Cricket 1887

122 CltiCKET: A WEEKLY BECOED OP THE GAME. MAY 12,1887, game—should captain the M.C.C. in this his­ torical match. There is little doubt that thousands will be attracted to Lord’s, and I can well imagine the enthusiastic reception that would greet I. D. Walker and "VV. G. Grace as they stepped forth together to go to the wickets as the first pair of batsmen for the old Club, and as representatives of two cricketing families that have so far up to date never been surpassed in our “ National Game.” C r ic k e t readers will be glad to learn that the various members of the English team who have been starring this winter in the Colonies, arrived home safe and well on Sunday last. I had almost written safe and sound , but it is stated that Barnes has not, as yet, anything like recovered from the severe injury to his thumb in Australia. Every one will, indeed, be sorry to hear that there is small chance of his being of real use on the cricket-field until late in the season. A f e w particulars on the subject of the trial matches at Oxford from a thoroughly reliable source will, I am sure, be read with interest. In the Seniors’ match, on Higgins’ side Cheates, whose style is very peculiar, played soundly; of the rest F. T. Higgins showed very fine form, and J. H. Coplestone’s contri­ bution of 27 was a somewhat lucky perform­ ance. The wicket was extremely slow, and, of course, helped the bowlers, of whom Forster and Fowler were most successful. The former bowled steadily, taking 3 wickets for 39 runs. Fowler perhaps bowled a trifle the best on his Fide. Wreford-Brown and Debenham each took 2 wickets, but did not seem very deadly. Philipson played a grand innings of 44 for Coles’ side, and Forster batted steadily for 13. On the second day E. A. Nepean, who hitherto in former years has been most unfortunate in the Parks, made 53 not out by very sound play, undoubtedly the best innings in the match. Rawlinson bowled well on Thursday evening, and will have another trial. Bromley- Martin’s three wickets were somewhat expen­ sive. The most successful bowler was Lester, who took 4 wickets for 26 runs. Both Deben­ ham and Fowler gave Nepean material assist­ ance. Higgins’ side were 17 to the bad on the first innings, but the wicket was playing very nastily, and they were all dismissed for 79. Only four batsmen reached double figures, Prince Christian Victor, who made a good 15, H. H. Castens and J. H. Coplestone, who scored 14, though neither seemed particularly athome. Forster bowledwith great success, and puzzled the batsmen considerably. Wreford- Brown took 3 wickets for 19 runs, but he hardly seemed to keep very straight. Philip­ son kept wioket very well in both innings, and seems likely to fill that vacant position if he can keep well, as his batting will be of great use. Of the rest the most likely man is Forster, who as a fine bat and bowler, will doubtless find a place in the team. Neither Bromley-Martin nor Wreford-Brown seem to improve very much, The weather interfered to a grtfat extent with the success of the match. In the Freshmen’s Match the greatest success was F. H. Gresson of last year’s Winchester XI., who scored 91 in the first, and is at present not out with 72. In the first innings he was missed once at the wicket, and has been missed twice this innings. His bowling also met with considerable success, as he took 7 wickets. The bowling on both sides was lamentable weak, but this in no way detracts from the merits of Gresson’s batting. The next successful bat was E. St. Hill of Bath College, whose hitting in both innings was exceedingly fine. On the other side, P. T. Baker, of Tunbridge, batted fairly well for 42. R. H. Moss was the best bowler of the two sides, and took 8 wickets in the first innings, a fine performance considering there was no one to keep up the other end. P. C. Joy, of Winchester, was the only other bowler who kept steady, and he had very bad luck in the second innings. II. Harrison, of Westminster, bowled well till he tired, but his batting was extremely disappointing considering his last year’s average. T. W. Cook batted steadily for 22. On the whole, with the exception of Gresson, St. Hill and Moss, it must be acknowledged that the Freshmen are much below the average. A few rough notes on the Cambridge Trials, also from a competent authority. In the Seniors’ Match the wicket favoured the bowlers greatly, and there were conse­ quently not many batsmen who did much. Meyrick Jones showed much the best form for his side in the first innings, and hit with great confidence ; he has many capital stroke*, in addition to his hitting powers, and if he improved more in back Iplay, would be a very useful man, as he is a capital out-field and catch. Greenstock played steadily in the second innings, lie is a very finished bats­ man, with strong defence and very taking style; he has always soored largely in College matches, and is a capital field. Sutthery* who wa* near the XI. last year, had bad luck in the first innings, and was pre­ vented from doing much in the second, owing to a bad hand. He has since made 101 for Crusaders v. Magpies—a capital innings, and much more like his form of two years ago. His bowling performance in the Seniors’ match was v ery good (10 wickets for 36 runs in the second innings); he bowls a very good ball, but is at times rather short. If he got back his old batting form, this and his fast bowling (much needed here this year) would make a most useful man on the side. H. E. Crawley was very lucky, but though he made several bad strokes he at times hit very well and clean; he drives as well as anybody but lacks defence. Bridgeman, who came up with a reputation as a field rather than as a batsman, has improved in batting wonder­ fully ; he has always scored consistently in college matches, and his 54 in the Seniors, match was a really good innings. The best bowling form was shown by Stephen (fast), Martineau (slow), Sutthery (fast), Mackinnon (left slow). The bowling, however, was dis­ appointing in the Seniors’ match, and onthe whole I think we must look to the Fresh­ men to supply the backbone of the bowl­ ing for the University. In the Freshmen’s match, the best batting was shown by Robinson, Crawley and Mordaunt. Robin­ son, who failed to get in the Harrow Eleven last year, has come on in an extraordinary way. He played two first-class innings, and, barring Crawley, showed much the best form of anyone. Crawley played in brilliant style, and is undoubtedly the most promising Freshman. As he has shown at present better form on Fenner’s Ground than anyone he ought to be of great use to the side. Mordaunt played well in the second innings, but is rather shaky at first. The best bowlers were Hale, Hughes - Games, Young and Ford. Of these Hale bowled best, though with bad luck. On the whole I am inclined to think he showed the best form of the slow bowlers, and as he has played plenty of first-class cricket and bats well, is very likely to get his blue. Hughes-Games (fast left-hand) is rather small and young, but has it in him and should be heard of again. Ford was rather disappointing; he bowled some very good balls and some very loose ones. He bowls slow with a capital action, and bats well with a fine off-drive. As to wicket- keeping, Orford, of last year’s Eleven, is eligible and in all probability will play, as the supply of wicket-keepers up here isveiy small, and there is no one up to the standard. Cox has shown the best form at present. Toppin is also eligible, though he is now a master, and it would not be easy for him to play; if, however, no fast bowler should turn up, he might be useful. This is a list of the most likely new players : Senior$ —Green­ stock, Martineau, Hutson, Meyrick Jones, Stephen, Sutthery,H. E. Crawley, Orr, Bridge­ man, Mackinnon, and Cox. Freshmen —Hale, Robinson, Mordaunt, Hughes-Games, E. Crawley, F. G, Ford. Kemp is at present revented from playing owing to a bad wrist; e hopes, however, to be able to play in a week or two. Thomas is not yet up, but will be in June. I t is with the greatest regret that I have heard, just as the paper is on the point of going to press, of the very sudden death of a most popular cricketer—Mr. G. J. Fraser. Though he never took part in first-class cricket, Mr. Fraser has for years been exceedingly well known throughout the cricket world, more es­ pecially in connection with the Incogniti Club, of which he has acted for many years as Honorary Treasurer. His loss will be deeply felt by all “ Incogs,” and his genial presence sadly missed on many a cricket field. I t is such a rare occurrence for the last batsman on a side to make a very big score, that Mr. K. J. Key’s performance at Oxford on Tuesday in the Freshmen’ s match should not pass without a fitting record. Mr. Key found a most use­ ful partner in Mr. T. W. Cook, of last year’s Lancing College Eleven, well- known, too, as a footballer, and the eleventh -wicket added no less than 109. An idea of Mr. Key’s hitting may be gathered from the fact that these runs were got in fifty minutes, and that Mr. Key’s 81 (not out) included a six and eight fours. CANE HILL ASYLUM v. KING’S COLLEGE. Played on the Asylum Ground on May 7. C ane H il l . F irst Innings. S econd Innings R ev. J. C. C raw ford, c Standring, b Z em b ra n o 6 n o t ou t ............ 56 W . C aton, c and b Z em - b ra .n o ...................................... 14 b B rod ie ............ 1 G. Stanley, c Zem bran o, b W isbey .............................. 0 b Z em b ra n o ... 10 D r. F itxgerald, b Z e m ­ brano ...................................... 84 b B rodie ............ D r. H ill, c Standring, b Z em b ra n o............................. 12 b B rod ie ............ 0 G. D rake, c and b Z e m ­ brano ...................................... 5 b B rod ie ............ 8 D . H enderson, b Z e m ­ brano ...................................... 1 c and b B rodie... 0 A. E . S tace, lbw , b R e y ­ nolds ...................................... 2 lbw , b B rod ie ... 11 T . G . H eighington, b Z em ­ b ra n o ...................................... 3 c & b Z em bran o 1 H. B . Sholl, b R eyn olds ... 1 b Z em bran o ... 3 0 . D rake, n ot ou t ............ 0 n ot out ............ 1 B 6, lb 3, w 1.....................10 B l5,lb2,w 3,nb2 22 T ota l ..................... B8 T o ta l ...121 K in g ’ s C o l l e g e . A. P. Z em brano, b H .C . B rett, c Sholl, H e n d e rso n .................... 1 b C raw ford 1 T. P. R eynolds, c S tanH . C. T h om as, run ley, b C raw ford............ 2 o u t............................. 1 C. K . F airless, b H enC. T . Standring, st derson ............................. 2 Stanley, b C raw ­ D . W . Brewster, c and ford ..................... 3 b H enderson ............18 J. S. C ockbu rn, n ot F. J. B rodie, c Stanley, o u t............................. 1 b H enderson ............ 2 A . W isbey, run ou t 0 L . S m ith, c Stanley, b — C raw ford ............ ... 3 T o ta l............ 34