Cricket 1886

38 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. MARCH 25,1886. An improvement in this important respect would have a sensible effect on the play, and would certainly tend to inspire confidence in the eleven generally. Kent has this year given up its old fixture with Hants, and the Hampshire authorities have thus had to sub­ stitute a less important fixture with Norfolk. On their form of last year, though, the Norfolk eleven are in no way to be despised, and the meeting will in all probability be an interesting one. The other matches are with Surrey, Sussex, Derbyshire, and Somersetshire. Col. Fellowes is hopeful that he will be able to secure the services of Messrs. Lacey, Richards, the old Etonian, as well as of H. Tate, more frequently than in 1885. Messrs. H. W. Forster, of last year’s Eton eleven, who is now at Oxford, and A. L. Watson, the Winchester Captain of 1885, two of the most promising Public School cricketers of the year, both played for Hampshire, and it is hoped will do good service this summer. Messrs. H. J. Mordaunt and S E. Forster, who will play for Eton this year, are also qualified to represent Hampshire, and there is reason to believe will be of use to the County. The Leicestershire eleven of 1886 will in all probability be selected from .Messrs. C. Mar­ riott, W. H. Hay, J. A. Turner, H. T. Arnall, C. C. Stone, with Wheeler, Rylott, Bottomore, Turner, Warren, Pougher, and any new players who may come on. M. E. Hill and K. H. Pearson, who took part in the later matches of 1885, will again be tried. Pougher, who made such a promising start last season, has been engaged on the County ground as a bowler. Mr. J. A. Turner, of the Cambridge Eleven, who only took part in one match for Leicester­ shire in 1885, will be able to play frequently this summer, and will be an acquisition to the team. There are several young players of promise, and as the Aylestone ground is now under the direct control of the County Club, Leicestershire prospects are certainly more hopeful than they have been for some time past. Cheshire will have the following players to select from, S. Brown, Davenport, Miilward, Wright, Pointon, Whatmough and Radcliffe, professionals, and the following amateurs, Messrs. J. Bretlierton, ■;S. Hollins, S. M. Crosfield, C. Holden, H. Thornber, and T. Burrows among other?. Brown, who, it will be remembered, was disqualified from play­ ing last season owing to insufficient resi­ dence, has now fully established his residential qualification for Cheshire, where he has |lived without interruption since January 1884. If the services of several of the best amateurs could only lq>e secured regularly to suppcfe’t the professionals, there is every reason to believe that Cheshire would be fairly successful A home and home match with Yorkshire will give additional interest to the coming season. The Indian team will visit Stockport at the end of July, to play the Cheshire Club and Ground. Warwickshire is making a determined effort to improve its position among the Counties. Last year the eleven were certainly successful, and there is every reason to hope for amaterial improvement, as the resources develop. Mr. Hugh Rotherhamwill again captain the eleven and will play regularly. Messrs. H. C. Maul and D. Docker will again be available, and the Cantab, Mr. C. W. Rock, it is expected will be able to help after the University match. Shil­ ton, Pallett, Collisliaw, Morgan, and Harborne will in all probability be regular members of the team. Haslam, who is at present in York­ shire, too, may have atrial. Mr. A. J. Richards, who has gone to South America, will be greatly missed. Law and Whitehead are two young and promising professionals who are con­ sidered likely with good practice to train into useful cricketers. The increased facilities for practice furnished by the new ground are ex­ pected to produce favourable results in the development of the youn <er cricketcrs. It is hoped that Mr. H. O.Whitby, the Oxonian, will return to his form of 1884 and render useful assistance after the fifth of July. Warwick­ shire, too, is looking forward hopefully to the prospect of support from several well-known cricketers not as yet available. Mr. Cranston, well-known in Gloucestershire cricket, is quali­ fied by birth to play for Warwickshire. Whether his assistance will be secured, though, must be regarded as doubtful. Messrs. F. M. Lucas and M. P. Lucas are both residing at Leamington, and the Cambridge captain, Mr. H. W. Bainbridge, has also his home now in Warwickshire. Mr. Parfitt, too, is living in Birmingham, so that there are several good players likely to be qualified if their help can be enlisted. Home and home matches with Staffordshire, North­ amptonshire, Leicestershire, and Somerset­ shire, are to be played in 1886, with the addition of two fixtures at Birmingham against Cheshire and M.C.C. and Ground respectively. Under the capable guidance of the new Secretary, Mr. T. Ratliff, whose personal popu­ larity will be of no small value to the Club, Essex cricket will be thoroughly well cared for. We have during the winter had frequent occasion to record the progress of the work for the accommodation of the members on the new ground at Leyton. Through the energy of Mr. C. E. Green it is gratifying to be able to state that the full number of four hundred members required before the imposition of an entrance fee has already been secured and, therefore, the County Club will commence the year under the most favourable auspices. Of our own knowledge we are able to speak in most appreciative terms of the provision for the comfort of members at Leyton, and, indeed, the new ground of the Essex Club bids fair, as far as can be judged, to become avery popular resort. In addition to the usual County fixtures, which are much the same as last year, an attractive feature of the season will be pro­ vided at Leyton in the shape of a match with the Australian cricketers. The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, who has taken avery kindly interest in the Essex Club, will take a strong eleven representing the pick of old and present members of Cambridge University to meet the Colonists at Leyton on August 23rd and two following days, and this should be one of the most interesting fixtures of the year. BUTTERFLIES CLUB. F ix t u r e s f o r 1886. June 5. Elstree, v. Elstree School June 12. Vincent Square, v. Westminster School June 17. Winchester, v. Winchester College June 18 and 19. Winchfield, v. Hackwood Park. Juno 26. Carshalton, v. Carshalton Park June 2G. Watford, v. Mr. C. J. Hegan’s XI. July l and 2. Rugby, v. Rugby School July 3. Chislehurst, v. West Kent July 3 Godstone, v. Rook’s Nest July 12 and 13. Shorncliffc, v. 9th Lancers July 17. Godalming, v. Charterhouse July 22 and 23. Saffron Walden, v. Mr. J. Burrell’s XI. July 24. Hitchin, v. Hitchin Aug. 9 and 10. Nutfield, v. Nutfield OLD CLIFTONIANS. F ix tu r e s f o r 1886. Aug. 2, 3. Reigate, v. Reigate Priory Aug. 4, 5. Horsham, v. Horsham Aug. G, 7. Portsmouth, v. United Service Aug. 9,10. Birmingham, v. Warwickshire Aug. 11,12. Stoke, v. Staffordshire Aug! 13,14. Manchester, v. Manchester Club HARROW WANDERERS. F ix tu b e b f o r 18iC July 19, 20. Leicester, Harrow Wanderers v. Leicestershire July 21 22. Newark, Harrow Wanderers v. Gents 'o f Notts July 23, 24. Lincoln, Harrow Wanderers v. Lin- dum Club July 26, 27. Hovingham, Harrow Wanderers v. North Riding C.C. July 28, 29. York, Harrow Wanderers v. Gents of Yorkshire July 30, 31. Preston, Harrow Wanderers v. Preston RAYENSBOURNE (LEE) CLUB. (T h irty - first S eason .) F ixtures for 1886. May 1. Lee, Club v. New Members May 8. Lee, v. Old Change May 15. Lee, v. Distaff May 22. Lee, v. Bromley May 99. Lee, v. Forest Hill June 5. Lee, v. Bow Churchyard June 19. Lee, v. Bow Churchyard July 3. Lee, v. St. Pauls July 10. Bromley, v. Bromley July 17. Lee, v. Distaff July 24. Forest Hill, v. Forest HiU Aug. 7. Forest Gate, v. Aptus. Aug. 14. Dulwich, v. St. Pauls Aug. 21. Forest Gate, v. Fore Street Aug. 28. Lee, v. Burlington Sept. 4. Forest Gate, v. Old Change Sept. 11. Lee, v. Aptus Sept. 18. Lee, v. Fore Street BLACKHEATH CLUB. F ix tu r e s f o r 1886. April 26. Blackheath, v. G. G. Hearne’s XI. May 1. Blackheath, v. Bank of England May 8. Qhessington, v. Ne’er-do-Weels May 15. Blackheath, v. Biokley Park May 15. Charlton Park, v. Charlton Park May 22. Blackheath, v. Hampstead May 22. West Wickham, v. West Wickham May 29. Blackheath, v. Emeriti June 5. Blackheath, v. Stock Exchange June 5. Willesden, v. Law Club (2nd) June 12. Blackheath, v. Incogniti June i4. Blackheath, v. XXII. of Blackhcath Schools June 19. Blackheath, v. Royal Naval College June 19. Bexley, v. Bexley June 26. Blackheath, v. Crystal Palace June 26. Lee, v. Granville (2nd) July 3. Blackheath, v. Guy’s Hospital July 8. Blackheath, Clergy (Old Blues) v. M.C.C. July 10. Blackheath, v. Blackheath Proprietary School July 10. Woolwich, v. Royal Military Acadomy July 17. Blackheath, v. Law Club July 17. Bickley Park, v. Bickley Park July 24. Blackheath, v. M.C.C. July 29. Crystal Palace, v. Crystal Palace July 31. Blackheath, v. Granville Aug. 2. Blackheath, v. Charlton Park Aug. 7. Blackheath, v. Ne’er-do-Weels Aug. 7. Hampstead, v. Hampstead Aug. 14. Blackheath, v. Gryphons Aug. 21. Blackheath, v. Bexley Sept. 4. Blackheath, v. Hornsey BROADWATER CLUB. F ix tu r e s f o r 1886. May 1. Broadwater, v. Surrey C. &G. May 8. Esher, v. Esher May 22. Broadwater, v. Charterhouse June 2. Charterhouse, v. Second XI. Charterhouse June 12. Broadwater, v. Will-o’-Wisps June 23. Brookwood, v. Brookwood July 3. Cranleigh, v. Surrey County School July 10. Broadwater, v. Old Carthusians July 17. Crystal Palace, v. Crystal Palace Aug. 2. Broadwater, v. Esher Aug. 3. Broadwater, v. Marlboro’ Blues Aug. 4. Broadwater, v. Wellington Wanderers Aug. 5. Broadwater, v. Nutfield Aug. 7. Broadwater, v. Surbiton Aug. 18. Broadwater, v. Send Holme XI. Aug. 21. Broadwater, v. Oatlands Park Aug. 30,31. Aldershot, v. Aldershot Sept. 11. Sandhurst, v. R.M.C. W indsor H ome P ark C lub . —A general meet­ ing of the Windsor Home Park Club was held at the Castle Hotel, Windsor, on the 16th inst. Mr. F. M. Durnford presided. It was resolved to sanction a plan for the enlargement of tho cricket pavilion in the Home Park at an esti­ mated cost of .£68 and to sink an artesian well. Prince Christian was again requested to becomc president, and Mr. Richardson-Gardner, M.P., vice-president. Mr. Durnford was re-elected treasurer, and the Rev. W . G. Edwards hon­ orary secretary. A committee was appointed for the ensuing year. The following matches have already been arranged:—Uxbridge, May 29; Royal Engineering College, June 5-; Penge C.C., June 23; M.C.C., June 28; H am C.C., July 8 ; Heathfield, July 14; Stoics, July 21; Marlborough Blues July 24; West Middlesex, July 29;Lausanne, August 2; Chiswick, August 6 ; Gloucester, August 13 and 14. Next Issue April 15.