Cricket 1888

472 Eighteen of Combined Tasmania against Mr. Vernon’s combination at Hobart last January. T h o u g h there has been a good deal of discussion on, and in parts, no small dissatisfaction, to judge from some of the South African papers, at what is termed the exclusive action of the Western Province Club in not consulting and securing the co-operation of the other leading clubs of the Cape Colony, some good will probably come out of this, as it is said to come out of all evil. A letter which appears in the Cape Times over the signature of H. G. Cadwallader suggests the formation of a Cricket Asso­ ciation for the Cape Colony, to act as a central authority, with the object of com­ bined action by a body representative of the various cricket centres, and as a consequence the general development of the game. The concluding paragraph of the letter shows that the visit of a South African team to England may be an event of a nearer future than many would think. Mr. Cadwallader proposes that one of the objects of the Association be— To enter into negotiations, as soon asmay be deemed advisable, and opportunity may pre­ sent, for the visit of a Cape Colony or South African team to England to select the same from such players as may be willing to form such team, and to endeavour to raise any guarantee or funcs which may be deemed necessary for the same, and to undertake similar duties in respect of any further teams deciding to visit England or Australia under the auspices of the Association. They are, to use one of Mr. Penley’s latest phrases, *•carrying on ” just now at the Cape. I t is gratifying to learn that cricket is enlarging its sphere in Ceylon, as it is generally under the shadow of the British flag. The following extract from a letter just received from a good friend in Colombo will show that the game is finding new and keen votaries among the half-castes in the Island. My corres­ pondent, under date of November 25, writes:— A rather important match is coming off here in December, or properly speaking a series of matches. Cricket has made such strides that a half-caste team of youths, calling themselves the Colombo Colts, have beaten every club of any importance in the island, and quite recently defeated a team of Europeans, picked from all parts of the island—a team as strong asany ever got together liere before, comprising such well-known cricketers as P. F. Hadow, F. A. Fairlie, A. Tabor, Geo. Vanderspar, C. J. Inglis, W . P. Halliley and others. These Colts play the Colombo Club in a few weeks, and then an up country club on the hills. Their superiority is in their very smart fielding and good bowling—they have eleven bowlers ! As batsmen they are not particularly strong. Great credit is due to them for the manner in which they have picked up cricket, and con­ siderable interest attaches to the forthcoming matches. The annual visit of a Ceylon team to India this winter will not come off, my corre­ spondent adds, as a good eleven cannot be got together to go at that time. S o m e of the best as well as most en­ thusiastic golfers have been drawn from : A WEEKLY RECORD 01' the ranks of the great fraternity of cricketers. It is very rare, indeed, to glance at the golf reports in the Field without coming across a good performance by some player who has distinguished himself on the cricket-fields of the past or present. Mr. J. G. Walker, the well- known Middlesex amateur, who has a good record at Rugby Football as well as at cricket, is one of the latest additions to the noble army of golfers, and, as was only to be expected from his natural apti­ tude for outdoor sports, one of the most promising. In the competition for the monthly Challenge Cup of the Felixstowe Club, held on Nov. 24, notwithstanding the disagreeable accompaniment of a strong and gusty wind, Mr. Walker was the winner with a fine score of 88. “ Mr. Walker,” the Field adds, “ is a very young golfer, and affords another instance of the facility with which a fine cricketer masters the intricacies of the game.’ T h e number of cricketers who pla^ golf is legion. In a competition for the Calcutta Cup of the Blackheath Club, held on the 4th instant, two cricketers, in their day both prominently identified with Kent, figured’prorniiiently, Messrs. Stokes and E. F. S. Tylecote, the former of whom —I assume him to be Fred Stokes, the fast bowler, and once International Rugby footballer—proved to be the winner. The Hon. Ivo Bligh, I understand too, has lately taken very kindly to golf, and another cricketer, Mr. C. E. Nesham, who has no superiors among the Bowmen of the day, has also recently gone in for the game, and with considerable success, In the final round of the Olympic com­ petitions of the Guildford Club for a silver star, presented by Mr. J. Kenrick, another old cricketer and footballer, Mr. Nesham won easily from G. W. Duncan. “ His score of 95,” the Field says,“ for the round representing 85 net was, considering the rain, a verv good performance and is not often beaten on this course. His success will be popular, as no member of the club has devoted more attention to the game than he, who, although in his golfing infancy, being scarcely more than a year­ ling, has already figured in the prize-list on more than one occasion, and is rapidly reducing his handicap allowance by strict attention to (golfing) business.” I t was stated, and more than once, if I mistake not, too, from the Chair, that before it could become law, the resolution passed at the recent meeting of the County Council at the iustance of Sussex, allowing anyone to continue playing for the County he has represented for five years, while he is qualifying by residence for another, would have to be submitted to the Marylebone Club for its approval and ratification. But is this so ? The only reference to the Marylebone Club in the old laws of County Cricket, which if there does not seem to have been any formal acceptance, I take it were accepted by the Council, is in clause 4, THE GAME. dec. 27 , lfess. which is to the following effect— “ Should any question arise as to the residential qualification the same should be left to the decision of the Com­ mittee of the Marylebone Club.” T h e intention, I believe I am right in saying, was that M.C.C. should act as a Court of Appeal only in disputed points, such as the interpretation of the rules, or to settle cases of individual residential qualification. As a matter of fact, too, this has been the actual procedure, as the appeals respecting Mr. P. H. Morton, Crossland, and Brown show. If this con­ tention be right, there seems to have been some misapprehension in refer­ ring the resolution passed at the Council meeting on the 10th inst. It would certainly appear to an ordinary mind somewhat strange that a thoroughly representative body like the County Cricket Council, which, it cannot be too often remarked, does not seek in any way to interfere with the Laws of the Game, however valuable suggestions from such an influential society should be, is not considered capable of managing its own affairs, and I have persistently argued, as C r ic k e t readers are aware, that if it re­ quires extraneous aid or advice of any kind there is really no need for its exist­ ence. If, indeed, the Secretaries of county clubs are to be called together and the decisions they arrive at after careful deliberation, on matters solely of interest to themselves, are liable to be overruled by anybody, however competent or disin­ terested, there is practically no scope for the combination at all. While on the subject of the Council, I would suggest the advisability of a provision such asis in force in most well-regulated societies of any influence, that alterations in the rules should not be made unless there was a majority of two-thirds in favour of such alteration. I f only to ensure something like finality, there should be a substan­ tial majority to prove that an amend­ ment in the Laws is necessary. M r . S t u a r t W o r tley has,I understand, been commissioned by the Committee of the Marylebone Club to paint a portrait of Mr. W . G. Grace, to be placed in the pavilion at Lord’s. Some sittings have I believe been already given for the picture, which could hardly have a more suitable home than at the head-quarters of the game of which W. G. has been the greatest exponent. V is c o u n t O x en b rid g e , the president of the Surrey County C.C., presided at the annual diuner of the Surrey Bicycle Club on the 8th inst. “ How t o P la c e a C b ic k b t F i e l d . J u s t P u b lis h e d . T h e N e w L a w s o f C b ic k e t . —As revised by the Marylebone Cricket Club, with five specially arranged diagrams "How to Place a Cricket Field” as follows:—1. To Slow Bowler (either Bouad-arm or “ Lobs ” ); 2. A slow or medium Left-handed Bowler (Round-arm); 3. To an Ordinary Medium-pace Bowler; 4. To a Past Left-handed Bowler (Bound-arm); 5. To a Past Kound-arm Bowler. Sent post free 2$d. Wright and Co., 41, St. Andrew's Hill, Doctors Commons, E.O. or from all dealers. NEXT ISSUE, JANUARY 24.