Cricket 1886

2 CRICKET; A WEEKLY EECOED OP THE GAME. •JAN. 28, 1888;. tinctly weak, and the School team profited by this to some tune, scoring 672 runs, the largest innings of the season, in six hours, an average of 112 runs in the hour. The merit of this huge total rested chiefly with Messrs. Black­ man, Brann, and Newham, but particularly with the two first-named, who were responsible for 453 of 618 from the bat. Mr. Brann was credited with 176, but Mr. Blackman was not dismissed till he had reached 277, and while they were together these two batsmen added 303 runs to the score. Though a failure with both bat and ball in 1883, Mr. Blackman made full atonement by the excellence of his all round cricket the following summer. A change in his delivery removed the suspicion that had previously attached to his style, and a propor­ tionate amount of success was the gratifying result. In batting, too, he showed a marked improvement and, in fact, his cricket all round n 1884 justified the belief that he had a dis­ tinguished career before him as a cricketer. Of many good innings his highest was again made off the bowling of Kent also at Brighton, and in this match he carried out his bat both times for 32 and 77 respectively, the latter a brilliant display of resolute batting. Through the summer he rarely failed to make a creditable score, but his really best display was against Yorkshire at Brighton, and his fifty-three on this occasion were all got by excellent cricket. His bowling, too, during the summer of 1884 was consistently effective. Against Derby­ shire and Hants, in particular, he was destruc­ tive, but his figures were throughout distinctly good. The last match in which he ever played for Sussex, too, was one of the most successful from a purely personal view in which he ever appeared. Many C ricket readers will, no doubt, remember, as we ourselves can most vividly, the extraordinary finish which attended the last fixture of the Surrey season of 1884—the return with Sussex. It was the plucky play of Mr. Blackman in the second innings, which enabled Sussex to put in Surrey a second time, as it was his remarkable bowling at the close, which nearly contributed to what would have been an extra­ ordinary victory. Surrey, with only thirty runs to win on a sodden wicket, had made twenty-two of them before the first batsman retired. So accurate, though, was the bowling of Jesse Hide and Mr. Blackman, of the latter in particular, that five more wickets fell before the balance of eight was obtained, and a game which at one time seemed to be an easy win for Surrey was only won with four wickets in hand. Mr. Blackman bowled fourteen overs for eleven runs and four wickets, and as this was his last match for the County it is un­ necessary to add that his connection with Sussex cricket ended as successfully as it had begun. It was not long before the symptoms of consumption became too manifest to be overlooked, and acting on the best medical advice he left England last spring for Australia. On reaching Melbourne he appeared to be deriving considerable advantage from the change, and on the 1st of June he was appar­ ently well and in such good spirits as to be hopeful that he would be able to journey on to Tasmania, where he had intended to settle. The next day, though, saw a decided change for the worse, and so rapid was the develop­ ment of the disease from which he suffered, that on the following day he was dead. So passed away—far from his English home—a player who would certainly have attained a high reputation had he been able to boast the same advantages of practice possessed by more favoured candidates for cricket honours. On his form of 1884 Mr. Blackman, as an all-round cricketer, had few superiors in the South. His hitting was very hard and clean, though when occasion required he could keep up his wicket well, and indeed latterly he gave every promise of becoming a really good bat. As a bowler (fast round arm) he had shown great improvement, and gaining more precision was generally reliable—very effective when fie wicket helped him at all. He was a capital field, especially in the country, covering a good deal of ground and having a smart return. He had also made his mark in football, being above the average of backs at the Association game. He was very popular among all classes of cricketers, but his loss will be no more severely felt than at Ardingly College, in which he took such an active interest. It was stated in C ricket of Nov. 26 that a fund was being raised by past and present pupils of that school to erect a memorial over his grave. Our portrait is from a photograph by Hawkins and Co., of 108, King’s Road, Brighton. --------- The next number of C ricket , to appear on Feb. 25, will contain a portrait and biography of Mr. J. G. W alker . YORKSHIRE COUNTY CLUB. At the annual general meeting, held at the Adelphi Hotel, Sheffield, Mr. M. J. Ellison in the chair, the following report and the statement of accounts were read:— The committee, in presenting the annual balance sheet, have pleasure in recording a continued financial success, proving by their uniform gOod attendance that the public appreciate the additional accohimodation pro­ vided for them on the Bramall Lane Ground. The receipts, including a balance forward of £278 Is. 8d., have been £2,196 13s. 2d.; the expenses id,170 18s. 5d., leaving a balance in hand of ,£1,025 14s. 9d. The committee recom­ mend that a grant of £700 be made to the Sheffield United Cricket Club toward the improvements effected in the Bramall Lane Cricket Ground during the years 1884 and 1885. The whole of the members of the committee retire, but are eligible for re- election. The report and statement of accounts were adopted. It was resolved that a grant of £700 be made to the Sheffield United Cricket Club for the use of the ground and increased accommodation. Mr. M. J. Ellison was re­ elected president and treasurer; Mr. E. T. Atkin, vice-president; with the following gentlemen as members of the committee:— Messrs. H . Stratford, R. Wigfull, J. Chester, C. Stokes, M. J. Dodwortli, G. Chester, F. S. Atkin, M. J. Ellison, jun., J. T. Dobb, A. G. Winnill, E. Tozer, and E. H . Wake. The following list of matches has been arranged for the ensuing season:— 17—Sheffield, Yorkshire Eleven v. Colts of the County. 27—Huddersfield, Yorkshire v. Sussex. 31 and June 1—Sheffield, Yorkshire Colts v. Notts Colts. 3—Cambridge, Yorkshire v. Cambridge Univ. 7—Lord’s, Yorkshire v. Middlesex. .10—Stockport, Yorkshire v. Cheshire. 14—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Kent. 17—Derby, Yorkshire v. Derbyshire. 21—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Cambridge Univ. 28—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Surrey. 1—Nottingham, Yorkshire v. Notts. 8—Manchester, Yorkshire v. Lancashire. 12—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Australians. 15—Halifax, Yorkshire v. Cheshire. 22—Huddersfield, Yorkshire v. Australians. 26—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Gloucestershire. 29—Dewsbury, Yorkshire v. Lancashire. 2 and 3—Bradford, Gentlemen v. Players of Yorkshire. 5—Canterbury, Yorkshire v. Kent. 9—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Notts. 12—Holbeck, Yorkshire v. Derbyshire 16—Bradford, Yorkshire v. Middlesex 19—Cheltenham, Yorkshire v. Gloucestershire 23—Brighton, Yorkshire v. Sussex 26—Oval, Yorkshire v. Surrey T H E C R IC K E T SEASON OF il 86*. May May May June June June June June June June July July July July July July July Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Au; •DEVONSHIRE COUNTY CLUB. M a tch e s f o r 1886. June 22, 23—Southampton, Devon v. Hants June 24, 25—Marlborough, Devon v. Wilts July 26, 27—Sidmouth, Devon v. Dorset Aug. 4, 5—Torquay, Devon v. Wilts Aug. 23, 21—Taunton, Devon v. Somerset Aug. 25, 26—Exmouth, Devon v. M.C.C. As some alterations have been made in the*, m atch list, arranged at L ord’s on Dec. 8,. consequent on the subsequent decision of the Melbourne Club to send a team to England,, we give a corrected programme, so far as it can be considered settled. Though some slight changes will have, in all probability, to be made, the follow ing dates, we have reason believe, are reliable as far as present arrange­ ments go. APRIL. 26 (Easter Monday)—Kennington Oval, Surrey x, Gloucestershire MAY. 6—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Middlesex Colts 10—Lord’s, Colts of the North v. Colts of the South 13—Lord’s M.C.C. and Ground v. Derbyshire 13—Sheffield Park, Australians v. Lord Sheffield.’a Eleven 13—Oxford, Seniors’ Match 17—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v. Lancashire 17—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Hampshire 17—Nottingham, Australians v. Notts 17—Oxford, Freshmen’s Match 20—Lord’s, M.C.C., and Ground v. Sussex 20—Kennington Oval, Australians v. Surrey 20—Oxford, Oxford Eleven v. Sixteen Freshmen 24—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Leicestershire 24—Stoke, Staffordshire v. Warwickshire 24—Lord’s, Australians v. M.C.C. and Ground 24—Oxford, Oxford Eleven v. Next Sixteen of University 27—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Groiuid v. Kent 27—Manchester, Lancashire v. Derbyshire 27—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Middlesex 27—Oxford, Australians v. Oxford University 27—Huddersfield, Yorkshire v. Sussex 28—Stoke, Staffordshire v. Northamptonshire 31—Cambridge, Cambridge University v. M.C.C* and Ground 31—Lord's, Middlesex v. Kent 31—Nottingham, Notts v. Sussex 31—Manchester, Australians v. North of England 81—Leyton, Surrey v. Essex JUNE. 3—Cambridge, Cambridge University r. York­ shire 3—Oxford, Oxford University v.Gents of England ^—Lord’s, Australians v. Gentlemen of England 7—Lord’s, Middlesex v. Yorkshire 7—Brighton, Sussex v. Gloucestershire 7 —Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Lancashire 7 —Birmingham, Warwickshire v. M.C.C. and Ground 7—Derby, Australians v. Derbyshire 10—Lord's, Middlesex v. Gloucestershire 10—Oxford, Oxford University v. Lancashire 10 —Stockport, Cheshire v. Yorkshire 10—Cambridge, Australians v. Cambridge Univ­ ersity 10—Oxford, Oxford v. Lancashire 10.—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Essex 14—(Whit Monday) Lord’s, Eleven of the North v. Eleven of the South 14—Yorkshire, Yorkshire v. Kent 14—Nottingham, Notts v. Surrey 14—Brighton, Sussex v. Hampshire 14—Leyton, Essex v. Hertfordshire 14—Northampton, Northamptonshire v. Warwick­ shire 14—Cambridge, Cambridge University v. Gentle­ men of England 14—Manchester, Australians v. Lancashire 17—Derby, Derbyshire v. Yorkshire 17—Lord’s, Middlesex v. Notts. 17—Manchester, Lancashire v. Kent 17—Kennington Oval, Australians v. Gentlemen of England 17—Oxford, Perambulators v. Etceteras 21—Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire v. Notts 21—Lord’s, Middlesex v. Surrey 21—Derby, Derbyshire v. Kent 21—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Cambridge University 21—Nottingham, Australians v. Players of England 21—Oxford, Oxford University v. M.C.C. and. Ground 24—Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Cambridge Univ­ ersity 24—Maidstone, Kent v. Notts 24—Manchester, Lancashire v. Sussex 21—Lord’s, Australians v. Middlesex 25—Leicester, Leicestershire v. Warwickshire 28—Lord’s, M.C.C. and Ground v.Cambridge Univ­ ersity 28—Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Surrey 28—Manchester, Lancashire v. Oxford University 26—Southampton, Hampshire v. M.C.C. and Ground 28—Chichester, Australians v. Lord March’s XI (for C. Howard’s Benefit) 28 -Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire v. N Next Issue February 25.