Cricket 1886

A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 19 FEB. 25, 1886. CRICKET A LO ST CH A P T E R O F C R IC K E T H ISTO R Y . B y T hom as K e y w o r th . Perhaps I ought to have called it “ A Found Chapter of Cricket History,” for it lies before me now. The title is “ Cardinal Jottings and Tottings, Volume First and Last, Marbury.” It was published at Whitchurch, in Shropshire, in the year 1865, and oontains an account of two matches which were played in the month of August, in that year, by the Cardinals. Their opponents were Cheshire County and Cheshire Colts. It is a good sized pamphlet, of fifty pages, and is written in a humorous bantering style. Who “ Marbury,” the author was, I do not know; one of the Cardinals, I suppose, for the book is dedicated “ To our Hosts and Hostesses.” There is no mention made of tlie matches in M.C.C. Scores and Biographies, though some of the players were cricketers of note. Perhaps the sporting papers of the time were silent about this short tour of the Cardinals, and, therefore, the watchful and painstaking editor of M.C.C. Scores and Biographies had no opportunity of including these matches in his work. Among the players were the following who were more or less prominent on the cricket field twenty years ago:—rE. W. Tritton, who played for Eton against Harrow in 1862, and who played for the Gentlemen against the Players when he was only 19 years old. He was afterwards in the Oxford Eleven, and in both Middlesex and Surrey county teams. 0. Mordaunt, who played for Eton against Harrow, in 1860. He was for some time secre­ tary of the Free Foresters. A. F. Payne, who also played with! Zingari in 1865. Rev. W. G. Armistead and H. S. Arinistead, of Cheshire; both of whom are given among the principal amateurs of England, in L illyw h ite’s Com- vanion for 1866. E. K. Hornby, brother to the famous Lancashire captain; J. Frederick, of Middlesex; R. E. Tomkinson, of M.C.C.; and Lord Willoughby De Broke. The writer says he was persuaded by friends to pen the account whicn he gives of a very pleasant visit to Cheshire; he hopes, in years to come, “ when perchance in the evening of life, household cares engross, and squalling brats are near,” they may take refuge in the memories of the past. The gathering place of the Cardinals was Crewe. One of the team, who is called “ The Cardinal Poet B,” is held responsible for this couplet— When you want a rendezvous, Take tne train express to Crewe. The destinationwas Chelford, where Cheshire county matches had been played for some ears. It is not possible for the uninitiated to nowwhich of the cricketers are referred to in the narrative, for they seem to have had nick­ names, which the author used in preference to their rightful designations. Our Charlie,Waist­ coat, The Pope, Osbert the Dauntless, and The Peer, are mentioned frequently. Some of themmay be identified, but others are shrouded in mystery. Hartford station was the next stoppingplace, and from that point the journey’s end was soon reached. There is a good deal about the hospitality which was extended to the cricketers; they sat up later than is generally considered good on the night before a match. One of them forgot to put out his candle, and by a strange coincidence, he forgot to wind up his watch. The firstmatch was against Cheshire County, and this was played on August 25 and 26. So the score says, but the narrative gives it as July. Probably the date with the score is right. Cheshire went in first, and had to with­ stand the “ terrific onslaughts of Osbert, and the tiddledewinks of Jaunty Johnny.” Cheshire made 144. Then the Cardinals tried their f ortune, scored 91; of these 0. Mordaunt made 39. This is the gentleman who is called Osbert the Dauntless. Next day, when the match was resumed, Cheshire fancied its chances, and offered to back itself freely. But, as often happens, the second innings reversed the first, and Cheshire scored only 141, while the Cardinals scored 195 for eight wickets, and therefore won the match with two wickets to spare. E. W. Tritton made 78, and C. E. Mainwaring made 40. A handicap was arranged that night between the eleven Cardinals, and a very humourous description is given of the competitors, written in imitation of the style adopted by sporting tipsters. But before the handicap came off a match had to be played with the Cheshire Colts, and this time the Cardinals were vanquished. They made 111 and 167. The Colts made 209 and 67 for two wickets. This match was twelve a-side. Reasons are given for the defeat, of which the following is aSpecimen, “ The ubiquity of B in the field was marvellous. He was every­ where where the ball was not.” The handicap came off, and the tipster proved a true prophet. He had said “ Keep your eye on the Triton.” The Triton won. “ Value of stakes not ascertained.” There was a grand ball after the second match was finished, and then a long talk. It was daylight when the talk was ended, and part of the company, instead of going to bed, adjourned to the cricket ground, and com­ menced a single wicket match. Some of the spectators fell asleep, and the players seemed likely to follow suit, therefore the -writer refuses to state what the wakeful ones thought and said. Breakfast was straggling. “ And now the majority of the guests began slowly to prepare for departure. Who can fathom the feeling of their hearts, as the sad-hour stole all too quickly upon them ? All had spent a pleasant week,kindness and attention had been showered down on them broadcast; recollections of vic­ tories hardly earned, and defeats bravely endured, were fresh upon their memories, as with tearful eyes they took their leave.” It’s a very well written account, and must have been very interesting to those who knew the persons and their nicknames. This is the only copy of the publication which I ever saw. As a bookseller once said to me, “ It is in paper covers, you see, sir, and paper covers seem to give a book a very weak constitution. You must get into cloth boards or half-calf if you hope for immortality. Paper covers are fleet­ ing.” True, perfectly true; and I do not sup­ pose many people ever saw these “ Cardinal Jottings and Tottings.” T u f n e ll P ark G r o u n d . —This ground has lately been leased by three well-known cricketers and supporters of tlie game in North London, Messrs. Thos. L. Weldon, W. J. C. Goodall and J. Courtenay Clarke. The lessees, it must be understood, have not taken it purely as a financial speculation, but with the object of improving it and also the cricket in the neighbourhood, and we wish them every success. A club, having Mr. H. A. Tufnell as its president, and several very in­ fluential vice-presidents, has been started with the object of playing day-matches. Opening under such favourable auspices, the club is halfway on the road to success, and it now only remains for the members to set to work with a will to establish its position. The cricketing prospects, too, are excellent, as we are given to understand that many of the un­ doubtedly good cricketers in the neighbourhood have promised their assistance, among them the veteran C. Absolon. Mr. Thos. L. W7eldon, 62, Tufnell Park Road, the hon. sec., will be glad to arrange matches, out and home, with clubs in any of the home counties. Cricketers who use this ground on Saturday afternoons will be glad to hear that the number of clubs playing is to be reduced from nine to five, thus giving the captains ample room for the placing of their men. C R IC K E T IN A U S T R A L IA . INTER-COLONIAL UNIVERSITY MATCH. MELBOURNE v. SYDNEY. The seventh Inter-colonial match between the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney was played on the ground of the Melbourne Club on December 19 and 21. Sydney went in first on a good sound wicket. Wingrove, however bowled in such first-rate form that no stand was made worthy of the name. He maintained an excellent length, worked well from leg, and puzzled every batsman who negotiated his deliveries. He secured five wickets for 36. The only batsmen who succeeded in making doubles were Garrett (18), Dr. Wilkinson (15), and Allen (13). In the second essay Garrett again headed the list with an admirable 42» made by free, correct, and graceful play. S. Jones was next, with a well-obtained 23, and Dr. Wilkinson, who played for Middlesex a few years ago during his stay at University College Hospital, got 18 by sound and vigorous cricket. R. Allen shaped in capital style, but, Unfortunately, when he had made 10, a piece of beautiful fielding on Bonnor’s part caused him to be run out. Bonnor acted as substitute for Moule, who suffered from the effects of fish-poisoning. Bonnor, it appears, was sent into the field without tne views of the Sydney captain being sought, and after the giant had caught one man out and been the means o running out another, he was objected to, and M. Goldsmith, the emergency man of the University team, took his place. J. Barrett distinguished himself with the ball in the second innings of Sydney, 4 wickets falling to him for 11. Unquestionably, the feature of the match was the splendid innings of Scot*1 for 168 not out, out of a total of 352. From first to last he was in rare form. His cutting and leg-hitting were excellent, and his driving clean and powerful. Only one actual chance can be urged against him, namely to Powell, who stood a yard or two behind the sticks. This was when Scott had passed 90, and iust before he reached the 100. A smart wicket­ keeper would have stumped him off Garrett, but Sydney had no wicket-keeper. Scott never played a better game, and at the close of the University innings Le was greeted with loud and hearty acclamation in recognition of his very fine display, which combined first- class defence with capital hitting power, and sound judgment in placing his strokes. Trumble deserved praise for his contribution of 56, made in this fine batsman’s best form. His cutting was neat and effective, and he made several fine leg hits. Ross’s 30 was the outcome of free and sterling play, but Riddell’s 29 was not a highly meritorious contribution. Little batted well and freely for his 21, and Wingrove exhibited good form for his 10. The Sydney bowling appeared easy enough to negotiate, but then Scott was in such grand fettle than any bowling would have been easy to him. Garrett sent down some very good overs; he seems, however, to have lost that fast ball which he formerly used with surpris­ ing effect at times. He took four wickets for 108, and Jones got 2 for 75. The Sydney men fielded very well at first, but towards the close of that terribly hot Saturday they lost fonn, with three or four exceptions. The services of a good wicket-keeper were much missed. Melbourne won by an innings and 144 runs. Of the seven matches played New South Wales has von five and Victoria two. Next Issue March 25.