Cricket 1888

106 , C-xJj CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. MAY 3, 1688. retention of such extensive spaces for the public is of immense benefit, and everyone will hope that those who have directed the movement with such signal success so far will bo able to crown the work by securing the ground as a per­ manent gift to the neighbourhood. C r ic k e t readers, to a very large number of whom Jie was well known, will be shocked to hear of the sudden death of Mr. Walter S. Shirley, who formerly sat in the House of Commons as Liberal member for the Doncaster division of Yorkshire. Mr. Shirley, who was actively and prominently identified with the Revellers, was also founder, or joint- founder of the Stygians, both of which clubs have recently joined forces under the one title of the Peripatetics. Mr. Shirley also .played frequently for the Marylebone (Jlub, though latterly his political duties compelled him to forego a.good deal of his cricket. Mr. Shirley, who had not been feeling well for some short time, wras persuaded on Tuesday to visit a West End physician, who, noticing his serious condition, advised his entry into the London Hospital. This course he adopted, and on his admission it was found that he was suffering from typhoid fever complicated by pneumonia, to which combination he succumbed very shortly after his admission. Mr. Shirley, who was educated at Rugby and Balliol College, Oxford, it will be remembered, recently, resigned his seat for Doncaster because, owing to circumstances, his means were inadequate to enable him to keep up his position properly. MARYLEBONE CRICKET CLUB. • •T h e one hundred and first annual meeting of the Marylebone Club was held in the Pavilion, at Lord's, yesterday. The Hon. Chandos Leigh, the retiring president, was in the chair. The report of the Committee, which follows, was adopted as under:— The Committee, in making their report, are able to congratulate the members on the flourishing condition of tbe club. The numbor of members who paid in 1887 was 3,018, life members 20, abroad 178—total 3,216. The number of matches played was 141. of which 85 were won, 29 lost, and 27 drawn. After protracted negotiations the club have acquired the freehold of Henderson’s Nursery from the Clergy Orphan Corporation, and although the sum given (£18,500)—with the consequent necessary expenditure—amounts to a l&rge total, the comrhittee believe that the increased accommodation for practice and other purposes will justify the outlay. In ad­ dition to this, the freeholds of Nos. 17 and 21, E lm Tree Road, the leasehold of No. 43, St. John’s Wood Road, and the annuity payable to the executors of the late Rev. A. R. Ward have also been purchased. The money for the purchase of the Nursery was temporarily advanced by Mr. Nicholson on terms favourable to the club, and the thanks of the club are due to him for his assistance. The committee feeling that it would be un­ desirable to saddle the club with so large a debt, thought that a number (limited to 100) of life members at .£100 each might be elected, and also that towards meeting the increased annual outlay arising from interest and addi­ tional expenditure the entrance fee might be raised to £5, and at a special general meeting on February 8th, those propositions were carried. One hundred life members were accordingly elected* enabling the committee to pay of! Mr. Nicholson .£10,000. Lord Lewisham, Messrs. A. W . L. Hemming, A./W . Ridley and A. Rutter retire by rotation fremthe committee, and the Hen. E. Chandos Leigh, Messrs. A. Appleby, E. Rutter and J. S: Udal have been duly naminated to fill the vacancies. The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton and Mr. J. M. Healhcote became the holders of the^gold and silver tennis prizes respectively. The list of matches for the seasonwill include four against the Australian Eleven and two against the Parsees. The ground staff will consist of—Thomas Hearne, Farrands, John West, Flanagan, Clayton, Rylott,W ild, W illiam Mycroft, G. G. Hearne, Wheeler, Sherwin, T. Mycroft, W. Hearn, Flowers, Price, Barnes, Gunn, Scotton, Hay, Fotliergill, Attewell, Parnham, Burton, Pickett,Wootton, F. Hearhe, Davenport, Pen­ tecost, Titchmarsh, Cliatterton, J. E. West, Martin, Pougher, Rawlin, A.. Hearne, Carlin, Davidson, and W. J. B. West. The thanks of the committee are due to the auditors for their zeal and ability, and the committee recommend the re-appointment of the same gentlemen, viz., Messrs. E. S. E. Hartopp, James R.MellorandW . B.Heberden. The committee consider that it would be to the interest of the club thg.t they should have power from time to time to elect super­ numerary members; they therefore recom­ mend the following additions to Rule IX . of the C lu b :— “ The Confmfttee n?.ay also elect out of their regular turn a certain* number of candidates on the following conditions: (a) That each such candidate be so qualified that his election is specially desirable in the interests of the Club. (b) That each such election be proposed and seconded by a member of the Committee at the Committee meeting next before that at which the ballot for such election takes place. (c) That not less than eight members of the Committee be present and vote at each such election, and that each election be unanimous. (d) That not more than six candidates be so elected in any one year. Any candidate proposed for election in this manner and not chosen shall retain his right to come up for election in his regular turn.” On the J3th Feb. last, the committee passed the following resolution :— “ That a sub-committee be appointed to consider and report to the general committee whether any undue advantage rests with the batsman or with the bowler under the exist­ ing Laws of Cricket, and if so what steps should be'taken to remedy this defect;” And the following gentlemen were accordingly appointed to serve upon the sub-committee— Lord Bessborough, Lord Lyttelton, C. E. Boyle, A. W . Ridley, W . E. Denison, Y. E. Walker, A. J. Webbe, Hon. Sir S. Ponsonby- Fane and H. Perkins. They met several times, the main subject of their deliberations being the alteration of Law X X IY ., upon which the opinions of a number of, leading umpires and cricketers were taken. On March 19th the sub-committee made the fol­ lowing. proposals, which were unanimously approved by a special meeting of the com­ mittee, subject to confirmation at the special general meeting. (1) That the over shall consist of five balls. (2) That a bowler shall be allowed t j change ends as often as he pleases, provided only that he does not bowl two overs consecutively in one innings. (3) That on the last day of a match, or if a one-day match at any time, the in-side shall be empowered to declare the innings at an end. But recognising the great difficulties in the way of any extension of the law of leg before wicket, and the fact that the practice it was sought to prevent was adopted by a very limited number of cricketers, the Committee have abstained, for the present at all events, from recommending any alteration of the existing Law* They think that before any such important change is carried into effect ample opportunity for discussion should be given, and that practical unanimity amongst cricketers should be as far as possible arrived at. The committee have, however, passed the following resolution r— ‘ “ That the practice of deliberately defend­ ing the wicket with the person instead of the bat is contrary to the spirit of the game, and inconsistent with strict fairness, and the M.C.C. will discountenance and prevent this practice by every means in their power.” The Committee recommend that instruc­ tions be given to all umpires the club may employ that should they at anytime see any batsman deliberately in their opinion defend­ ing his wicket with any part of his person they shall report the same to the committee, and they hope that with the co-operation of the County authorities and crioketers gener­ ally, this step will be found adequate to pre­ vent the evil which is complained of. If not, stronger measures may be necessary, but time will have been given for more mature con­ sideration, and the risk will be avoided of making an alteration in a most important Law which experience may show cannot be maintained. The consideration of the proposals for alteration in the rules, at the special general meeting held afterwards, gave rise, as was only to be expected, to considerable discussion. Lord Harris moved, and the E^rl of Bessborough seconded., a resolution that the consideration of the proposed altera­ tions be deferred untilthe opinions of the lead­ ing clubs in England and elsewhere had been obtained. This was carried with only two dissentients. In the evening the annual dinner was held. ROYAL EN G IN EER S v. ROYAL A RT IL LER Y . Played on Saturday afternoon at the United Service Recreation Ground, Portsmouth. Lieutenant Radcliffe, R.E., contributed 104 of the Sappers’ total of 229. R o y a l E n g in e e r s . Comp. S.-M. Jeffkins, b M‘Dunald ........ 4 Corpl. Eynott, b Edwards...............25 Sergt. Hampton, c t Griggs, b M‘Donald 26 Lieut. Itadcliffe, st Goodall, b Spiers ...104 Sapper Chivers, b M‘Donald............... 5 Corpl.Walker,bEaton 12 Swapper Gannaway, 'not out ............... 7 Comp. S.-M. Gold­ smith, b M'Donald 1 Sergt. Douglas, c Cope, b Spiers ... 19 Corpl. Lewis,c Jones, b Copo ............... 3 Sapper Wright, c M'Donald, b Spiers 1 Extras...............22 Total ...229 R oyal A r t il l e r y , H il s e a . Gunner Spiers, not out ..................... 0 Extras... ... ... 2 Gunner Reed, b Jeff- ’i kins ..................... 5 Corpl. Cope, b Hamp­ ton ..................... 7 Gunner Dando,b Jeff­ kins ..................... 0 Gunner Edwards, not _. out ..................... 7 Total ... 21 CBICKET AT CAMBBIDGE. EMMANUEL v. HAWKS. Played on the Amalgamation ground at Cambridge, on April 30. E m m a n u e l . J. T. Williams, b G. L. Hiley, b Eay- h u rs t....................10 A. W. Thompson, b Duncan ...............20 J. H. Twamley, b Hayhurst............... 0 H. A. Crallan, b Hay­ hurst .....................10 H. S. Wilson, b Hay­ hurst ..................... 1 B. Pares, c Oliver, b Campbell... .........88 Hayhurst ........ 16 W. A. Lowsley, b Hayhurst .........35 A. Spicer, c and b Methune...............21 G. D. Hale, not out 5 A. B. Green, b Hay­ hurst.................... 4 B 23, lb 3 .........26 Total ...186