Cricket 1888

76 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD Oh' THE GAME. A P R IL 19, 1888. THANSATLANTIC CRICKET. The Empire newspaper of Toronto gives some interesting particulars anent the coming season in New York from its correspondent in that city, under date of March 30. According to all accounts, the summer of 1888 will be a very busy one for American cricketers, and, as the following remarks will show, the prospects in New York are more than usually bright:— Cricket is undoubtedly growing in popularity here, and this season, we expect, will be the most active and most brilliant on record. The Empire's idea of an international cricket con­ gress meets with favour. A gentleman whom every cricketer of prominence in America knows suggests that three distinct international cricket weeks might be held yearly at New York, Philadelphia, Ham ilton, and Toronto, the two last-mentioned cities alternating for the honour of being the third place. Anyway, he thinks that something should be done to give the annual match between Canada and the United States more glory—more distin- guishment, so to speak. It should be made the occasion of a great gathering of cricketers from all parts of America. In that way the game would receive an impetus, and the interest in the annual contest be greatly increased. To play in the International match should be considered a much coveted honour—an honour worth working hard and long to gain. Some badge, or cap, should be identified with it, inscribed “ All Canada” or “ All United States," after the fashion that prevails in England, and the expenses of the teams should be borne entirely by the associa­ tions of the different countries. In this manner individual effort would be provoked and increased and better playing would result. In fact, the game would be benefited every way. It is felt here that not only in this district, but all over America, the cricketing season of 1888 is going to be a memorable one. English, Irish, and Australian teams are coming, and there is going to be a greater interchange of visits between United States and Canadian elevens than have ever taken place before. The International match will be played in Toronto. A Staten Island or New York team will also visit Canada, playing in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Hamilton. Possibly a Philadelphia eleven will also visit you. On our part we anticipate the usual visit from the Canadian I Zingari and trust to have the pleasure of welcoming Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Listowel elevens. Then there is going to be an interchange of visits between Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Pittsburg, Phila­ delphia, and New York clubs, and matches are talked of between Philadelphia and the re­ mainder of America, of New York against the rest of the state, of Pennsylvania against New York, and of New York against Massachusetts. Thus it will be seen that we have good reason to look forward to a busy, brisk, and brilliant season. As to the proposed amendment to the leg- before rule, tke cricketers here are generally non-committal, and hardly think that any change, so far as they are concerned, is neces­ sary. It, however, s ms to be feared by some that now so much a ' ention has been drawn to pad-play American batsmen will be found trying it to some extent this season. A meeting of representatives of the following clubs was held last Saturday, at 325, Broad­ way, for the purpose of arranging a schedule for the ensuing season: Staten Island, Cyril W ilson; Clairmont, N .J., Joseph Akers; Newark, N .J., Robert P. B e ll; Alma, Henry Stimer; American League, F. R. Savage; Manhattan, S. Hosford; Albion, Richard Brownson; Essex, C. Beresford; Paterson, Valentine Bliss; St. George, James Rutty: King’s County, George P. Parsons; Cosmo­ politan, A. M. Lewis; New Haven, A. J. Edwards; and New York, J. Shortell. A schedule of 100 games was arranged, and play will begin between the Manhattans and Albions at Prospect Park on May 19. The season will close September 17. CRICKET IN N E W BRUNSW ICK . Mr. W . S. Burke, secretary of the St. John, N.B., Cricket and Athletic Club, writes:— Mr. Geo. W . Jones, who was over in England with the Gentlemen of Canada last year, states that he is opposedto any alteration in thepresent “ leg-before-wicket rule,” and cannot see that there would be much gain in forming an International Cricket Association, as he is perfectly satisfied w ith the governing rules of the M.C.C. as they now stand. The prospects of our club have never been as bright as they are this year. Our member­ ship, which two years ago was only about 75, last year went up to 130. Up to the present date this season we have elected 50 new members, so that we feel confident that before the season’s close we shall have numbered 200 or more. We enlarged and improved our grounds last year, and we claim that now they are second to none in Canada. As soon as the snow leaves the ground we will erect a grand stand that will seat 500 people. We have engaged as our professional cricketer for the season J. H. Comber, of Brighton, Sussex, England. He was our pro. last year, and we found him a good coach and a first-class all-round cricketer. We have arranged for the Gentlemen of Ireland to play a Maritime Province cricket team here on August 17 and 18, and they will be tendered a ball by the St. John Club on the evening of the 17th. A majority of the following clubs will also likely visit St. John during the cricket season:—The Lingwoods, of Boston, Mass.; Mystics, of Medford, Mass.; St. Paul’s School, Concord, New Hampshire; Ottawa Cricket Club, Ottawa, Ontario; Garri­ son and Wanderers, of Halifax: officers of H.M. Navy, and a number of other local teams. So that with a good prospect of the majority of the above matches being played here, it will be seen that our cricketers will have a fairly active season. We expect to put a fairly strong team in the field, and have made valuable additions to the playing strength of our team in Mr. Alexander Reed, a first-rate amateur of Scotland, and C. J. Annand, of Halifax, who has joined our club this year, and Mr. Fred C. Jones, who will also play for our club for the first time this season. He is a brother of Geo. W . Jones, and has a fine record as a bat at Murchiston College, Scotland. CRICKET IN PH ILA D E LPH IA . “ Silly Point ” writes in the Public Ledger :— “ W ithin the last week a step has been taken which will have a most important effect on this season’s cricket—namely, the action of the committee in requesting Mr. Sanders not to bring an eleven of English gentlemen here this fall. The reason for this was that the committee considered that the Irishmen and Australians would give us all the foreign cricket we could stand in one season, and that the English team on that account would fail to draw. This action, while undoubtedly a prudent one, has greatly disappointed many who were anxious to see their old favourites on the English team, and who thought the proposed scheme for a grand tournament between England, Ireland and America would be the most interesting ever given in this city. It is perfectly feasible to have the pro­ posed tournament without Mr. Sanders’s team. The Irishmen will stay here as long as they are requested to do so. Why not, then, make some programme for them like this ? First week, a match against all Philadelphia and another versus the University of Pennsyl­ vania, past and present. Second week, a grand tournament between England, Ireland and the United States. The English team could be selected from British residents. The following, for example, would hold their own : Lane, oi Philadelphia; Penn, Macpherson and Burrows, of Pittsburg; Roberts and Dale, of Detroit; Pacey and Wood, of Bel­ mont; Chambers, of Longwood; Lambkin and Wilson, of Staten Island, and Tyers, of Manhattan. The United States team could be a representative one, and the Irish visitors would, of course, most ably and fitly represent the Emerald Isle. This would undoubtedly revive the sport in this city, and would not in any way interfere with the Australian fixture, which should be a couple of weeks later against all Philadelphia.” THE “ L. B. W .” INQU IRY . I nterview w it h M r. A. J. W e b b e . ^From the Pall Mall Gazette of April 11th.) The sub-committee of the M. C. C. have, it will be remembered, refused to support Mr. Ellison, but have tendered a wish to the general body that stringent measures should be taken with the delinquents. The new rules, as proposed, are the outcome of the inquiry by the sub-committee. To hear what that body themselves thought, our correspondent called on Mr. A. J. Webbe, the popular captain of the Middlesex eleven. Mr. Webbe is nothing if not a pleasant host, his cheery manner being well known. A slight conversation, too, will convince you that he is fond of his favourite pastime, and that he looks distastefully on some of its new encroachments. His sanctum betrays his tendency, for chefs-d’oeuvre in cricket portraiture hold the most honourable places. A fine edition of “ Cricket Scores and Biographies ”—a present from Lord Bess- borougn, in memory of happy days at Harrow —side by side with more austere works. Mr. Webbe for some time had become a victim to the “ glorious uncertainty” of the game, but last year saw him in his proper place in the averages. Sitting down in a spacious arm­ chair, he answered as follows to queries on “ leg before” :— “ What would you put down as the imme­ diate cause of the controversy, Mr. Webbe? ” —“ Well, I don’t think that the question of ‘high scoring ’ had so much to do with it as the general dissatisfaction at the style of play which was being imported into the game by certain players. Yorkshire people were pro­ bably the first to notice this ‘pad-playing ’ on the part of their Notts opponents, and were much displeased. A few years ago there were but two or three such ‘ abusers,’ but now they have many imitators, who are increasing in number each season. As to Mr. Ellison, his chief object in bringing forward his proposal was to do away with such objectionable practices; and when I made my proposed addition to the present law I did so because I thought Mr. Ellison’s proposition went too far; still, I am quite as keen as he is about getting rid of such practices.” “ What kind of evidence did the sub-com­ mittee of the M.C.C. have before them to come to the conclusion they did ? ”—“ Well, we took evidence from all sides.” “ W hat did the umpires advise ?”—“ We had four first-class umpires—R. Thoms, Robert Carpenter, Tom Hearne, and Pullen. H . H. Stephenson had been written to, but was un­ able to come in person. They were all against Ellison’s proposal, and were for letting the present law alone. A t the same time, they, one and all, expressed their disgust at the habit of using the legs to defend the wickets. Thoms read a letter which contained his opinion. Pullen was very decided against any change whatever of the law as it stands. Carpenter went into it somewhat fully, and said the passing of such a law would be too hard on the batsman and would leave too much to the discretion of the umpire. Tom Hearne, too, was very decided. H. H. Stephenson wrote giving an opinion which was opposed to radical change. They were also of opinion that a reallv good umpire would have very little difficulty in giving a man out 1. b. w. for