form when he used to beat the demon time after time in bowling average, Spofforth’s chance of winning the wager will, I fancy, not be particularly bright. It is said that a Sydney gentle­ man in bygone inter-colonials backed Evans regularly against Spofforth, and won about 16 times out of 20.” M in n ie P a lm e r , in her farewell speech after the close of the final performance of My Sweetheart at the Strand Theatre on Saturday night, made an allusion to the Australian Cricketers, the majority of whom had seen her as “ Tina” on the previous evening: Ladies and Gentlemen,—I know you will excuse Tina making a speech—she could not if she tried ever so hard. But you have all been so good to me to night—and since I first ven­ tured, a little stranger from beyond the seas, to make my appearance on your boards, English people have all been so kind—that I cannot leave you without saying, “ Thank you very much.” I have just said that I came amongst you as a stranger, but that is hardly true. England and America are at least firstcousins, and seing that cousins may kiss, they cannot be called strangers, can they ? There is one thing about England: her dear old mother tongue is a letter of introduction to all the best people in the world, and I feel sure that the open-hearted welcome—awelcome much above my poor deserts—which you have given me, will atleastinducemy bigAustralianbrothers— I like big brothers, because they are so nice— to hear me when I reach their great home in Australia in next September. I have yet to see a kangaroo—I do not even know if they grow on trees—so you see, although I am going to marry Tony, I have much to learn. But I have seen some Australians—I have seen the Australian cricketers; and if I had not a