Cricket 1888

MAT , 1888. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 169 son iswell-known to cricketers of all classes, and his practical knowledge and tact are sure to prove of the greatest value to the county as they have in the past. Derby­ shire cricket has had a bad time of it lately, and it certainly does seem a pity that its revival should be hindered as is likely to be the case by differences of opinion in the administration. That there is no lack of likely material in the county I have frequently protested, and a little more combination is all that is wanted to bring the Derbyshire eleven more to the front. M en tion of Derbyshire cricket reminds me that the Testimonial Fund for Mr. S. Richardson, who has for many years devoted his energies to the service of the County Club, has already reached con­ siderable proportions. The football match played on Whit Monday between Preston North End and Derby County must have realised nearly a hundred pounds, and to this is to be added a substantial list of subscribers. The names of the following, I believe, already figure among the con­ tributors to the Fund £ Derby County F.C. 25 Hon. W. M. Jervis 10 J. H. S tru tt..........10 J. Bagg Lord Burtou.......... Sir A. Walker W. Boden .......... W.H. Worthington H.Bass, M.P. ... W . (jr. Curgenven W. H. Sale A. Wilson .......... SirH.Wilmot.Brt. P. Wallis .......... H. Fould .......... H. H. Browne ... W. Iliffe .......... H. Boden ... ... S. Steel .......... Hon. G. Allsop ... S. Thompson ... The following have a1so dcnated a guinea—T. Goddajd, W. J. Haslam, Lord Scarsdale, A. Kemp, W. Shaw, J. Ryley, Mayor of Derby, C. A. V\all­ ruth, T. ebster, J. Darcy Clarke, T. Neville, G. J. Walker, D. Docker, A. fct;'aker, S. H. Evershed, F. E. Taylor, H. Woodman, Dr. Nun, J. Cartwright, A. O. VNoiihiig on, O. B ^ o n , n. Strutt, C. 1. Lorcbb', W. B. Wo ford, G Leech. There is an idea, iuo, ot trying to arrange a fixture at the end of the season between the Australians on I An England Eleven at Derby on behalf of the lund. T he regret expressed across the Atlantic at the retirement of Mr.C. A. Newhall, the well-known fast bowler,from active cricket will be shared by all who have had any opportunity of estimating his brilliant ser­ vices to American cricket for the last twenty years. The Newhalls have played an important part in the history of our national game in the United States, and C. A.’srecord is inferior to none. As it is twenty-five years since Mr. Newhall played his first important match, it will be seen that he was j ust starting on his career about the time that our own Grand Old Man was bursting into fame. Counting matches against all the English’ Irish, and Australian teams that have visited theStates,beginning witliWilloher’s team in 1868, down to 1884, when the Gentlemen of Philadelphia visited Eng­ land, he bowled altogether 3,204 balls for 1,049 runs and 101 wickets. This gives an average of just about 10 runs a wicket, against, as the American Cricketer points out, the best batsmen in the world, present­ ing, it adds, “ a record unparalleled in the history of American cricket, and one which we do not believe has ever been equalled in any country where the game is played.” Mr. Newhall, unfortunately, strained his back at Liverpool, during the preliminary practice of the Gentlemen of Philadelphia in 1884, and though he bowled in the later matches, and at times with success, never showed anything like his best form. He never really recovered from the effects of the accident, and his bowling from that cause was deprived of late years of most of its old sting. lished a name among English cricketers by his excellent bowling againstWillsher’s professional team. On that occasion he took eleven wickets, among them those of Griffith, Jupp, Lillywhite, Charlwood, Shaw, and Fri email, at a cott of 69 runs. Since that time no American eleven, as the American Cricketer rightly says, has been complete without him, and, in fact, his bowling has been one of the best features of American cricket for nearly a quarter of a century. His figures in the various International matches he has played have been most extraordinary. A n addition has recently been made to the cricket grounds of Surrey, by the Committee of the New Lyric Club, who are making an excellent pitch in the lovely gardens attached to their riverside Club House at Barnes. The Earl of Londes- borough is the Chairman of the Club, and this will be of itself a sufficient guarantee that the best interests of the game will be considered by those who are responsible for the conduct of cricket affairs. The Yorkshire Captain, Lord Hawke, is, too, on the Committee, so that the cricket world is, it will be seen, well represented in the management of the New Lyric. The cricket pitch will, I learn, be considerably enlarged in'the autumn, and next summer there will be fully four acres available for the use of cricketers. Several prominent cricketers were present at the opening re­ ception of the Chairman and the Com­ mittee on Sunday last, and one and all speak in the highest appreciation of the hospitality of which tiiey were the recipients. Me. W . G. G race has begun the season in such an extraordinary run- getting vein, that a list of his scores so tar in important matches will be of in- terebt. Cricketers everywhere will be delighted at his brilliant successes, and be proud of his irreproachable ability as a cricketer. May 7 Mr. C. I. Thornton’s XI. v. Australians ................... ....................10414 May 10 M.C.C. & G. v. Sussex ... ',3 16 fcy May 14 „ „ v. Kent ... 14 39 53 May 18 Gloucestei&hiie v.Surrey... 41 1 1 54 May 2i „ v. Sussex... 2.5 5 2*u May 24 „ v. Kent ... C4 33 i<7 May 28 Gentlemen v. Australians 165 165 Total, runs lor thirtccii innings, average 53.3. T he Rev. J. R. Napier, who played such an important part in the very creditable victory obtained by Lancashire over the Australian team on Friday, was a contemporary of Mr. A. G. Steel in the Marlborough College eleven, and subse­ quently at Cambridge. In the Seniors’ match of 1880 he "scored 10 and 56 for Mr. A. G. Steel’s side, and in the same year he played for the Twelve against the Sixteen. He was, though, very unfortu­ nate in being in residence when the University was very strong, and when it had a particularly good fast bowler in the person of Mr. P. H. Morton. Mr. Napier is, at the present time, curate of St. Paul’s, Preston, and has done good service to local cricket during the last two summers. T he mention of Leicester, I am afraid, will hardly bear the most r usical of sounds to the ears of those who direct Surrey cricket. The experience of the wicket on the Aylestone ground at Leicester, it must be owned, has not been of the most agreeable character to the Surrey men during the last few years, and the latest taste can hardly have added to the pleasure of the recollections. Surrey’s record at Leicester since the two Counties met has been an odd one. Leicestershire has won no less than three of the last six matches played on its own ground, and two of the three by less than twelve runs. History repeats itself strangely in cricket, and this week’s reverse at Leicester will recall memories of a very similar finish in 1883, when Surrey, who on that occasion also tried four young professionals, lost by seven runs. The credit of that victory rested with three men, Mr. C. Marriott, Parn- liam and Rylott, and substituting Pougher for Parnham, the combination which led chiefly to Surrey’s reverse on Tuesday was much the same. Sib R obert L oder , who has just died at Worthing, was a liberal sup­ porter of cricket, and, indeed, of most outdoor sports. He was rarely absent from Lord’s or the Oval on the occasion of important matches, and was also, if I remember rightly, for many years a regular frequenter of the Sussex County Ground. One of his sons, unless I am mistaken, was the first string of the Cantabs in the Inter-University hurdle races some few years ago. F rom a communication dated the 14th inst., and posted at Aden, I learn that the Parsee cricketers reached that port safely after a very pleasant voyage. They ought, according to arrangements, to be in London to-day or to-morrow, and I should not be surprised to hear of their appearance at the Oval during the course of the match betwec-n the Australians and the Players, which is to commence this mornir-g. The Parsees are to open their tour at Leyton on Thursday, and as I am informed officially that the following will represent the Gentlemen of Essex:— Messrs. C. E. Green, S. S. Schultz, J. J. Head, D. Womersley, E. A. Read, H. H. Francis, li. Fowler, F . H. Stevens, II. E. Bagot, F. A. Bishop and H. Boyton, they will be opposed by a strongish com­ bination at the commencement of their operations. T he news of the marriage of Mr. C. T. Studd has followed very closely on the