Cricket 1889

S e p t . 26,1889. CBICKET: A WEEKLY EECORD OF THE GAME. 481 Purpureos spargam flores et ftmgar inani Munere. I have been chattering about such bowlers as Ridley, but I should be very sorry to forget Kenney, who in 1868 took fourteen wickets for no very large per­ centage of runs. Ridley was, of course, a slow bowler, who had a wonderful gift for fielding his own bowling; but Kenney was a fast bowler with a very pretty break, and possessed a power over the ball in which he was almost equal to Steel, though the pace was very different. I am always told that the best gentle­ man bowlerwas the Rev. C. D. Marsham, who played for Oxford for five years, from ’54 to ’58; but for my part I can not forget the extraordinary performance of a much later hero, Sam Butler, in 1871. He actually got all the tenwickets of Cambridge in the first innings—men like Tardley, Thornton, and Fryer—at the cost of 38 runs, and then proceeded to bowl five wickets in the second innings ! But he was quite out of form next year, and was one of the victims ot the memorable defeat of Oxford by one innings and 166 runs. Men talk of the improvement of cricket in recent years, asevidencedbythemuchlargerscoresthat aremade inmodernmatches; but I should like to interrogate some of the old bowlers on this point, and ask them whether the greater scores of batsmen are not due to the excellence of the grounds on which the matches are now played. When C. Lyttelton andMitchell used to make their fifty or sixty, it mnst be remembered that they had to play on a turl which, compared with the billiard-table excellence of modern times, was almost like a ploughed field. Ask, however, the old professors about Mit­ chell. They will tell you that he was the nastiest man to bowl at, of whom they have had experience, with the possible exception of Lyttelton. He was not, of course, a beautiful bat, not so beautiful, for instance, as Yardley; but he could have given some of his successors a point or two in the noble game, and, indeed, could have held his own with them all, except the one who never “ abides our question,” butis always free, W. Or. Grace. On the subject of bad grounds there is a famous story, told by Southerton, the old Surrey professional, which those who already know it will, I am sure, readily pardonme for repeating. He went down to play in a rustic match, and on his re­ turn was asked what kind of wicket he had to bowl on, His answer was char­ acteristic. “ Well, sir, pretty fair, but a little rough. I pitched one rather short, and flushed a covey of partridges! ” No one can mention the Lyttelton family without the deepest respect. They have proved themselves at all times and all places cricketers of the highest rank. But of all their exploits I like recalling that of Edward Lyttelton in 1878, when Middlesex were playing the Australians. Cambridge werevery good that year, in­ deed, I think they were an unbeaten team, and Lyttelton was one of the best. In the match at Lord’s to which I am referring Lyttelton made 76 runs in seventy-four minutes, which I need scarcely sayis analmostunparalleled performance, and hit a ball to square-leg right into the Tennis Court. His score of 113 was the only three-innings com­ piled in England against Gregory’s team. And now I come to something much later, which left an equal impression on my mind, the memorable Oxford and Cambridge match in 1886. It was about twenty minutes after one on the second day when Oxfordbegan its secondinnings with Key and Rashleigh. Both batsmen were in fine form that year, but probably no one—least ofall themselves—expected what was about to ensue. They hit to every part of the field in the most delightfully reckless fashion. Nothing came amiss to them, and Rock and Top­ pin were at their wits end. The first wicket fell at 243, when Key was caught at long-off for 143. Then Rashleigh got tired, and the second wicket fell at 257, after the second batsman had compiled 107. But what a performance it was ! And how the Dark Blues screamed and yelled themselves hoarse as ball afterball was driven to the boundary I There is, of course, no game like cricket; andthere is certainly no such enthusiasm as Lord’s can exhibit when some really exciting incidents are happening and some “ tall hitting ” is being exhibited. I must not, however, let my pen run away with me in my attempt to recount some of the scenes which have been enacted before the old pavilion, which is nomore. They tell me that cricket is not so good now as it was a few years ago, and I partly believe it, when I think of men like Steel, Lucas, Studd, Alfred and Edward Lyttelton, who about1884were in their prime. But the reason is plain. The best Amateur talent as a rule comes fromthe Universities, and neither Oxford nor Cambridge are sending up at present suchgoodmaterial astheyusedto. Perhaps anotable exceptionis to be found in Key, who in his academic time collected more runs than were ever got for his University. And I cannot forbear to mention Philipson’s wicket-keeping, who in the match of Gentlemen v. Players, with all kinds of bowling to face, only let four byes. But the broadfact remains true that at the present day, while the Professionals are better, the Gentlemen are weaker. To judge from recent events, the amateur of most promise isStoddart. Longmayhe continue to wield the willow, and prove—what, indeed, needs no proving—that it is with games as it was with racehorses when Eclipse used to spread-eagle the field— cricket first, and the rest nowhere! A N SW E R S toC O R R E S PO N D EN T S . P e r ip a t e t ic .— I f the batsman played the ball he was run out. D.I1.—1. He is not out. 2. Yes. ‘ I n t e r -U n iv e r s it y R e c o r d s ."— Full particn- lars of all Competitions in Athletics,Bicycling, Bil­ liards, Chess, Cricket, Cross Country, Lawn Tennis, Polo, Racquets, Bifle Contests, Rowing, and Tennis, between Oxford and Cambridge, from 1827 to 1887. Most valuable as a reference. Sent post-free on receipt of l/2in stamps, by Wright & Co.. Hi St. Andrew’s Hill, Doctors’Commons.E.C. ESSEX CRICKET CHALLENGE CUP. FINAL TIE. On Wednesday, the 18th, the Chelmsford and Beckton Clubs met for the third time to decide which should hold the above Cup for the next year. Beckton were the favourite's, particularly as the holders, Chelmsford, were unable to secure the valuable services of Mr. A. P. Lucas. Chelmsford, who went in first, made a good start, the total being 191 when the last batsman was dismissed. The chief feature of the innings was the capital batting of Gray, who made 68 out of 148 while he was in. Beckton, in their turn, made a good start, Watts and Nuttall making 72 before the first wickit fell. E. Copland’s slow bowliug, however, proved too much for the rest, and as the total only reached 140, Chelmsford won by 51 runs. Copland took seven wickets for 33 runs. At the close of the match Mr. M. P. Betts, theSecretary of the Essex County C.C., the president, handed the cup to Mr. C. A. Copland, the captain of the Chelmsford Club, and medals to the members of the winning team. C h e l m s f o r d . R. F. Hayward, not out ...................24 E C.Gray.h w,b Pat­ more..................... 0 W. Gray, b Wren ... 68 D. G. Payne,b Hutch­ ings ........................13 E. Copland, b Hutch­ ings ........................ 8 C. A. Copland, lbw, b Hutchings .......... 4 H. Pedley, c Morton, b H. Watts ..........18 G. A. Bocking, b Pat­ more ... .................14 B.Copland,bPatmore 8 B e c k t o n . A. Barnard, lbw, b Patmore................ 12 H. Simpson,b Curtis 5 Extras................... 17 Total ...191 E. Watts, st Pedley, b Payne .................41 H. Nuttall,st Pedley, b E. Copland..........19 H.Kirkman, b E.Cop- la n d ........................15 W. Wren, c Pedley, b Sim pson................. 0 G.Hutchings,bE.Cop- land ........................11 B.C. Curtis, not out... 31 H.Watts,b E.Copland 3 A. Patmore, c Simp­ son, b E. Copland A. Morton, c and b E. Copland .......... W. Featherstone, b Payne ................. J.Tucker, c Payne, b E. Copland Extras... Total ... 16 The following are the results of the com­ petition :—First round: Chelmsford beat Braintree, Brentwood beat Colchester Odd­ fellows, Romford beat Aveley, Ilford beat Epping Bell Common, Beckton (a bye). Second round : Beckton beat Romford; the other three club* had byes. Semi-final round: Chelmsford beat Ilford, Beckton beat Brent­ wood. Final: Chelmsford beat Beckton after two drawn games. The following are the results of the final ties since the institution of the competition:— 1887. Brentwood beat Rochford Hundred; 1888. Chelmsford beat Saffron Walden, after one drawn game greatly in favour of the latter; 1889. Chelmsford beat Beckton. BRADFIELD COLLEGE. Matches played 13—won 6, drawn 2, lost 5. BATTING AVERAGES. Times Most in Inns, not out. Euns. an Inn. Aver. E. E .Lea ........39 ... 2 ... 411 ... 90 ... 24 3 W. B.Jenyns ...17 ... 1 ... 294 ... 81 ... 18.6 G. M. T. Smyth 19 ... 3 ... 413 ... 54*... 25.13 W. T. Gellibrand 16 ... 1 ... 167 ...47 ... 112 C. E. Nicholl ... 16 ... 0 ... 194 ... 50 ... 12.2 H. H. Crawley ... 19 ... 2 ... 205 ... 49*... 12.1 T. G. Scott......... 16 ... 3 ... 76 ...1 4 ... 5.11 G .F . Warren ...15 ... 1 ... 97 ...2 3 ... 6 13 R.B. Reiss......... 8 ... 2 ... 61 ... 19 ... 10.1 H. W. F ife ...... 7 ... 3 ... 18 ... 8*... 4.2 S. V. S h ea ........... 4 ... 0 ... 17 ... 6 ... 4.1 BOWLING AVERAGES. Overs. Runs. Wkts. Aver. E. E. Lea ................. 355 ... 805 ... 71 ... 11.2 C. E. Nicholl ........... 272 ... 656 ... 42 ... 15.5 G.F. Warren ....................86... 222 ... 11 ... 20.1 M r. E. A. R e d m a n , 43, Maryon Road, Charlton. S.E., is the new Hon. Sec. of the Charlton Park C.C. NEXT ISSUE, OCTOBER 31.