Cricket 1887

94 CBICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME. APRIL 25,1887. rout© of the Australians. Again and again, when representative elevens met, and public excitement ran high, the match was left drawn for want of time to fight it out. Every­ one must have in mind the disgust thus excited, and is able to recall the fact that disgust led to rather unseemly resentment. None too soon was the whole subject referred to a competent committee, since it should never be forgotten that the well-being of cricket depends upon its national character, which, in turn* rests upon public support and encouragement. We are disposed to regret that'tjha representatives of the five leading Southern counties hav6 so little to say on the drawnVfBritch•question. They limit them- selVfes' tO a sort of passing remark that the evil may be avoided, “ if, by general consent among the counties, play were to begin much earlier on the second and third days." One need not be a cricket Solon to discover at a glance that the course proposed would tend to. remove the grievance of which complaint is made. Indeed, the term “ much earlier ” may be so interpreted as to obviate the difficulty altogether. * Do- the;, committee mean one hour or two hours earlier? In any case, why not involve the first day in the change ? Considering the uncertainty of English weather every precaution in view of finishing a match should be taken, and we see no reason at all for losing possibly precious time. It was perhaps hardly to be expected that Lord Harris and his fellows would show themselves eager to change the somewhateasy-goinghabits of the county cricked field. Their zeal for the game no one doubts, but zeal can generally be accommodated to other claims, and especially to those of custom. As a matter of fact, however, the interests of cricket in these days of long scoring demand sacrifice at the hands of those who play it. Especially should every consideration yield to the necessity of finishing the game. Connoisseurs will, perhaps, remind us that, from their point of view, this is rather a secondary considerationwhen compared with the eujoyment to be derived from the niceties of batting, bowling, and fielding. Granted ; but niceties do not appeal to the vast mass whose sympathiesmake cricket popular. Their pleasure in the game largely spring from par­ tisanship. They want the better side—their own, of course—to win, and a drawn match is resented as, in some sort, a refusal of justice. We neeft not multiply words in support of this contention. E veryone has felt the disappoint­ ment of an undecided match. It is not enough to recommend an earlier beginning on the second and third days, or even to include the first in the change. Why, for example, should stumps be drawn on the last day at a fixed time when perhaps another hour would see the game out ? We are perfectly well aware that to abolish the fixed time wouldbe to alter the conditions upon which tactics are sometimes based; but playing for the draw is hardly heroic. Again, could not the business of luncheon be got over more quickly? We put this question with some trepidation, because to meddle with English meals is an offence only second in gravity to robbing a poor man of his beer. Truth to tell, however, the cricket luncheon is a feast of elastic limits. It begins with admirable punctuality; it ends as maybe, and [ takes no heed of the warning bell The fact is that we want discipline in the cricket field, and that form of the business spirit often described in trade circulars as “ prompitude and despatch.” Against dignified delibera­ tiveness, in its proper place, we have nothing to say. A Speaker of tne House of Commons or a Judge of the High Court, hurrying breathless to his seat, would grossly offend the proprieties; but leisurely action in the cricket field is an anomaly, and worse, because it cuts to waste a great deal of precious time and wearies the spectators. Cricketers may, of course, urge that they are not going to make slaves of themselves for the sake of entertaining the public; but, as the enter­ tainment of the public is necessarily involved, it is incumbent upon them to do thething well. No doubt the coming season will be marked by a change for the better, now that attention has been drawn to this matter, and action taken upon it, in the innermost councils of the game. Thus may be obviated what last season was a serious grievance. True, we shall not this year have amongst us an Australian Eleven, to work interest up to its highest pitch, and to invest many matches with an import­ ance felt and recognised all England over. On the other hand, the county matches, as at pres­ ent arranged, promise alarge measure of attrac­ tion, and in any case, it is certain that the public will rally to the noble game with increased sympathy for its manly procedure and its invaluable cultivation of the highest qualities. It will be a bad day for England when, if ever, cricket loses its charm. For one thing, the country would miss the pretty characteristic spectacle of an open-air sport in which all classes stand shoulder to shoulder, or face each other in friendly contest—the peasant bowling the stumps of the lord out of ground, and the old squire giving his gardener out “ leg before.” This may be looking at the matter from a sentimental side; but in our prosaic age we cannot too strictly conserve everything which is picturesque or which appeals to the imagination. By all mpans, then, keep up the popularity of the good old game, even when doing so involves a little harder work. WEST OF SCOTLAND CLUB. FlXTUP.ES FOR 1887. T h e E l e v e n . April 23—Partick, v. Next Sixteen April 30—Greenock, v. Greenock May 2— Mavisbank, v. Lasswade May 7—Partick, v. Glasgow University May 14—Partick, v. Glasgow Academicals. May 19 (Queen’s B.D.)—Partick, v. <’]ydesdala May 21—Partick, v. XXII. Glasgow Junior Cricket Association May 29—Musselburgh, v. Loretto School June 4—Partick, v. Grange June 10,11—Titwood, Inter-City Match June 11—Partick, v. Stirling Sounty June 18—Drumpellier, v. Drumpellier June 23, 24, 25—Partick, v. United All England XI W e s t o f S c o t l a n d W e e k . June 27, 28—Partick, v. Kirn Rovers June 29, 30—Partick, v. Mr. Dykes’ (Cumberland) July 1, 2—Partick, v. Bryn-y-Neuadd July 9—Partick, v. Edinburgh Australasians July 16—Corstorphine, v. Edinburgh University July 18,19, 20—Edinburgh, Gentlem en of Scotland v. Gentlem en of Canada July 21, 22, 23—Edinburgh, Gentlem en of Scotland v. Yorkshire July 23—Partick, v. Dalkeith July 29, 80—Partick, v. Abbotsford Aug. 6—Partick, v. Drumpellier Aug. 13—Partick, v. Brunswick Aug. 20—Titwood, v. Clydesdale Aug. 27—Partick, v. Greenock P a r t ic k E l e v e n . April 30—Partick, v. 2nd Greenock May 7—Dumbarton, v. Dum barton May 19 (Queen’s B. D.)—litw ood, v. 2nd Clydes­ dale May 28—Partick, v. 1st L.R.V. June 18 —Partick, v- 2nd Drumpellier July 2—Ardencaple, v. Helensburgh July 9—Paisley, v. Paisley Kelburne July 16 —Partick, y. Lenzie July 23 -L arbert, v. Stenhousemuir Aug. 6—Drumpellier, v. 2nd Drum pellier Aug. 20—Partick, v. 2nd Clydesdale Aug. 27—Greenock, v. 2nd Greenock Sept. 3—Partick, v. Arthur & Co., Lim ited S c r a t c h T e a m s . June 1—Partick, v. M erchiston Castle June 4 —Poloc, v. Poloc July 13-P artick , v. Blairlodge School Other m atches are in course of arrangement. BATTERSEA CLUB. F ix t u r e s f o r 1887. May 7 -Battersea, v. Spencer May 14—Battersea, v. W est Middlesex May 18—Battersea, v. Surrey Club and Ground May 21—Battersea, v. Cornhill May 21—Oval, v. One and All May 28—Hattersea, v. Mr. J. W . H obbs’ XI, May 30—frnfield, v. Enfield June 1—Battersea, v. M.C.C. and O. June 4—Battersea, v. Junior Middlesex •'une 11 - Norbury, v. Mr. J. W. H obbs’ XI. June 11—Battersea, v. Kingston Town Juae 15 -P rin ce’s, v. Prince’s and G. June 18—Battersea, v. Cornhill June 18—Brookwood, v. Brookwood June 21—East Moulsey, v. East M oulsey June 2.’3—Battersea, v. Islington Albion •fune 25—Merton Hall, v. Hanover United June 29—Bengeo, v. Bengeo July 2 -B attersea, v. Brixton July 2—Kingston, v. K ingston Tow n July 9—Battersea, v. Lennox July 9—Gunnersbury Lane, v. W est Middlesex July 13—Barking, v. Beckton July 16—Battersea, v. Burlington W anderers July 16—Dulwich, v. Lennox July 23—Alexandra Park, v. Islington Albion July 23—Battersea, v. Star July 27—M itcham, v. M itcham July 30—Battersea, v. Brixton July 80—M erton Hall, v. Hanover United Aug. 1—St. Leonards, v. South Saxons Aug. 2—St. Leonards, v. South Saxons Aug. 3—Hastings, v. Alexandra Aug. 4—Hastings, v. H astings Rovers Aug. 5—Sussex Co. Gnd., v. Brighton Brunswick Aug. F—Battle, v. Battle Aug. 6—Battersea, v. Junior Middlesex Aug. 10—Battersea, v. South W im bledon Aug. 18— pattersea, v. iEolians Aug. 20—Battersea, v. Ashford (Middx.) Aug. 27—Battersea, v. Beckton Aug. 31—Battersea, v. South W im bledon Sept. 3—Battersea, v. One and A ll Sept. 7—M itcham , v. M itcham R ICHARDSON ’S CR ICKET SPECIAL ITIES. In BAT 3— The Patent “ C E N T U R Y " Bat, very Spccial Handle. (Testimonial received from H. J. H. Scott, Esq., Captain 18R6 'Australian Team.) With finest blades, 21- each fnett). ------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------ r - R r - ------------ In GAUNTLETS—1 Tha “ PE RFECT-FITTIN G ,” from 8/- per pair (subject). I n B A T T IN T G G L O V E S —The “ W IN CH E STER,” with rubber secured against com ing off, red rubber, 8/6 per pair (subject). I n C R E A S E M A R K E R S -T h e “ TROUGH ,” as used at L ord s and The Oval, 10/6 ea.-h (nett). I n C R iC K E T N E T S —Best quality, com plete, 6yds.-by-6ft., 10/G ea ch ; 6yds.-by-7ft.» 13/6 each (subject). Sole Licensed Makers—E. J. Page & Co , Kennington Park. I n BALLS— The “ M ARVEL,” double seam and warranted hard- wearing, 4/- each or 46/- per dozen (nett). The “ NONESUCH,” Catgut-sewn, splendid value, 5/- each, or 58/- per dozen (nett). . ALL-CANE H ANDLED BA TS, full size, 7/6, 10/6, 12/6, and 15/- (subject). Very Liberal Discount and satisfaction guaranteed. (SOUTHERN COUNTIES DEPOT for SPORTS and GAMES, i 77, FINSBURY PAVEM ENT, MOORGATE ST R E E T, LONDON. l§^* Send for Price Lists before deciding where to buy. HENRY RICHARDSON