Cricket 1888

may ii, issa CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME. IS? between three and seven o’clock scored no less than 376 runs with only four batsmen out, or at the rate of ninety-four runs per hour and per wicket. Of this total Mr. J. R. Moseley, who went in first, was credited with 214 not out, his runs thus averaging over fifty-three an hour. T h e following are the averages of Shrewsbury’s team in the twenty-six matches played in the Colonies this last w in te r:— BATT ING A V ERA G ES. Times Moat in Inns, not out Runs, an Inn. Aver. A. Shrewsbury... 3-2 ... 2 ... 1113 ... 232 ... 37.3 G. Uiyett ......... 31 ... 3 ... 711 ... 63 ... 2S.U M. Read ..........39 ... 6 ... 761 ... 70 ... 23.2 J . Briggs .......... 38 ... 4 ... 706 ... 80 ... 20.26 Mr. W . Newham 3.5 ... 6 ... 5 6 ... 53 ... 18.14 Mr. L . C. Docker 27 ... 2. . . 414... 58 ...16.14 Mr. C. A. Sm ith 82 ... 2 ... 444 ... 69 ... 14.24 Mr. G. Brann ... 28 ... 6 ... 315 ... 118 ... 14.7 G. A. Lohm ann 32 ... 1 ... 43) ... 53 ... 13.27 J. M. Preston ...37 ... 5... >98... 78 ... 12.14 R . G. Pilling ... 28 ... 8 ... 232 ... 67 ... 11.12 A. D. Pougher ... 30 ... 7... 243... 28* ... 10.13 *Signifies not out. B O W L IN G A V E R A G E S. Balls. Mdns. Runs. W kts. ATer. Mr. L . C. Docker 80 ...9 ... 15 ... 4 ... 3.3 A. Shrewsbury... 42 ... 6 ... 8 ... 2 ... 4 Mr. C. A. Sm ith 1969 ...230 ... 480 ... 98 ... 4.38 Mr. G. B rann ... 78 ... 2 ... 34 ... 6 ... 5.4 J. Briggs .......... 4787 ... 622 ...1353 ... 208 ... 6.105 A. D. Pougher ... 2028 ...259 ... 524 ... 78 ... 6.56 Mr. W . Newham 51 ... 3 ... 16 ... 2 ... 8 G. A. Lehm ann 6<«8 ...756 ...1707 ... 210 ... 8.27 M. Read .......... 308 ... 31 ... 92 ... 10 ... 9.2 J . M. Preston ... 2428 ... 284 ... 711 ... 75 ... 9.36 G. Ulyett ......... 607 ... 66 ... 205 ... 18 ...11.7 T h e Australian team have some reason to be satisfied that the gloomy forebodings which they left behind in the Colonies when they sailed for England have not, up to the present time at least, been justified. The three defeats they suffered in their preliminary matches on Aus­ tralian soil, as was only to be expected by those who know how the Colonial public is influenced in its opinions by the success of the moment, brought down on the heads of those who had the management of affairs one general prediction of failure. Even the great Spofforth was one of the most pronounced in his presentiments of ill-success, and, in fact, it must have been a great relief to the team when the “ Oceanien ” at length took them away from their friends, darkened as the atmos­ phere was with the prognostications of probable reverses and disappointments. Some few notable exceptions there were, it is true, to the prevalent pessimism, and it deserves to be placed on record that the cricket writers at least, of some of the Australian papers, in opposition to the public, were hopeful, if not actually confident, that the team would render a better account of themselves than was generally anticipated. It will be particu­ larly gratifying, too, to them, as well as to the few critics on this side who did not prejudge the team on the results of three matches, in two of which they had all the worst of the luck, to see that the present performances of the team have altogether belied the expectations of the candid friends who were sosure of the failures which were to await Percy McDonnell and his com­ rades on English grounds. T h i precise amount of the sucoess which is to attend the team, it may be urged, is even now a problem not altogether easy of solution. Still every one will admit that the all-round cricket they have shown in the three matches in which they have taken part has been consider­ ably above the average. Whether Messrs. Turner and Ferris will last through the heavy work of the tour remains to be seen, and the question of the real value of the other bowlers of the team, when the wickets get fast, and batsmen are in practice, still remains to be answered. As yet, though, it rr-ay be urged, and fairly, on the other hand the team have done all that has been asked of them, and there is reasonable ground for the belief that when they get well together they will be a really good side, and one that will take a lot of beating. T hey had, it must be admitted, the best of the luck at the Oval, but they showed up well at every point, and they got Surrey out twice, it must not be forgotten, on a run-getting wicket, for very small scores. The easy victory was due, of course, in a great measure to the excellent all-round cricket of the two crack bowlers of the team, Messrs. Turner and Perris, who proved themselves to be more than bowlers in the more limited acceptation of the word. Turner’s batting was indeed the most remarkable feature of the match, and the way he laid on to some of the off balls was worthy of the best of past masters like McDonnell or Massie. T r o tt, though his style is not par­ ticularly pretty, watches the ball care­ fully, and his play, off his legs in par­ ticular,- was very effective. Turner and Ferris kept a thoroughly good length throughout, and no possible exception can be taken to their delivery, which in each case is scrupulously fair. There is, too, nothing laboured about the action of either, and they do not look as if they would easily tire. Ferris, who, as every one knows, is left-handed, is, at tunes, not unlike what J. C. Shaw was, and, indeed, he often reminded me very strongly of that once most successful of trundlers. Trott is something of the Palmer stamp of bowler, and at times gets a lot of leg break on. He did not bowl enough, though, and the batsmen he had to oppose were hardly in the form necessary to enable one to get a reliable idea of his capacities. The team have, altogether, acquitted themselves with great credit as yet, and they are justified in looking forward hopefully to a very successful summary at the end of their tour. Two Parsee Cricketers, who were to leave Bombay on the 7th inst., should all being well, have by this time got well over the first half of their sea voyage, which is to end at Trieste, as they are said to be due in London on Monday week. The team have been successful in the preliminary matches in which they took part last month in Bombay, and those who are interested in the develop­ ment of native cricket are hopeful, as the combination is admitted to be the best the Parsee community can produce, that they will render a fairly good account of themselves on the oricket field. Among several new fixtures, I may add, the Parsees will play the Gentlemen of the West of Scotland at Glasgow, on July 18 and 19. Of course, they will take advantage of the opportunity to see the most they can of the exhibition in that city. I t will be of interest to C ricket readers to learn that Mr. George Bichards, the printer of the score cards on the Trent Bridge Ground, is publishing, in parts, a comprehensive history of the County’s doings, under the title of “ Fifty Years of Notts Cricket.” The first part, which has just reached me, contains full scores of all the matches connected with the County from 1838, when the Trent Bridge Ground was opened, up to 1862. In addition, biographies are given of all the principal cricketers who have con­ tributed to the successes of Notts in the past or present, and the value of this will be enhanced by the addition of like­ nesses of the best known players. Portraits of George Parr and llichard Daft are given with the first part. T he “ Coptic,” with the majority of Shrewsbury’steam who have been starring during the past winter in the Colonies, reached Plymouth early on Saturday morning, and the whole of the professional members of the party disembarked to make the best of their way to their several homes. Messrs. C. A. Smith, Newham, and Brann, the three Sussex amateurs, came on in the vessel, and reached London on Monday. Though they had head winds during a greater part of the time, and consequently the vessel was two days late, the voyage was, altogether, according to all accounts, a most enjoyable one, much better, indeed, than was gene­ rally anticipated. Lohmann and Maurice Read both expressed themselves as having enjoyed the trip thoroughly, and, though the latter’s foot hurt him so much during the Australian match that he had to give up bowling, they both look in the best of fettle. L E T T H E L A D I E S P L A Y C R I C K E T . A nd why should the Fair be forbidden to hanker, As hosts of them do, after masculine games ? Snch churlish menopolies breed only rancour; I think we might yield now and then to the dames. Let the gentlemen, smiling, the spectacle con, And watch the dear girls bat, and bowl, and keep wicket, W hat splendid young “ colts ” by-and-bye would come on, If, once in each season, the ladies played cricket 1