Cricket 1888

“ Together joined in cricket’s man ly toil.”— Byron. No. 183- VO L . V II. Registered for Transmission Abroad. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1888 P R IC E 2 d . M R . P E R C Y J. D E P A R A V I C I N I . N o t one of the least trusty of the fraternity of amateurs whom A. J. Webbe can count on when mustering the forces of Middlesex is the keen cricketer whose portrait adorns this page. Born (on July 15, 1862) in London, Mr. De Paravicini has, too, a permanent qualification to represent the County for which this year— it would be irony to use the word summer—be has done such good service. Sent to Aldin House, Slough, an establishment where so many Etonians received their early training, when he was eight years old, he remained there until the season of 1876, forming one of the School eleven during the last three summers. The tuition he received at Aldin House served him in good stead when he entered on the larger cricket-field of Eton, and it was not long before he received his colours as one of the Sohool team. His first appearance for Eton was in 1878, but it was not until the fol­ lowing summer that he became a prominent figure in Eton cricket. Most of his earliest successes were with the ball, and his first perform­ ance of any great merit was as a bowler in the Winchester match of 1879. His bowling, indeed, did much to give Eton a hard earned victory by 45 runs, as will be readily understood when we state that twelve of the eighteen Winchester wickets which fell to the bowlers were to his credit. Such a record with Mr. C. T. Studd in the Eton eleven was one of no small merit, and in the first innings he far eclipsed his captain, with whom he bowled unchanged, taking seven of the ten wickets at a cost of only twelve runs. Though generally successful both against Harrow and Winchester, his best all-round cricket was reserved for his fourth and last year at Eton. His indivi­ dual record during his captaincy in 1881 was one of the most note­ worthy features of the Public School cricket of that season. Though the Winchester eleven was considerably above the average, he showed to great advantage both in batting and bowling, and in addition to taking ten wickets, was the highest scorer with an aggregate of 59 for his double innings. The victory at Winchester was reversed at Lord’s, but had Mr. De Paravicini been better supported with the ball the Harrovians would have had no small trouble to secure a win. As it was, his bowling, with Mr. E. M. Hadow’s batting for Harrow, were quite the best features of the match, and his twelve wickeds were obtained at an average cost of under eight and a half runs. As an all-round cricketer, he was the most promising Public School player of the year, and that his ability was recognised by competent judges was shown by his selection to represent Middlesex against Lancashire at Manchester on the 15th of August, 1881. There wTas, too, a feeling of general satisfaction among those interested in Cambridge when it was known that he would be in residence at that U ni­ versity in the following summer. Though only moderately successful in the Freshmen’s match of 1882, he made an excellent com­ mencement in the opening fixture of the Cambridge season against the Gentlemen of England. His stand with Mr. C. T. Studd wras the most noticeable incident of the University innings, and the two old Etonians during their partnership added over 100 runs. During the summer of 1883 and two succeeding years Mr. De Paravicini did useful service as an all-round player both for Cambridge and Middlesex. His best season for the University was, perhaps, in 1883, when he scored 274 runs for twelve completed innings, including two capital scores of 40 and 05 against M.C.C. & G. at Lord’s just prior to the Oxford match. A score of 53 against the Gentlemen was his best record for Cambridge in 1884, but his most useful perform­ ance was, perhaps, in the Inter- University match, on which occa­ sion he had the distinction of the highest contribution (37) in the first innings. Though he only assisted in the later fixtures of the Cam­ bridge eleven in 1885, and then with small success, he took part in a majority of the matches played by his County with fair results. An absentee from the Middlesex eleven in 1886, he only played very rarely, too, in 1887, and his best efforts as far as we can trace in both of these years wrere strangely in each case for M.C.C. & G. at Scarborough at the commencement of September, to wit, 60 in the former and 70 in the latter instance. This year Mr. De Paravicini’s batting has proved of great service to Middlesex, and, if we are not mistaken, his average so far this season in important matches is over 18 runs. In the last three fixtures of M id­ dlesex, in particular, he has been singularly successful, and his inn­ ings of 77 against Notts and 42 against Gloucestershire have proved him to be one of the most useful batsmen Mr. Webbe has under his command. A cheery cricketer and never down howrever the game is going, Mr. De Paravicini is just the sort of player a captain would choose. In bowling he has not ful­ filled the promise of his Eton days, but taken all-round he is very much ,above the average of amateurs. As a batsman he has a good, free style with plenty of hit and no lack of defence, as he showed last week against Gloucestershire, being at the wickets three hours for his forty-two. It is in the field, though, that he is seen at his best. Full of energy, quick on his legs, and a sure catch, Iip