Cricket 1886

MARCH 25,1886. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME. 37 of the University to play one match at Oxford, but unfortunately suitable dates could not be found, and the fixtures, it is to be regretted, will have to be deferred until 1887. The Australian matches at the Oval are not quite the same as in 1884. The visitors will appear four times there, but in substitution of the Players’ match the Committee have arranged a second fixture with the county. The Colonists will make their first appearance in London at the Oval on May 20, when they are to meet Surrey, and as even at that early date Mr. Shuter and his men, commencing as they do on April 26, ought to be in good practice, it is to behoped thatthey will make a good fight. On June 17 the Australians are to oppose the Gentlemen on the Surrey ground, and on August 12 the full strength of England will have to be met there. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in getting the date last- named clear of important English fixtures, and at one time it was feared that the match might be prejudiced materially. Thanks, however, to the co-operation of several of the counties, all obstacles have, we are glad to say, been satisfactorily removed. In addition to Yorkshire, Notts, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Kent, Sussex, Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Essex, Leicestershire, and Hamp­ shire, the Australians have both to be met twice, and Cambridge University once, so that 25 matches form the sum of the Surrey programme. The Gentlemen are also to meet the Players, and thus it will be be seen that seventeen County and important matches are to be decided at the Oval this summer. With the exception of Mr. H. W. Bainbridge, whose removal to Warwickshire has broken his residential qualification for Surrey, all the old players will again be available. Hender­ son, who is at the present time in Bombay bowling to the Parsee cricketers who are to visit England this summer, has, it is said, recovered his health and on his return towards the end of May will be able to play if required. Mr. W. E. Roiler, who has been wintering in California, will be at home again very shortly and it is hoped that his younger brother will also be of use to the eleven. The latter was very unfortunate in his first match for the County at the end of last season, as rain pre­ vented any play at Leicester after the first day, and he had no opportunity of showing his form with the bat. The test practice for young players will commence at the Oval on April 19, and as there are some promising Amateurs, at least, it is hoped that some of them may have a trial in the less important matches. It is satisfactory to be able to write in very hopeful terms of the prospects of the coming season for Kentish cricketers. There is every reason, indeed, to predict that the old county will occupy a prominent position when the statistics of the year are ready for compilation. Lord Harris is of opinion that the team he will have at his command will be the best he has had under him since he first took in hand Kentish cricket. Last season produced more than one promising youngster, and Messrs. W. W. Rashleigh, the Tonbridge captain of 1885, who is now in residence at Oxford, J. N. Tonge, and F. Streatfield, all bid fair to develop into useful cricketers. Both Messrs. Tonge and Rashleigh showed excellent form last summer with the bat. The latter, though he wants more life in the field, on his form in the later matches of Kent should be an acquisition to Oxford. There are good grounds, too, for the hope that Martin will turn out a useful member of the County eleven. He bids fair indeed to develop into a really good left- hand bowler, and with care should become an excellent all-round cricketer. All the old players will, as far as we know, be available. Mr. Christopherson, Wootton, and Alec Hearne represent the nucleus of a strong bowling side. This trio furnishes an excellent variety, and if it be correct that the amateur will be able to play in most, if not all, the matches the eleven should be materially strengthened. Lord Harris, it is hoped, will be abJ^ to devote more of his time this year to county cricket, and his presence will, it is needless to state, inspire the team with additional confidence. Mr. W. H. Patter­ son, there is every reason, too, to believe, will play more frequently, and as in addition to those already named, Rev. R. T. Thornton, Messrs. C. Wilson, A. J. Thornton, R. S. Jones, W. W. Rashleigh, J. N. Tonge, F. Streatfield, with G. G. Hearne, F. Hearne, and Pentecost will all be at Lord Harris’s disposal, it will be gathered that Kent should this year be able on almost every occasion to place a strong all­ round eleven in the field. In batting and bowling it should be decidedly above the average, the only doubt being as to whether the team will not be a trifle slow in the field. The Committee have decided this year to restrict their programme to fixtures with the leading Counties, and even Hants will not figure in the list of 1886. Fourteen County fixtures and one match with M.C.C. and G. are the engagements for the year. The Canterbury Week will open with a match between Kent and the Australian team, and the latter will also finish August in the county, having to oppose a South of England Eleven at Gravesend on August 30 ana two following days. The visit of the Australian players has caused an enlargement of all the County cards, and the Committee of the Sussex Club, like the other executives, are preparing for a lively time of it this summer. Home and home matches have been arranged with Notts, York­ shire, Lancashire, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Kent and Hampshire, which with the usual fixture at Lord’s against M.C.C. and Ground represent a programme of fifteen purely English engagements. Besides these the County eleven will have to meet the Aus­ tralian team at Brighton on August 26, and in addition a match to wind up the season will be played at Brighton on Sept. 19 and follow­ ing days, when the Australians will oppose either the County or a South of England team. The latter should prove the more attractive fixture, and, indeed, as all the strength of the South would be available, we hope to hear that the Committee have decided on this fixture. Should this be the last en­ gagement of the Fifth Australian Team in England they will close their tour as they opened it, in Sussex, as most C ricket readers are already well aware that the first match of the Colonial players now on their way to the old Country will be at Sheffield against a strong team selected by the President of the Sussex County Club. The Australians are, too, to play a team selected by Lord March and Mr. M. P. Lucas, at Priory Park, Chichester, on June 28 and two following days, so that alto­ gether the good folk of Sussex will have the opportunity of seeing the visitors perform four times in the county. The fixture at Priory Park is, we may add, for the benefit of C. Howard, a professional who on several occasions did good service for Sussex. Howard is much respected in Chichester and this match should prove very successful. As far as we can hear all the members of last year’s team will be at the disposition of the Com­ mittee. Bean, who played for Notts last summer, has been again engaged by Lord Sheffield, and as he will have established his right to a residential qualification we presume his services will in all probability be utilised. The position occupied by the late J. Juniper on the county ground at Brighton will be filled by a young professional or professionals likely to train on for the County. The defection of Shacklock, whose return to the county of his adoption has already been noticed, will deprive Derbyshire of one of its most useful all-round players. This is the more to be regretted as the committee have in face of great difficulties, and, despite a more than liberal share of ill luck, maintained the county well in the front rank. Just at a time when they had succeeded in collecting a young eleven, with every chance of developing into a fairly good working team, the loss of a profes­ sional who did excellent service for them on more than one occasion last year is doubly to be regretted, and in this matter Derbyshire will receive the sympathy of all real cricketers. Mr. L. C. Docker, whom the requirements of business will call shortly to settle in London, will not be able to help as often as hitherto for the county, though it is certain he will play as often as he can. With these important ex­ ceptions the Derbyshire eleven will, in all likelihood, be constituted of much the same material as last year. William Chatterton, who showed such capital all-round cricket last year, joins the staff at Lord’s this season. The selection of the Marylebone Club is to be com­ mended, [as there is not a more deserving or more promising professional. The engage­ ment, too, should be mutually beneficial, and with the benefit of increased as well as im­ proved practice Chatterton’s cricket ought to show a still further developement. Cropper, F. H. Sugg, Hall, Wood-Sims, Disney, and Messrs. G. G. Walker, Maynard, Eadie and Cochrane, will all be again available, in addi­ tion to W. Sugg, J. Chatterton and Slater, if re­ quired. G. Coupe, of Ripley, who made a credit­ able debut at the end of last season against Hampshire, at Derby, will probably train on. He is a left-handed bat with plenty of defence as well as hitting powers. A little more life in the field, though, will be necessary before he can make anything of a name. We hear capital accounts, too, of J. Davidson, a son of the old county player, who is said to be a very prom­ ising all-round cricketer. He is a good bowler, right hand, over medium pace, a very steady bat, and, most important of all, a brilliant field. Middlesex does not vary its programme very much as a rule, and the match list for 1886 would not show any difference on that of last season were it not for the visit of the Fifth Australian Team. The Australians will meet the County at Lord’s on June 24 and two fol­ lowing days, and everyone will hope that luck will be a little more on the side of the Middle­ sex eleven than has generally been the case when they have met the Colonial players. At present there does not appear to be a sign of the fast bowler for which the County has so long sought in vain. This is the more to be regretted as, according to all accounts, there appears to be anything but a lack of young batsmen of promise. Mr. E. H. Bradby, the Captain of the Rugby School Eleven of 1885, who proved himself one of the verybest Public School bats of the year, now in residence at Oxford, is qualified to play for Middlesex, and will be available if only in the return matches. The two Old Harrovians, Messrs. E. M. Butler and A. K. Watson, who did such good service against !&ton last year, will also be able to play when they are down from Cam- ridge and Oxford respectively. Another valu­ able addition to the batting strength will be found in the Old Lorettonian and Oxonian, Mr. J. G. Walker, who will be qualified by residence to represent Middlesex in 1866. All the members of last year’s eleven will as far as we know be able to play if required. Mr. G. F. Vernon will, we believe, be in London during the summer and, as it is his intention to devote a considerable portion of his time to cricket, there is every reason to believe that he will get into his old form again. Mr. S. W. Scott, it is expected, will also be able to play more frequently than in previous years, and if this should be the case it will help the bat­ ting very materially. Mr. A. E. Stoddart, who made a promisingJdeZmtf last year,will be avail­ able, ana, with the advantage of more practice in first-class cricket, should develop into avery useful all-round player. In batting Middlesex should be undoubtedly strong. The defect, though, as far as we can judge now, will still be lack of bowling, and it is to be hoped that the Colts’ match will unearth some youngster f ood enough to strengthen the team in the epartment where it has been very weak of late years. In spite of the untiring efforts of that keen sportsman, Lieut.-Col. Fellowes, the present Hon. Sec., the outlook for Hampshire crieket does not appear to be particularly hopeful. The new ground was not m the best condition laet summer; but this summer there is every rearon to believe that it will be in good order. Nest Issue April 15-