Cricket 1886

APRIL 15, 1886. CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 61 to the friendliness exhibited by Lord Harris to Australian Cricket generally, and to my own Club in particular, and to assure him that this is too sincerely appreciated by us all to permit of my disregarding his desire that something liks an authoritative statement on the point he has raised should appear even thus late in the day. Being here by myself, and far removed from my colleagues on the Committee, 1 shall not, I am sure, be expected to go into particulars; but I feel justified in asserting, from my personal know­ ledge of the arrangements made, that when the Club has fulfilled its more than ordinarily heavy obligations in respect to the coming trip, and arising out of it, and it alone, it is pretty certain that no portion of what surplus there may be will remain to “ swell its balance sheet.” In fact, the Club adopted the present enterprise without any idea of gain—sustain­ ment of International Cricket on a long desired basis, so far as those visits are concerned, being its sole motive of action—and it really has no expectation of deriving direct pecuniary benefit from the visit of this eleven to England. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, F. G rey S m ith , Vice President Melbourne Cricket Club. 83, Seymour Street. Hyde Park, April 13. The Standard comments on Lord Harris’s letter in the following terms :— It is a matter for congratulation that this letter was written. We have given very fully the points which the Captain of the Kent Eleven makes, and there can be no doubt that he is not expressing merely his personal views, but those of others in the Cricket world. The position occupied by Australian Cricketers over here has always been an anomalous one. With few exceptions, the Colonists have claimed, on the ground of social position, to be regarded as amateurs. They have been admitted to the pavilions at our great grounds, and have received a considerable amount of courtesy, not only in the Cricket world, but in general society. The Lord Mayor of London and some provincial Mayors have entertained them, and they have been the guests of various Australian merchants and bankers. Never­ theless, it has been perfectly well known that their visits have been money-making visits, Scarcely an attempt has been made to deny the fact that a large amount of profit has been divided after each tour among the members who composed the team; and though they have always objected to be classed as pro­ fessionals, the Cricketers have undoubtedly had, on their English record, no valid claim t:> be considered as amateurs. We have stretched a point towards them as visitors; we have admitted them on something like a footing of equality with our amateurs; and we have—Clubs and public alike—been very cordial in our welcome, and very demonstra­ tive in our applause. Now, as Lord Harris says, there |is a new departure. It has been an open secret for a long time that some members of former Elevens objected to the money-making aspect of these periodical tours, and declined to participate in what were exhibitions of Cricket first, perhaps, but were certainly financial speculations also. As we understood the case, the action of the Mel­ bourne Club was mainly dictated by the desire to remove from the New Australian team, the imputation that has been sometimes cast upon Colonial Cricketers—and cast not only here, but in the Colonies themselves—that they were more fond of money than of Cricket. It is no secret that several prominent Australians have regarded the pecuniary side of these trips with dislike; and, if we mistake not, some considerable amount of satisfaction was felt when it was first announced that the Mel­ bourne Club had undertaken the financial control of the new tour. There was no desire amongst English Cricketers or English people to class the Australians as professionals, but it was impossible to regard them as amateurs, possessing [the knowledge we did that they were interested to a very large degree in the pecuniary outcome of the tours in England. But while we wish to give Lord Harris’s letter its full weight, and while we agree with him that some at least of the Counties do not really benefit from Australian visits, we are not inclined to support his objection to the Melbourne Club profiting by the forthcoming tour. The Melbourne Club have entertained as their guests two teams of English Cricketers. Australian Cricket visits to England have done a great deal towards popularising the game here, and not only towards popularising it, but towards improving it and rendering it more truly national and British. If proof were wanted of the influence of Australian Cricket upon the game in this country, it would be only necessary to point to the increase of pace in bowling, and to the fact that, where ten years ago only slow bowlers were expected to get much “ work” on the ball, nowadays a man, to make a big reputation, must not only bowl at a good pace, but must make the ball “ do” a great deal, and that, too, on wickets which skill and care have rendered as nearly perfect as possible. Whatever may be the case with Kent or one or two other Counties, there can be little doubt that the visits of Australians to England have generally benefitted the exchequers of English Cricket Clubs, and the popular results of that benefit has been seen in improved accommodation in nearly every Cricket ground in the Kingdom. Instead of a few wretched benches, and miserable little tents here and there, we have now capital terraces, hundreds upon hundreds of comfort­ able seats protected from rain and sun, and— on nearly every ground in England—scores of reserved seats in well appointed grand stands, from which ladies can witness the play under reasonable conditions. The whole surround­ ings and accessories of the Cricket-ground have been improved, and to avery great extent with money made out of Australian Matches; though in this, as in all other manly games, much may be fairly attributed to the reaction in favour of out-door sports generally. Any opinion that falls from so keen and thorough a sportsman as Lord Harris, and so ardent and conscientious a supporter of Cricket, will be received with attention and respect, but we must say that we feel no jealousy at the pros­ pect of the Melbourne Club benefitting by the forthcoming tour. No doubt Englishmen love sport for sport’s sake, and whether it be Cricket, Boating, or Football, they prefer the play without taking sordid interests into account. But in the present case the financial element cannot be altogether overlooked. We are glad to see Australians, and we cannot expect them to come for nothing. A profit is certain to be made, and it is better that that profit should go to an Institution than to individuals, for we are sure that, whatever the sum may be, it will be fairly and legitimately expended in the promoiion and development of the game, and we are profoundly convinced of the enormous impetus which English Cricket has derived from those visits, of which the fifth is about to be paid to us. N otts C olts ’ M atch . —The following are the teams for this annual match at Trent-bridge Grounds, Nottingham, on Easter Monday April 26) and Tuesday: The Colts : Alcock Annesley), Baggerly (B-uddington), Brown (Bingham', Burton (Hucknall Torkard), Budd (Nottingham), Butler (Sutton-in-Ashfield), Clark (Draincote), Carlin (New Eastwood), Ellis (Sutton-in-Ashfield), Elson (Carlton), Edwards (Kimberley), Fish (New liadford), Hulme (Greasley), Jackson (New Basford), Levers (East Bridgeford), Mee (Shelford), Moss (Clifton), Morley (Calverton), Sharpe (Rudding- ton), Taylor (Sutton-in-Ashfield), Whitworth (Bidworth), and Widdowson (Bingham). The Eleven : W. Attewell, W. Barnes, W. Flowers, W. Gunn, A. Shaw, M. Sherwin, A. Shrewsbury, W. Scotton, J. Selby, F. Shacklock, and Walter Wright. ASSOC IATED CH A L L E N G E CUP . A smoking concert in connection with the Association Cricket Clubs was held at St. James’s Hall on the 20th of Febuary. The chief feature of the programme was the presentation of the splendid silver challenge cup competed for annually by the clubs belonging to many of the largest drapery establishments in the Metropolis. The concert was much appreciated by those present, num­ bering considerably over 1,000, and altogether avery agreeable and interesting entertainment was provided. Mr. A. J. Marshall (Marshall and Snelgrove’s) in presenting the cup to the Clarence Cricket Club, which is formed from the staff of Messrs. Maple and Co., congratulated the club, and pointed to the fact that this was the second occasion they had been successful in obtaining it, as for the last two seasons they had never lost a match. The game of cricket was, in his opinion, one that should be encouraged in every way, as not only was the practice of it conducive to health and strength, but it taught those who indulged in it three very important qualities, viz., patience, perseverance, and keeping one’s temper. Mr. H. M. Turner, the hon. secretary of the association, was, during the evening, presented with a very handsome gold locket, with a flattering and well-merited inscription, as a slight acknowledgment of the valuable aid he had rendered, and of the esteem in which he is held by the members of the various clubs GRANVILLE (LEE) CLUB. F ixtures for 18S6. April 24. Lee, Club Match April 26. Lee, Captain’s XI. v. The Rest May 1. Hornsey, v. Hornsey May 1. Lee, v. Sidcup May 8. Charlton Park, v. Charlton Park May 8. Lee, v. Hon. Artillery Company May 15. Lee, v. Hampstead May 15. Wandsworth, v. Heathfield May 22. Lee, v. Hornsey May 22. Finsbury, v. Hon. Artillery Company May 29. Croydon, v. Croydon May 29. Lee, v. Croydon June 2. Lee, v. Woodford Wells June 5. Lee, v. Crystal Palace June 5. Chigwell, v. Chigwell June 12. Lee, v. Upper Clapton June 12. Forest Hill, v. Forest Hill June 14. Lee, v. Northbrook June 14. Lee, v. Northbrook June 19. Lee, v. Pallingswick June 19. Sidcup, v. Sidcup June 2G. Ealing, v. Ealing June 2G. Lee, v. Blackheath School July 3. Clapton, v. Clapton July 3. Lee, v. Blackheath July 10. Hampstead, v. Hampstead July 10. Lee, v. Heathfield July 17. Lee, v. Clapton July 17. Blackheath, v. Blackheath School July 21. Lee, v. Charlton Park July 24. Lee, v. Croydon July 24. Croydon, v. Croydon July 31. Blackheath, v. Blackheath July 31. Lee, v. Forest Hill Aug. 2. Lee, v. Northbrook Aug. 2. Lee, v. Northbrook Aug. 7. Tottenham, v. Trafalgar Aug. 7. Lee, v. Kenley Aug. 14. Lee, v. Point Ramblers Aug. 21. Lee, v. Trafalgar Aug. 28. Acton, v. Pallingswick Aug. 28. Lee, v. Post Office Sept. 4. Upper Clapton, v. Upper Clapton Sept. 4. Kenley, v. Kenley 1Sept. 11. Lee, Club Match K ensington C lub . —The annual dinner of this club, composed of the employes of Messrs. John Barker and Co., Kensington High-street, took place at the Holborn Resturant, on Monday night. Mr. T. Whittle was in the chair. The toast list was interspersed with a well-arranged series of songs ancl recitations. During the evening a testimonial was presented to the hon. sec. of the club, Mr. E. Tovey, in the shape of a handsome secretaire.