Cricket 1888

11 Together joined in cricket’s man ly toil.”— Byron. Re^°terea8for ftuamiMtoo Abroad. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1888. P R IC E 2d. THE ENGLISH TEAM FOR THE CAPE. The visit of a team of English cricketers to South Africa, the probability of which C ric k e t was the first to announce some months ago, has through the energy of Major Warton become an accomplished fact. In his efforts to make the tour a success, Major Warton received some very valuable counsel as well as help from Sir Donald Currie, M.P., the founder of the Castle Line of Steamers, so well-known to all travellers to and from the Cape. With characteristic hospitality and with a view to give a fitting parting to Mr. C. A. Smith and the other members of his team, Sir Donald Currie invited a number of leading cricketers to luncheon on board the “ Garth Castle ” on the day prior to jts departure from London. Several of those who received invitations were unable to be present, but among the company were many faces well-known on the cricket-field, among them those of Viscount Oxenbridge, President of Surrey County Club, and Dr. Jones, Surrey County Club, Messrs. C. W. Alcock, Sec. Surrey County Club, K. J. Key, W. W. Bead, M. P. Betts, J. Burrup, Surrey County Club, L. C. Docker, and J. G. Walker. Major Warton, the manager, and all the members of the team, except the Hon. C. Coventry, who joined the “ Garth Castle ” the next day, were present. After the loyal toasts, Sir Donald Currie, in a humorous speech, proposed the health of the team. It was a surprising thing in his opinion that men should go over the sea so many miles for pleasure. He assured Mr. Smith and his comrades that if some of the grounds in South Africa were hardly up to the standard of the best cricket grounds in England they would find some fair cricket and plenty of .good athletes. lie, could, too, promise them one thing for certain, that there was no place, as he could vouch of his own personal knowledge, where greater hospitality prevailed than through­ out South Africa, and they could count on a most hospitable welcome wherever they went.. He added his willingness to offer a cup for whichever of the five divisions, the Cape, Natal, Transvaal, the Orange Republic, and East Griqualand, should show the best form against the Englishmen. This would be competed for afterwards annually among them­ selves, though any future English team should be eligible (if able) to bring the trophy back with them. He coupled with the toast, the names of Mr. C. A. Smith, the captain, and Major Warton, the manager. In responding, Mr. Smith said that some papers had criticised the composi­ tion of the team, declaring that it was not representative. In reply, he would point out that this was a pioneer team, and that while on the one hand they should not be so weak as to do any injury to the reputation of English cricket, on the other hand they should not be strong enough to crush the germs of cricket in a land where it was still in its infancy. Their object was to take out a team of about the standard of a representative County eleven, and he thought they would be able to take their own part with most of the best English counties. Major Warton stated that it was not altogether a pleasure trip theywere undertaking. In all they would most likely cover some 15,000 miles, the greater part by water, but some 3,000 or 4,000 by rail and 1,000 by coach. He accepted on behalf of his team Sir Donald Currie’s generous offer of a cup, and it would give him pleasure to see an English team bring it home from South Africa at some subsequent date, if only for the reason that the cricketers of South Africa would, he felt sure, not be satisfied untilthey had sent an eleven to England to recover it. Major Warton proposed the health of the cricketers of South Africa, to which Sir Spencer Dodd, C.M.G., replied. The other toasts were the Captain of the “ Garth Castle ” (Capt. Jeffreys), proposed by Mr. C. A. Smith, and Sir Donald Currie, proposed by Viscount Oxenbridge. The afternoon was a very enjoyable one, and the hospitality of the chairman was highly appreciated by all present. On the following afternoon, Nov. 21, at 1.80 the “ Garth Castle” left the East India Dock Basin, and after having to anchor off the Nore Lightship for four hours, and again in Tor Bay, reached Dartmouth at 7.30 a.m. on Friday, the 23rd inst. Mr. McMaster and Maurice Bead, who preferred to join the steamer at Dartmouth, completed the party, and in the course of the day the “ Garth Castle ’ ’ left England for her first port of call, Lisbon. The members of the team are Mr. C. A. Smith (captain), Major Warton (Hon.Sec.) Hon. C. Coventry, Messrs. M.P. Bowden, E. McMaster, J. H. Roberts, B. A. F. Grieve, A. C. Skinner, with H. Wood, M. Read and R. Abel, Surrey; J. Briggs, Lancashire; R.Fothergill, Somersetshire; and F. Hearne, Kent. As some alterations have been made in the route to be taken and the dates originally announced cannot consequently be strictly adhered, to, we give the tour as rearranged by Major Warton just prior to his departure. Cape Town, v. Western Province District (18) Cape Town, v. South Africa Johannesberg, v. Johannesberg Town Johannesberg, v. Transvaal Kimberley, v. Kimberley District Kimberley, v. Ecclectic C. C. Graham’s Town, v. Graham’s Town District Port Elizabeth, v. Eastern Province District Port Elizabeth, v. Cape Colony King William’s Town, two matches Pietermaritzburg, v. P. M. Burg District Pietermaritzburg, v. Natal Pietermaritzburg, v. Natal Durban, v. Durban District Port Elizabeth, v. Cape Colony (return) Graaf Reinet, v. Graaf Reinet Kimberley, v. Kimberley District (return) Oudtshoern, v. South Western District (-22) Cape Town, v.WesternProvinceDistrict (18 return) Cape Town, v. South Africa The latest advices show that the “ Garth Castle ” reached Lisbon safely on Monday, and left that port the same after­ noon for Madeira, the only stopping place, before the team disembark at Cape Town, where they are tj commence their first match on December 20.