Cricket 1886

JAN. 28, 1886. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 11 he, also, had passed away, perhaps the last remaining link with the earliest days of cricket, which are now to us little more than mere tradition— The Knight's bones are dust And his good sword rust, His soul is with the saints, I trust. The Adelaide Observer of Nov. 21 con­ tains the following case, which has been referred to me : A peculiar incident occurred in a recent match. A batsman, in hitting at a ball, let his bat slip from his hands and go into the air. In falling it came down on his wicket. Of course there was a unanimous appeal to the umpire, who gave the batsman “ not out.” The field argued that he should have been out “ hit wicket,” because he had not finished his stroke when his wicket was knocked down. The batsman made 70 runs afterwards. The batsman, I hold, was clearly out. It was part of the act of batting from which there had been no final recovery. I t will be a matter of gratification to thousands of the keen sportsmen in Man­ chester and District to know that in their new hisliop—Dr. Moorliouse— they will have a hearty sympathiser, not only with the national game of England but with athletic pursuits generally. As Bishop o f Melbourne (the see he is now vacating) he showed his interest in all outdoor games in practical shape. In this connec­ tion, indeed, I had occasion to reproduce (p. 58, Vol. IV .) certain remarks of his in a speech at a luncheon on the occasion of the match between the Clergy and Bar, at Melbourne, in the early part of last year. The sentiments he expressed then will be read now with interest by those of athletic tastes in his new diocese—- Speaking particularly of cricket he unre­ servedly expressed himself in favour of the game being practised by the clergy as a relief and recuperative agent against their sedentary life. Of course they had to speak a great deal, and in order to make their speaking of any value they had to spend many hours—or at least he hoped they had—in their pulpit utter­ ances, and it was necessary that they should have fresh air and exercise to give them the vitality which was known as constitutional talent. It might not be known that he and his wife played cricket every day—where they any worse Christians for that ? (Cries of “ No!” cheers, and laughter.) There was intimate relation between culture of the body—he meant exercise—and an agreeable temper. It was said of Bishop Ken that he was a worthy prelate and an excellent player at football. Manchester is fortunate in having as its spiritual head a clergyman of such liberal views and broad sym ­ pathies. I n o tic e , though perhaps they would hardly come under the category of “ Curiosities,” that only slight notice has been taken o f several important tie matches of recent occurrence. Among these m ay be mentioned the wedding of Mr. Herbert Pi'gg, the old light blue, who was married to Catharine, daughter of the late Mr. Jas. Sibley, at Weston Favell, near Northampton, at the end o f last month. Mr. T. S. AVhitfeld, too, has lately entered the matrimonial state, as has Mr, Claude Leatham, T he preparations for the reception of the members of the Essex County Club in their new head-quarters at Leyton are I am glad to hear, thoroughly well advanced and the ground and pavilion will be thoroughly in order, the secretary, Mr. T. Batliff, informs me, in time for the opening day. The annual subscrip­ tion is now one guinea without entrance fee, but after the first election it is possible that the committee may think fit to impose an entrance of a guinea or two guineas as may be thought most advisable. In addition to an interesting programme of County matches for this- summer, there will be a fixture of par­ ticular interest at Leyton on Aug. 23 and two following days, when the Australians will have to meet an eleven selected from past and present members of Cambridge University. A n e w departure is to be introduced by the executive of the Surrey County Cricket Club during the coming season. The difficulty of arranging then- long pro­ gramme satisfactorily in the face of the Australian visit has necessitated several alterations in the list as originally fixed at L ord’s. It was necessary to alter the date of the home match with Gloucester­ shire in order not to interfere with the fixture between the Gentlemen of E n g­ land and the Australians at L ord’s, and in default of more convenient dates it has been decided that the counties shall meet at the Oval on Easter Monday (April 26tli). Easter falls so late this year that there is a chance of the contest being decided in fairly good weather, and the cricket public of London will at least have the satisfaction of a novelty in a fixture on the first Bank Holiday of the year. There is every prospect, too, that both counties will be well represented. In one respect the early fixture will be of use in enabling some o f our most pro­ minent cricketers to get into practice with a view to the Australian fixtures. I see it is stated that Mr. W . G. Grace is already getting into practice, but he is appar­ ently not by any means the exception, to judge by the accounts which appeared in the Nottingham Guardian of Satur­ day last o f an engagement already com ­ pleted by Alfred Shaw and Scotton. The two Nottingham professionals according to that paper have just returned homo from the South. After bowling and practising at Lord Sheffield’s seat they proceeded to the New Forest to coach two members of last year’s eleven, Messrs. H . W. and S. E . Forster. The latter, the younger brother, returns to Eton, and bids fair to be a useful all-round cricketer. The elder, H . W . Forster, who made his debul for Hampshire against Somersetshire at the end of last season, will be in residence at Oxford University in the summer. A pro vin cial paper of Saturday last contains the announcement that Lord, Wenlock has been elected the first; President of a Society just formed in Yorkshire called “ The Yorkshire Bay Coach Horse Society for the purpose of improving the- breed of the Yorkshire Coaching Horses.” Lord W enlock is well known to cricketers by virtue of another presidential office, the presidency of the Marylebone Club, to which he was elected last May. HAMPSHIBE COUNTY CLUB. F ixtu res rort 1886. May 17,18,19—Kennington Oval, Hants v. Surrey May 27—Winchester, Gentlemen of Hants v. Win­ chester College June 4, 5—Basingstoke, North y. South of County June 7, 8, 9—Brighton, Hants v. Sussex June 7, 8—Southampton, Eleven of Hampshire v. Fifteen Colts June 22, 23—Southampton, Gentlemen of Hants v. Devon June 28, 29—Southampton, Hampshire C. and G. v. M.C.C. and G. June 30, July 1—Southampton, Hants v. Norfolk July 2, 3—Southampton, Hants v. Hertfordshire (Holmes’ benefit) July 12, 13—Southampton, Gentlemen of Hants v. West of Scotland July 19, 20, 21—Southampton, Hants v. Surrey July 29, 30, 31—Southampton, Hants v. Somerset August 2, 3, 4—Southampton, Hants v. Sussex August 9,10-Southampton, Hampshire C. and G. v. Uppingham liovers August 12,13—Norwich, Hants v. Norfolk August 19, 20, 21—Taunton, Hants v. Somerset August 25, 26—Hertford, Hants v. Hertford August 27, 28—Southampton, Hants v. Dorset The Da’-es of Gentlemen of Hants v. I ^ingari and v. Aldershot Division matches not yet fixed. SUSSEX COUNTY CLUB. F ix tu b e s f o b 1886. May 20—Lord’s, Sussex v. M.C.C. and Ground May 27 —Huddersfield, Sussex v. Yorkshire May 31—Nottingham, Sussex v. Notts June 7—Brighton, Sussex v. Gloucester June 14—Brighton, Sussex v. Hants Juno 24—Manchester, Sussex v. Lancashire July 1—Gloucestershire, Sussex v. Gloucestershire July 8—Brighton, Sussex v. Kent July 15—Tonbridge, Sussex v. Kent July 22—Brighton Sussex v. Notts July 26—Oval, Sussex v. Surrey Aug. 2—Southampton, Sussex v. Hants Aug] 9—Brighton, Sussex v. Lancashire Aug. 16 -Brighton, Sussex v. Surrey Aug! 23—Brighton, Sussex v. Yorkshire Aug. 26-Brighton, Sussex v. Australians S heffield U n ited C bicket C lu b . —At the annual general meeting, held at the Adelphi Hotel, Sheffield, Mr. M. J. Ellison in the chair, the report and the statement of accounts were read and adopted. The report is as follows:—- “ The committee, in presenting their yearly statement of accounts,have to reportaconsider­ able expenditure in increasing the accommo­ dation for spectators, and in adding to the con­ venience and comfort of the players. The sumof ±'91-114s. 6d. has been received during the past year, and the sum of £1,136 18s. 4d. expended, about £500 of which has been expended as mentioned above. A further sum of about £400 is being spent in altering the booths at the lower end of the ground, which it is hoped will materially enhance their value. The pali­ sading in front of the pavilion and enclosure has been lowered, and the two lowest rows of seating made thereby more available for spec­ tators. Messrs. E. T. Atkin and C. Stokes are the retiring members of the committee. They are eligible for re-election.”—The president, treasurer, and retiring members of the com­ mittee were unanimously re-elected. The thanks of the meeting were given to the presi­ dent and members of the committee for their services during the past year, and also to Messrs. J. C. Clegg and J. Needham for audit­ ing the accounts, and to the chairman for presiding. Next Issue February 25 >