Cricket 1889

“ Toge ther joined in cricket ’s man l y toil .”— B y ro n , Regfc&ed^or T r S s & r o a d . THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1889. PRICE 2d MR . GREGOR M ACGREGOR . I f the critics seem to be generally agreed that the University Elevens of 1889 are collectively not quite up to the best standard of previous years, there seems to be, at the same time, a similar, consensus of opinion among them as to the unusual excellence of both sides in one very important department. It is rarely that two wicket-keepers so much above the average are in evidence in University cricket at the same time, as is the case just now with Messrs. Philipson, the Oxford captain, and MacGregor, the young Scotchman who has done such good service for Cambridge these last two summers. Each in his way is so good that it would be difficult to say that either is the superior. As already stated, Mr. MacGregor is one of the many good players Scot­ land has sent to make for them­ selves high reputations in the more important sphere of English cricket. Born at Edinburgh on Aug. 31,1869, he has yet two months before he reaches the completion of his twentieth year. His first chance of distinction came at an early age. Going to Craigmount when he was nine years old he stayed there two seasons, during which time he won a ball for bowling three wickets with successive balls as well as for getting 65 runs in a junior match. From Craigmount he was moved on to Cargilfield, a preparatory school or Fettes College, and there he showed to great advantage, not only n cricket, but in other sports. A member of the cricket eleven for three years, he acted as its captain during his last summer, and in addition held a similar office in the winter as responsible head of the football team. To many C r ic k e t readers it will be news that Mr. MacGregor is a Scotchman, as the latter and most important part of his education has been received.from English masters and on English soil. His career as an English cricketer does not go back very far, though, dating only since he went to Uppingham School. In 1886, when he first got into the Uppingham Eleven, too, C. H. Hunter was keeping wicket, and it was, in fact, as a batsman that he won his colours. These he fairly earned, for he did good service in both the inter-school matches of the year, scoring 12 and 42 against Repton, and 56 against Haileybury. The next summer, however, saw him duly installed as wicket­ keeper of the Uppingham eleven, and with the most satisfactory results. His best perform­ ance of the year was against the Old Boys’ and in this match his all-round cricket was particularly good, as he got 50 runs, and besides securing five men at the wicket kept with such success as only to give one extra to the Old Boys’ score during their two innings. Going into residence in Jesus College, Cam­ bridge, in the autumn of 1887, his school reputation gave him a chance at the Univer­ sity, which was fortunately for him without a wicket-keeper of any great pretensions. His first appearance was, of course, in the Fresh­ men’s match of 1888, and his wicket-keeping was certainly of some value as he stumped one and caught two batsmen for Mr. Bridge - man’s side in the second innings of Mr. Buxton’s team. At least he satisfied the University authorities, and he did duty behind the sticks for Cambridge with great success, taking rank as decidedly one of the very best amateur wicket-keepers of the year. As a batsman he was only moderately successful, and his average for the season was a fraction over ten runs, with nineteen not out as his best score. So far this summer Mr. Mac­ Gregor has certainly added to his reputation rather than diminished it. In the recent match against Surrey at the Oval he acquitted himself with marked credit, and still more recently at Brighton, as in the second total of 118 by Sussex there was not a single extra _ W ith any amount of pluck, and very quick withal, Mr. MacGregor has in him all the making of a very fine cricketer. The pace of a bowler does not trouble him at all, and it must be remembered that he has had, while at Cambridge, to keep to one of the fastest bowlers in Mr. Woods, not an easy thing, be it added, when the ground is hard. Ignorant of what is known in the parlance of the athletic world as “ funk,” he stands up to every kind of bowling with equal confidence. Equally good at catching or stump­ ing he is invaluable to his side in one of the most responsible posi­ tions, and on the form he has shown during the last two or three years he has no superior, and not many equals, among amateurs as a wicket­ keeper. Nor has his reputation as an athlete been won on the cricket- field alone. As a footballer he has done good work in the Rugby team. During his .first winter at the University he played several times in the Cambridge Rugby Team ax three-quarter and full back, but failed to get his blue either that or the following winter, no doubt owing to the fact that the rules at Uppingham School, where he was captain of football, are of such a different character. He also won the Inter-House Fives Cup at Up­ pingham with G, M. Hannay for two successive years. Recently, too, he has been qualifying as a wet bob at Cambridge. Last Lent term, indeed, he succeeded in making four bumps in the Jesus second boat. There is a golf player of the same name and initial, but he must not be confounded with the Cambridge wicket-keeper. Our portrait is from a photograph by Messrs. Hawkins & Co., of 107, King’s Road, Brighton. C r ic k e t of Thursday next will contain a Portrait and Biography of G. Bean, Sussex.