Cricket 1887

54 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. APRIL 14,1887. THE GENTLEMEN OF CANADA. Mr. G oldwin S mith L in dsey , the Hon. Sec. of the Toronto Cricket Club, has kindly for­ warded us the following particulars respecting the various members of the team which is to visit England this summer under his manage­ ment. They appeared in the Toronto Mail. These gentlemen will represent Canada:— Ontario —W. C. Little, Ottawa; A. C. Allan, Toronto; W. W. Jones, Toronto; W. W. Vickers, Toronto; R. B. Ferrie, Hamilton; F. Hickley, Guelph; Dr, E. R. Ogden, Upper Canada College, Toronto; D. W. Saunders, Toronto; A. Gillespie, Hamilton. New Brunswick —G. W. Jones, St. John. Nova Scotia —W. Henry, jun., Halifax. Mr. H. P. Perry, Trinity College School, Port Hope, will accompany the team as umpire, and Mr. R. C. Dickson as scorer. The Governor-General of Canada and the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, as well as several others, have given handsome sub­ scriptions to the fund. The gentlemen sail on July 1 from New York, and return on about Sept. 1, being away in all just two months. Mr. Herman Clarke, Secretary of the Sea- bright Cricket Club, has extended an invita­ tion to the Gentlemen to play at Seabright, an Eleven of the New York District, on the two days prior to sailing, and has invited the team to dine in New York on their last evening on American soil. If possible, this invitation will be accepted. The following particulars of the members of the team will be of interest. Mr. Bell of Montreal has had to withdraw at the last moment for business reasons, and his place will be filled from the province of Quebec. Dr. E. R. Ogden (Chicago), is the best all round cricketer Canada ever produced. He learned the game at Upper Canada College, and at an unusually early age obtained a place on the first eleven, and soon became its captain, which position he held for three years. In 1879, he was one of the Canadian Twenty-two who opposed Daft’s professional team at Blake’s Ground, Toronto, and the only school-boy in it. In common with his associates in that match, Alfred Shaw was too much for him, his first innings being thus described in the M a i l “ Then two young men journeyed to the wickets and retired so quickly that it was only by chance we learned their names were Ogden and Boulton.” His batting experience however did not discourage him, for he bowled splendidly, and was credited with several wickets, one being Big Tom Emmett’s, which he capturedwith a “ Yorker.” He was then only 17, In 1881 Ogden left Upper Canada College, after finishing a very successful season with the eleven, which was a succession of victories for the College. The same year he played for the first time for Canada v. The United States, and obtained the second best batting average. In 1882, besides doing good work for Chicago, where he was studying medicine, Dr. Ogden took part in the tour of the Western Eleven, playing at Syracuse, New York, Pittsburg ana Philadelphia. He scored consistently throughout the tour, did some good bowling, and as wicket-keeper was of much assistance in securing wickets for A. H. Stratford. Dr. Ogden played in the International matches of 1882 and 1883, and in 1884 was chosen captain of the team. He not only handled the team well as captain, but did good bowling and scored nearly 100 runs in the two innings, thus doing much to secure Canada’s first victory since 1857- The next year, under his cap­ taincy, the Canadian team was again success­ ful. Last season, through ill-health, Dr. Ogden did not play much cricket, but no doubt he will put himself in good trim before his departure with the English Team. Dr. Ogden’s success as a cricketer is the result of diligent practice, which he has kept up unin- termittingly from a very early age. He was the first Canadian bowler to profit by the lessons taught by Spofforth in the variation of ace in bowling, and thus became a “ head owler ” very young in life. He has an easy delivery, bowls from very fast to very slow with a great deal of spin, and obtains an astonishing amount of break back on his slow balls. The American Cricketer once said editorially that Ogden was “ as good a left­ hander at the bat as we know.” His batting is a combination of strong defence and all­ round punishing power. He plays every ball with vim and places with great facility. He has never yet made a century, but is a sure run-getter. As a captain he has no superior in Canada. A. Gillespie (Hamilton), is an old Upper Canada College boy. While in the eleven he was noted for his cautious play. He invari­ ably went in first and usually contributed double figures to the college score. During his last year at school he commenced prac­ tising bowling, and soon found himself one of the bowlers of the eleven, and a successful one at that. After leaving school his bowling improved greatly, and was of much service in 1879 against Daft’s professional team. Since then Mr. Gillespie has ranked among the best bowlers in Canada, and when in 1881 he ran up 117 against Toronto for Hamilton, his reputation as a bat was as firmly established. This year (1881) was his first on the Inter­ national team, and since then he has played in every International match. He has always done the major portion of the bowling, and his batting record is among the first few. No one has been of greater service to Canadian cricket. Mr. Gillespie is an “ all day ” bowler and bowls just as straight and accurately at the end as at the beginning of the day. He bowls over-arm, round the wicket, with great spin and breaks either way. His ordin­ ary pace is medium, though he varies it continually. R. B. Ferrie (Hamilton), made his appear­ ance as a bowler at the same time as Mr. Gillespie, and they have been associated ever since. Their bowling has done much to gain victories for the Hamilton Club, and the onslaught they made against the Philadelphia Club in 1883, with the Zingari team, paved the way for the victory of Canada in 1884, which their bowling did much to secure. The same may be said of the matches of 1885 and 1886, as their bowling was just as deadly, Mr. Ferrie taking two wickets in the first two balls of the 1886 match. Since the batting of the Hamilton team began to fall off, Mr. Ferrie, although without the benefit of early training as a batsman, has succeeded under pressure in acquiring the art of making runs. This acquisition he made use of against Mr. Sanders’ English Team to the tune of 39 runs. Since then Mr. Ferrie takes rank as a batsman, and one who will come off when runs are wanted, as he is impervious to funk. His batting is full of freedom, but lacks that form which education alone can give. He, how­ ever, makes wonderful off drives which keep very low, and are not likely to be stopped by in neld. He bowls fast round arm, round the wickets, with considerable curve and break from leg, and on a soft wicket often bowls five “ shooters ” in an over. D. W. Saunders (Toronto), received his cricketing education at Trinity College School, Port Hope, but is chiefly indebted to himself for the excellent cricket which he plays. When he first appeared in a public match of importance, London and District v. Daft’s professional team, he created a favorable impression and was warmly complimented on his play by the professionals. This was in 1879, the year he was captain of the Trinity School Eleven. During the next three years he played for Guelph, and was successful at the bat. Since then he has played for the Toronto Club, besides taking part in several International matches. His best scores were made on Trinity College Grounds. Playing for Guelph against the College in 1882 he made his first century (not out), and for Toronto and against the same institution in 1886 scored 83 (not out). Both innings were chanceless, and were as fine exhibitions of cricket, as it ought to be played, as were ever seen in Canada. His best innings in an International match was his 25 against Parson Thornton’s Team, which he made in capital style. Mr. Saunders was captain of the Canadian International team of 1886. He bats in beautiful form, using a great deal of wrist play. His defence is masterful, and shows a constant endeavour to play every ball as it should be played. W. W. Vickers (Toronto), is an old Upper Canada Collegian, but while at that institu­ tion, though on the Eleven for three years, was never greatly distinguished except for his enthusiasm. He first came into prominence in 1883, when he played a great deal in the Toronto Club, and became a careful bat, invariably being first man to go in. His next year showed but little improvement, but cautious play and excellent long-stopping were sufficient to secure him a place in the International team of 1884. Since then he has played in every important match at home and abroad; 1885 was his first year; he obtained the best batting average in the Inter­ national match, and the distinction of making the highest score against Parson Thornton’s Team (32). Besides his serviceto Canada and the Toronto Club, Mr. Vickers was captain of the Toronto University Eleven, and while holding that position infused much life into the club. He employs his time while at the wickets in defending them with his forward play, which he makes as frequent use of as possible. When one comes to leg he hits it either square or round the corner, but always hits it, and occasionally makes a forward cut or drive. He is an excellent long-stop, and when he gets a catch generally holds it, but otherwise is not a brilliant field. G. W. Jones (St. John, N.B.) was captain of Merchiston School (Scotland) teams in 1883, both oricket and football, and was admitted to be one of the best school bats in Scotland. He scored heavily during that year, and continued doing so on his return to Canada in 1884. In this year he took part in the Canadian I Zingari tour and was one of the International team for the year. He performed good service for both teams at the bat, wickets and in the field. The following year, when he played again for Canada, he was a little stale and did not do himself justice. Last year, however, he did some heavy scoring for St. John, and he will doubtless be in first-rate form before leaving for England. W. Henry, jun. (Halifax), was also a captain of Merchiston School eleven. He is atower of strength to the Wanderers’ Club of Halifax, and would be so to any club in the Dominion. His scores since his return to Canada have often topped the half century, and when once started he can always be relied on for a round number of runs. He played for the first time in the International match last year, and created a very favorable impression. He batted well, scoring 25 in the first innings, and his fielding was the object of general admira­ tion. He is the reverse of funky, and may be relied on for good work across the Atlantic. He is a fine bat, with a capital eye, and not wanting in powers of defence. He hits finely to leg, and cuts and drives almost as well. He is a fine, active long field, and throws in beautifully from a distance, besides being a fair medium-paced bowler. W. W. Jones (Toronto) attended both Upper Canada College and Trinity College School, but was not a member of the first eleven at either institutions. It was only after becoming an undergraduate at Trinity College that he became known as a cricketer, and there his rapid progress and increasing success com­ manded general attention. His batting improved, his fielding became brilliant and he got more work on to his slow bowling. During the last of the season of 1884 he scored well for the Toronto Club, and his record was such in 1885 that he was chosen as one of the repre­ sentatives of Canada in the annual contest with the United States. He was also one of the International team of 1886 and played against both Parson Thornton’s and Mr. Sanders’ English teams. Mr. Jones has