Cricket 1889

Ju n e 20 ,1889. CRICKET: A WEEKLY EECORD OP THE GAME. 201 and the other Public Schools, as well as for Naval Cadetships. Mr. Philip Morton, who was educated at Bossall, was, as many will recollect, a prominent member of the strong elevens which represented Cambridge with such success in 1878, ’79, and ’80, and it was in a great measure his effective fast bowling which enabled the University to secure such a brilliant vic­ tory over the First Australian Team in 1878. On that occasion, when Murdoch and his men were beaten by an innings and 72 runs, Mr. Morton took twelve wickets for 90 runs, and it is also worthy of a reminder that the Cambridge Eleven of that year passed through the season without a defeat. P laying for Norfolk first by the right of birth, Mr. Morton subsequently repre­ sented Surrey under the family home qualification in 1884, but only took part in two matches that summer, I think, and of late years has not been seen in first-class cricket. Knowing, as I do, of my own personal knowledge how thoroughly conscientious a worker he is, I have no hesitation in predicting that Mr. Morton will be as happy in moulding the dispositions of the youngsters committed to his charge as he was personally suc­ cessful in his sohool and university days on the cricket-field. So far this season the wickets have not been generally in favour of very fast run- getting, and it is consequently not alto­ gether unpleasant to be able to cite a notable exception to the rule. It is not often, indeed, that one has to chronicle under any conditions a better, if one is for­ tunate enough even to come across one as good, performance in the way of fast scor­ ing than was recorded to the credit of Mr. Or. F. Well8-Cole for Lincoln Lindum against Brigg Town on Saturday last. Lindum declared their innings at an end when the fourth wicket fell with the total at 247. They had only been batting two hours and a half, and of the total named Mr. Wells-Cole, the Captain, who was not out, had made no less than 202. At one time 158 runs were scored in an hour and a quarter. Mr. Wells-Cole, who is an old Cantab, in his University days was also an Association footballer of no mean skill. His powers of hitting have been proved many a time and oft in the South, and more than one big score has been registered to his name down Sussex way. I have myself a recollection of an innings of over three hundred of his for the Assy­ rians against Devonshire, at Eastbourne Park some few years ago. A ccording to the Daily Telegraph the Corporation are to be asked to-morrow to contribute the sum of fifty guineas to the fund being raised for providing a few days of country holiday to ailing London children, entitled “ The Children’sCountry Holiday Fund.” This charitable work should commend itself specially to cricketers, if only for the fact that one of their own number, and a thoroughly keen and conscientious sportsman to boot, the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, is the Trea­ surer of the fund. It goes without saying, too, that he will welcome any dona­ tion in furtherance o f a most deserving oause. Cricketers so often, particularly when the wickets are hard, themselves enjoy a “ day in the country,” that they are sure to have a fellow-feeling—I had almost written fielding—and help to give the children of the Great City an outing. The mention of charity in connection with cricketers reminds me that a fund is being raised to benefit a great lover of the game, who has, in his day, contributed to the enjoyment of every branch of society. Though he may be unknown personally to the majority of those who frequent Lord’s and the Oval, there are not a few Cricket readers well acquainted with that kindly old soul, Mr. J. Maddison Morton, the veteran playwright, and author of “ Box and Cox ” as well as numerous other farces which have amused thousands and thousands of playgoers. A performance in aid of the fund is to be given on July 2, at the Haymarket Theatre, which has been kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by Mr. H. Beerbohm Tree, an old athlete himself, by the way, as many know. Mr. Morton is always to be seen on one or other of the two chief London grounds whenever a good game is to be witnessed, and I commend his benefit to the notice of sympathetic C ricket readers. T he follow ing w ill speak for itself:— St. Christopher’s School, Blackheath. Dear Sir,—As I think the following question, which arose in connection with a match here on Saturday, of some importance, and not un­ likely to occur again, I write to ask your opinion. Both bails being off, the ball is thrown and strikes the wioket, before the batsman reaches the popping-crease; is the batsman out if the wicket-keeper pulls up a stump without the ball being in his hand, or must the ball strike a stump out of the ground ?—Yours truly, G-. T o w n s e n d O l d h a m . R obert T homs , who has, perhaps, seen as much of the curiosities of the game as anyone living, has sent me particulars of one of the most amusing cases of the kind which have come under his observation— The broken wicket is one of the most sensa­ tional incidents that occur in the cricket-field, and also the most productive of excitement. I have myself from time to time witnessed many amusing events connected with the ball in h ind business, one of whioh, occurring during the progress of the match of Gloucestershire v. Sussex at Brighton four years ago, wherein I and my old friend, the late Edgar Willsher, were acting as umpires, most forcibly comes to mind. Mr. J. A. Bush had come in to join Woof for the last wicket, and, in running out a hit to leg, was a long way out of his ground, when the wicket was put down by Phillips, who, however, previous to the ball reaching him had dislodged both bails with M b body. The Demon of Demons (W. G. G. ' who, like an “ ogre,” always watches the points from start to finish, spotted the “ broken wicket,” and immediately shouted from the pavilion, waving his hand, “ Go back, ‘ Frizzy,’ go back I” whilst the Sussexites halloaed, “ Pull up a stump, ;rail up a stump! ” The latter, Harry Phillips rantically forthwith did, with the ball lying fifteen yards from him, and flourishing the stump at Willsher said, “ How’s that I” with the rejoinder, of course, “ Not out.” Mr. J. A. Bush had, in the meanwhile, galloped back as fast as he could, not thinking what was up. As there were some thousands on the ground, the incident caused a lot of exoitement, as it appeared to the spectators that Mr. J. A. Bush was dead out. On my saying to Phillips “ Well, you got up a nice bit of pantomime for us,” he at once replied, “ Oh! I knew it wasn't out, B o b ; but when they shouted, ‘ Pull up a stump, pull up a stump! ’ I thought I would do something to please and oblige them.” 'Tis some twenty years since I first saw my old and esteemed friend, Harry Phillips, stand behind the sticks in his first oounty match, and I have many and many an anecdote con­ nected with his career which on a more fitting opportunity I may relate. I cannot, however, throw down the pen without adding that no snapper has stood the “ battle and the breeze” of the cricket-field with more determination and pluck than the Sussex veteran, and when he hangs up his armour it will take a class man to fill it. It will be gathered from the above that the ball must be in the hand which re­ moves the stump. T he following will show the results of matches played between the eight leading Counties this season up to the present time. Yorkshire has not as yet played a match. Won Lost Drawn Notts .. 3 0 0 Surrey.. 2 1 0 Lancashire .. 2 1 0 Middlesex 2 2 0 Gloucestershire 0 2 1 Sussex 0 2 1 Kent 0 1 0 T he value of Mr. K. J. Key’s batting to Surrey this season will be shown best by the following table of the various innings he has so far played for the County. 1st Inn. 2nd Inn. Total. Surrey v. Essex............ 4 ... — ... 4 Surrey v. Oxford Univ. 176* ... — ... 176 Surrey v. Leicestersh. 14 ... 71 ... 85 Surrey v. Gloueestersh. 49 ... 45 ... 94 Surrey v. Notts........... 3 ... 8 ... 11 Surrey v. Cam. Univ.... 62 ... — ... 62 Surrey v. MiddleBex ... 20* ... 121* ... 141 From this list it will be seen that he has made in all 573 runs in eleven completed innings with three not outs. This gives an average of 71.5. Key vive with a vengeance. E veryone will congratulate Derbyshire cricketers, and more especially the two actors, on the exceptionally brilliant per­ formance of Chatterton and Davidson, in the match against Essex at Leyton this week. There are few keener sportsmen than the two professionals named, and their record in Derbyshire’s second innings will take a lot of beating this summer. T he partnership of the pair resulted in an addition of 292 runs to the total, and it is worthy of remark that Bastow was the only member of the Essex eleven whose bowling they had not a chance of testing. The two players were, in fact, nearly establishing a record in Inter-