Cricket 1889

JtFLf 25,1869. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 285 know, the father-in-law of the great Aus­ tralian batsman W. L. Murdoch, who in pursuance of his profession as a solicitor has practically retired from cricket for the last three or four years. M u rd o ch and his future wife were passengers in the “ Mirzahpore ” after the conclusion of the tour of the fourth Australian team in the autumn of 1884, and it was my fortune to say good-bye to them on their departure from Gravesend. Not long after their arrival home, they were married. In fact, Murdoch left Melbourne immediately after the cere­ mony, in which, by the way, the giant Bonnor acted as his captain’s best man, to take part in the match against Shaw and Shrewsbury’s team at Sydney. The late Mr. Watson did not at first appear to be pleased with the idea of a cricketer as his son-in-law, but as Murdoch apparently stuck to his work as a solicitor, the objection seems gradually to have been removed. In the disposition of his property, at all events, the Quartz Eeef King did not forget Mrs. Murdoch, who receives as a legacy, so I am told, six hundred a-year, with further reversions to her family. M e . W a tso n , who was born at Paisley, was one of the richest men in Australia. He was the sole proprietor of the celebrattd gold mine of Bendigo, which he has left to his family with the expected result from its production of some thirty or forty million pounds. The almost incredible quantity of thirteen tons of gold, it is stated, has been taken out from this Bendigo Mine, while the weekly turn out is given as about six thousand ounces. H a r r o w and E to n M a tch . —Overheard at Lord’s. Harrowboy to friend: “ Cheek of these Eton fellows always to call this match Eton and Harrow. We’re going to lick ’em jolly well, and ought to call it Harrow and Eton.” Polite boy behind with light blue adornment: “ Pardon my remarking that Gentlemen v. Players is never called Players v. Gentlemen.” The excellent all-round form shown by the Gentlemen of Philadelphia during the present tour has, as was only to be expected, given the greatest satisfaction to all classes of cricketers on this side of the big drink. Notwithstanding the fears expressed by many of their friends at home on the eve of their depar­ ture, they have so far proved themselves to be a decidedly better combination than that of 1884, and this in face of their collapse in the second innings at Lord’s yesterday, against a formidable eleven of Amateurs representing the Marylebone Club. It must be remembered, too, that the team are without three of the best cricketers in the States, Messrs. W. C. Lowry, the great slow bowler, J. A. Scott, and W. Brockie, and the absence of this important trio must be taken into account by anyone who thinks of guaging the quality of American cricket by the form ofthose now here. It is gratifying to learn that Cape. Newhall and his men are highly pleased with the reception they have met everywhere since they landed in Ireland. D u lw ic h C o lle g e , which has in the past supplied two very useful all-round cricketers to the Surrey eleven in the persons of Messrs. M. P. Bowden and A. P. Douglas, has reason to congratulate itself on the possession of an exceptionally promising young player in Mr. J. Doug­ las, younger brother of A.P., and captain of this year’s team. As his scores may be of interest, I give them in full:— Surrey Club 14 Tonbridge School 14 Incogniti 25 Orleans Club 80 M.C.C. & G. .. 73 Old Alleynians .. 79 Ne’er-do-Weels.. 37 Bedford School.. 85* Masters 90 Old Harrovians 22 Brighton College . 166 Free Foresters .. 43 This makes a total of 704 runs in fifteen innings, and with three not outs gives an average of 58.8. CalcKET-readers of all classes will be glad to learn that Lord George Scott, of the 10th Hussars, who had a severe accident on Monday, being thrown, while exercising on horseback on the Rnaves- mire, York, violently on his head, is pro­ gressing satisfactorily. Lord George Scott, who, I need hardly add, is the well-known cricketer, was unconscious when he was picked up and taken to Viscount Downe’s residence, and it was found that he was suffering from concussion of the brain. A telegram from York yesterday states that the young officer was much better, and that there has been a gradual improve­ ment in his condition. Every one will hope to hear that this has been main­ tained, and that he will soon be out and at his post again. T h e last Australian mail brought in­ telligence that Mr. E. W. Wallington, private secretary to the Governor of New South Wales, having aocepted an im­ portant position in Melbourne, Mr. E. H. Hlebert, of the Eoyal Welsh Fusiliers, had been appointed to succeed him at Government House, Sydney. Mr. Wal­ lington, it is unnecessary for me to add, is the old Shirburnian who did good service for Oxford University in 1877, T h e following is from Truth As an example of the amount oi intelligent interest displayed in cricket by the ladies, I m ay cite (writes a correspondent) the following fragment which I overheard on Lord’sground: fa ir enthusiast, who has been listening (?) for half-an-hour to a laborious description of the game—“ And Mr. Brown, do tell me, which count most, runs or wickets ?” T h e Hertfordshire Mercury of June 29 reproduces—in as nearly as possible its original form—a handbill of a cricket match played in Hertford in 1804. As a souvenir of cricket as it was played at the commencement of the century, it can­ not fail to be of interest. Through the courtesy of the Editor of the Mercury, I am able to give the bill andthe comments thereon in their entirety: It is curious to note [says the Mercury ] that the “ national game” was played in those days, at all events on some occasions, foi monejr stakes. We have also found, and insert, the original block which adorned the head of the handbill, the quaint figures on which, together with the comical attitudes indulged in by the players,will amuse modern oricketers, besides affording a good illustration of the kind of wood engraving current in those days. The “ Volunteers ” alluded to formed apart of the local volunteer force raised to protect the neighbourhood against the anticipated invasion of the much-dreaded Bonaparte:— CRICKET. On Tuesday, September 11th, 1804, will beplaye d IN HARTHAM MEAD, A Grand Match at Cricket, B E TW E E N THE Non-commissioned O F F I C E R S OP THE HERTFORD VOLUNTEERS, (For 50 Guineas) Slumps to be pitched at 3 o'clock. AUSTIH, PRINTER, HERTFORD. CHIEF FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. Thursday, July 25—Lord’s, M.C.C. and G. v.Lin­ colnshire; Kennington Oval, Surrey ( 2 nd XI.) v. Eighteen Colts of East Surrey; Birmingham, Warwickshire v. Yorkshire; Leicester, Leicestershire v. Surrey; Manchester, Lanca­ shire v. Gloucestershire; Town Mailing, Gen­ tlemen of Kent v. Gentlemen of Philadelphia. M o n d a y , J u d y 29—Lord’s, M.CC. and G. v. Northamptonshire; KenniDgton Oval, Surrey v. Sussex; Bradford, Yorkshire v. Gloucester­ shire ; Derby, Derbyshire v. Notts; Southamp­ ton, Gentn. of Hants v. Gentn. of Phila­ delphia. W ednesday , J u ly 31— Lord’s, Rugby v. Marl­ borough.