Cricket 1887

52 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. APRIL 14, 1887. ment; it refused to yield. Repeated washings and shrinkings had rendered that impossible. The only thing was for me to contract, and after a terrific struggle I found myself encased, and imbued with something like the feeling of a plaster cast. I managed to get downstairs and order breakfast—I need not say it was a standing order —and then I followed Jack to the scene of action. The Hyaenas had already taken possession of the field. Some were crouching on the ground as if watching for prey; others were leaping wildly in the air; others stood about in groups laughing, which seemed the most natural of all these performances. The curate’s team was to go in first. They went in, and the Hyaenas seemed to make uncommonly short work of them. Waiting my turn, I paced about excitedly. It seemed that no sooner did a Plumfordonian take his stand at the wickets than the stumps were seen to fly up in the air like a box of matches, and back he came again. At last my name was called. I felt a thrill pass through the upper part of my frame (there was no room for it in the lower). I heard Jack’s voice in my ear with the warning words, “ Look out for those Yorkers!” and “ Don’t slog,” and before I realised my true position I found myself at the wickets. Now there was a man behind those wickets to whom I immediately conceived a dislike. He was dressed in a sort of diver’s costume, and kept his nose on the top of the wickets which it was my duty to protect. He was doubled up with his hand on his knees, as if suffering from internal cramp. I couldn’t help asking him if he felt unwell, at which remark he put his fingers to his nose and said, “ Ain’t you clever!” He annoyed me very much. At last the awful moment came. The Hyaena opposite began leaping and gyrating. I didn’t see that ball come, but I hit out. I was only conscious of a stinging sensation in the hands, a deafening cheer from the tents, and a voice saying, “ R u n !” I had wheeled round with the force of my stroke; I saw nothing; I ran; but I think I arrived in a part of that field where I wasn’t expected, for I fell into the arms of a Hyaena they called “ Long-stop.” I never heard Hya3nas laugh as those Hyaenas laughed at that moment. The Hyasna in the diving-dress was rolling on the grass when I got back to the wicket; but when I took my stand his nose was on the bails in a moment. The balls came fast and furious; wherever I went they seemed to follow me. My ankles and knuckles suffered seriously. I felt I was losing my temper. My blood was up. I saw a grin on the objectionable face behind me. I begged its owner to get further back. I don’t think he could have done so, for at the next stroke I wheeled completely round and felt my bat come in contact with something. I had struck that laughing Hyasna, and he laughed no more. There were din and confusion all around me, but my blood was at bailing point. The Hyaenas were on me in a moment. I hit out right and left. Forgetful of my promise, I even slogged. I hit to the square-leg, right- leg, left-leg, wooden-leg, any leg. I hit to the “ off,’’ I hit to the “ on ”—especially to the “ on.” The Hyaenas yelled, but I didn’t care. I made Hyaena mincemeat of them. The Nordenfeldt gun was a fool to me. I was a mitrailleuse, a battering ram, and a sausage machine all at one time. But at last I fell, and I remember no more. * * * * * How that dual garment behaved itself, I never knew. All I know is that the Plumford Cottage Hospital was full for some weeks; and when I escaped to town by an early train, I formed the determination that wild horses should not drag me into another cricket match. And when a friend recently invited me up to show me the picturesque beauties of Hamp­ stead, I said “ No / ” GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY CLUB. T he annual meeting of the Gloucestershire County Club was held at the Grand Hotel, Bristol, on April 6th, Mr. H. J. Beloe presiding over a good attendance. The receipts, showing a total of £2,600 4s. lid., weremade up as follows:—Balance from last account, £953 8s. 8d.; from Nottingham match at Moreton-in-Marsh, £48 2s. 9d.; Sussex match at Gloucester, £87 19s. 6d.; Derbyshire match (half gate money) at Derby, £36 10s. 6d.; Australians’ match at Clifton (share), £317 Os. 6d.; Middlesex match at Gloucester, £75 9s.; Australians at Cheltenham (share), £232 17s.; Yorkshire match at Cheltenham, £102 15s. 6d.; Surrey match at Clifton, £100 16s.; Lancashire match at Clifton, £82 7s. 6d.; from refreshment caterers, £125; interest, £24 5s. 6d.; annual subscriptions, £413 12s. 6d. The payments, which left a balance of £1,220 7s. 3d. in the hands of the treasurer, comprised the following item sE xpenses of players, £70115s. 6d.; preparing ground, £85 5s. 8d.; umpires, £70; scorers and telegraph men, £53 4s.; materials, tent hire, presentation bats, &c., £9713s. 6d.; money and check takers, £55 17s. 6d.;printing, bill-posting, advertising, &c., £81 8s. 9d.; committee room, £1; Clifton and Cheltenham Colleges, for stands, &c., £82 6s. 2d.; police, £31 16s. Id .; auditors, £3 3s.; secretary’s salary, £85 ; other expenses, £31 7s. 6d. Total, including balance of £1,220 4s. lid. in hand,£2,600 4s.lid. With reference to the proposed ground at Eastville, Sir Greville Smyth, Bart., through his agent, Mr. T . Dyke, had offered it at a rent of £100 a year, and the committee had satisfactorily arranged with the local board for the diversion of a footpath; but subsequently Mr. Dyke insisted (1) that the ground should be x.sedfor “ cricket and football only,” (2) that ten or twelve members should join in the lease for the purpose of guaranteeing the rent; (3) that if the County Club had the power to determine the lease at any time to be agreed upon Sir Greville Smyth should have the same power. These restrictions had kept the nego­ tiations entirely in abeyance till the present annual meeting. (1) The committee felt that if these restrictions as to the exclusion of athletics were jimposed it was quite uncertain whetherjthey would get back the rent and other permanent expenses in the management and keeping the ground in an efficient state. (2) They offered to meet this condition by paying a year’s rent in advance. (3) The committee felt that if the ground proved a financial failure they ought to be allowed to determine the lease at specified periods, and that -having regard to the large expenditure they would have to incur it would be mani­ festly unreasonable for the owner to have power to determine the lease before the County Club had obtained any return for their expenditure. But they left these questions to the annual meeting. On the motion of Mr. T. G. Matthews, seconded by Mr. J. D. Miller, the accounts were adopted. In reply to an inquiry of a subscriber, who pointed out that the receipts in the Nottingham match,'at Moreton-in-Marsh, Vwere only £48, the Chairman said for the match they were to play there this year they had a guarantee of £120, as they had declined to play there again on the old terms. On the motion of Dr. W. G. Grace, the retiring members of the committee were re­ elected. It was decided that the salary of the secretary should be £85, as last year, but that in future the question of salary should be left to the committee. After a long discussion as to the County Ground, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. J. W. Arrowsmith, seconded by Mr. J. D. Miller, that the report be approved. It was decided that the terms offered by Mr, Dyke on behalf of Sir Greville Smyth be not accepted, but that the committee be empowered to re­ open the negotiations upon the old basis. PUBLIC SCHOOLS CRICKET IN 1887 . BATH COLLEGE. May 21—at Lansdown, v. Lansdown May 26—at Bath, v. M erton College, Oxford June 4—at Bath, v. Trinity College, Oxford June 11—at Horfield, v. Horfleld Barracks June 17,18—at Bath, v. Som erset County Club June 25—at Knole, v. Knole Park July 27—at Bath, v. Clifton Masters July 28- a t Bath, v. Old Boys CHARTERHOUSE SCHOOL. May 21—at Broadwater, v. Broadwater (2nd XI.) May 28—at Charterhouse, v. Broadwater June 4 - at Charterhouse, v. I Zingari June 11—at Charterhouse, v. Old W ykehamists June 15—at Charterhouse, v. M.C.C. July 1, 2—at W estm inster, v. Westminster July 7—at Charterhouse, v. Old Carthusians July 9—at Charterhouse, v. W ellington July 16—at Charterhouse, v. Butterflies July 20—at Charterhouse, v. Surrey Club July 29—at Charterhouse, v. Free Foresters Aug. 6—at Charterhouse, v. Rev. W . F. J. Rom ani’s XI. Aug. 10,11—at Saffron Walden, v. H. J. E. Burrell's ETON COLLEGE. May 19—Eton, v. Christ Church, Oxford. May 24—Eton, v. Officers o f the Household Brigade. May 31—Eton, v. Mr. C. I. Thornton’s Eleven. June 11—Eton, v. Quidnuncs. June 16—Eton, v. Free Foresters. June 18—Eton, v. Lords and Comm cns. June 21—Eton, v. M.C.C. June 24, 25—Eton, v. W inchester. June 29—Eton, v. E ton Ramblers. July 2—Eton, v. I Zingari. July 8, 9—Lord’s, v. Harrow. Of last year’s eleven there are seven m em bers available—Mr. T. W. Brand (captain), Mr. R . C. Gosling (second captain), Bon. H. Coventry, Messrs. C. P. Foley, H. R. Brom ley-Davenport, W. D. Llewellyn, and W . H. Hoare. HARROW SCHOOL. May 14—XI. v. XVIII. May 21- v . the Household Brigade May 28—v. E. E Bowen’s XI. June 2 -v . M.C.C. and G. June 7—v. Harrow Town June 9—v. Quidnuncs June 1 6 -v. Free Foresters June 18—v. Harlequins June 21—v. Lord Bessborough’s XII. June 25—v. I Zingari July 2—v. Old Harrovians July 8, 9—at Lord’s, v. E ton SHREWSBURY SCHOOL. May 18—v Pontesbury (2nd XI.) June 4—v. W elshpool June 9 -v . Shropshire June 15—v. Boughton Hall June 22—v. A. F. Chance’s XI. June 30, July 1—v. Old Salopians July 6—v. Derbyshire Friars July 12,13—v. Rossall School July 20—v. Radnorshire July 23—v. M.C.C. and G, July 30—v. Shropshire WINCHESTER COLLEGE. May 12—v. Green Jackets. May 17—v. Mr. A. J. W ebbe’s XI. May 19—v. Gentlemen o f Hants. May 30, 31—v. Old W ykeham ists (2 XI.’s) June 7—v. Oriel (2 XI.’s) June 9—v. New College (2 XI.’s) June 11—at Longwood, v. Longwood June 14—v. I Zingari June 16—v. Butterflies June 20—v. M.C.C. June 5i4, 25—at Eton, v. Eton June 28, 29—at St. Cross, v. Green Jackets