Cricket 1889

NOV. 28, 1889. CRICKET: A WEEKLY EECOED OF THE GAME. (Cambridge). All the oldmembers of last year’s teamwill beavailable, tobe further strengthened it is hoped in most, if not all, of their matches bythevaluable assis­ tance of. Messrs. M. P. Lucas and P. Thomas. The professional element will be increased by the inclusion of Tebay, who showed such good form at the end of last season. The County ground is undergoing its usual winter preparation, and gives promise of pro­ ducingwicketsofthewell-knownBrighton excellence during the coming season. Though we have not received any official intimation, we are able to give a fair idea of the programme proposed by the Yorkshire Committee for 1890. Two matcheswillbemade with theAustralians, one to take place at Sheffield, the other at Bradford, in addition to another fixture between the Australians and the Players at Sheffield. As usual, Yorkshire willmeetthe other seven leadingcounties, and we also hear that arrangements will be concluded with Essex and Derbyshire. To Bradford has been allotted the Essex and Middlesex matches, while the Derby­ shire eleven will visit Sheffield. Hall’s benefit, deferred from this year, is totake place next summer, but it is not settled yet whether Lancashire or Surrey will furnish the outside attraction. The good form shown by the Essex County Eleven this year has induced the authorities to try a slightly more ambi­ tious programme. It is proposed to arrange matches with Yorkshire and Gloucestershire, as well as Surrey, in addition to fixtures with Derbyshire, Warwickshire and M.C.C. and Ground. The Australians will visit Leyton tomeet Past and Present of Cambridge Univer­ sity, and it is hoped they may appear again on the County Ground. Mr. A. P. Lucas will play regularly, and the team of this year will again be available. Burns joins the ground staff at Lord’s, and a trial will be given to an Essex lad, G. Mead, who has shown excellent form for Clapton and Broxbourne during the last two seasons. It is gratilying to hear that about half the amount required to remove the liabilities of the County Club has now been promised, and with assis­ tance from outside of the County, the danger of collapse ought now to be averted. Derbyshire has arranged to play home and home matches with Surrey, Notting­ hamshire, Yorkshire and Leicestershire, also one match with M.C.C. & G., and the Australians. It is possible that fixtures will be made with Essex and Norfolk, and also hoped that matches may be arranged with Lancashire. The Derbyshire Eleven showed greatly im­ proved form last summer, and as all last year’s players are available, and Mr. Spofforth will be qualified, Derbyshire ought to do still better next season. C. Evans, of Sheepbridge, who played one innings only, against Yorkshire, andscored 47 in very good form, and T. Purdy, of Birmingham, who was engaged for the Belfast C.C., and had an average of over 50 for that club, ought to make useful additions to the batting strength of the Eleven. The wickets on the County ground last season were very good, and as the ground is being well looked after, there is every prospect that the pitch will be in excellent condition next summer. One of the greatest blows to Derbyshire at present is the fact that GeorgeDavidson has signed an agreement to play for Warwickshire as soon as he is qualified. Matches will in all probability be arranged by Hampshire with Surrey, Sussex, Somerset, Norfolk and Leicester­ shire, and the authorities also hope to have the Australians in Southampton. Mr. H. W. Forster has succeeded Mr. F. E. Lacey in the captaincy, but the latter will still assist the County, and indeed all the old players will be available. Soar, a young professional from Nottingham, has qualified for Hampshire ; he is a fast right-handed bowler and fair bat. TheHertfordshireClubhopes tobe able to settle the same card as last year, con­ sisting of home and home matches with Essex,Norfolk, andNorthants, anda single fixture each with M.C.C. and G. and Surrey2nd Eleven. If funds permit, it is probable that an additional fixture or two may be arranged. Most of the old players will be available, viz., E. L. Swift, Rev. F. L. Poland, E. Crawley, A. Butcher, C. Pigg, Rev. W. H. Heale, H. Pigg, H. G. M. Amos, E. H. Wales, A. J. Boger, 0. C. Bevan, H. B. Debenham, G. M. Jones, E. H. Bradby, Pearce, Hearn, Titchmarsh. A. J. Boger (Win­ chester Eleven) a slow bowler, and O. C. Bevan fast right, are the most recent acquisitions for Herts, and W. M. Thompson (who was tried once last season) is likely to be of future service with the bat. The prospects of the Norfolk County Cricket Club, if not perhaps much brighter than last year, are by no means discouraging. The County loses the services of Mr. E. B. Raiies, its best bowler, who has gone to India. The Rev. A. P. Wickham has also left tho County, but is eligible for next season. The other old hands are still available, while in Messrs. E. Orams, A. R. Buxton and E. Holley, the County possesses young blood of great promise. The introduction of C. Shore islikely to prove a great gain, C. Morley has been re­ engaged, and if Rye retains his form of last season he will continueto add to the strength of the team. It is proposed to arrange home and home matches for next year, with Derbyshire, Hamp­ shire, Hertfordshire and M.C.C. & G. Gentlemen of Norfolk will also play the Eton Ramblers and Cambridge University Long Vacation Club. The County was unfortunate in having bad weather during the Cricket Week. This doubtless affected the attendance, which fell far short of the previous year. All home County matches are played on the Lakenham Ground, Norwich, which is generally considered one of the best grounds in the Country. Great interest was taken last year in the competitions for the Cup, which was won by Carrow. Somersetshire will next year content themselves perforce with a small pro­ gramme. They will meet Warwickshire, Hants and Staffordshire, out and home, and will probably encounter Gentlemen of Wiltsand Devon. The bicycling track round the County Ground at Taunton has beengrassed over, thereby verymuch improving the ground. All theold hands are available, and there are besides several promisingmen coming on. Thus the prospects of the county are fairly bright. The programme of theDurhamCounty C.C. for 1890 is at present in a very incomplete state. The Committee hope to have one fixture with Warwickshire in Durham, and are trying to get Staffordshire to play a return to that of last year at Stoke. They have also invited Leicestershire, and have ar­ ranged matcheswith Cumberland, North­ umberland and M.C.C. and Ground. The general meeting is to be held in January, and it is very probable that Mr. W. F. Whitwell (the Uppingham Captain of 1886) will be captain of the eleven for next year. We are also informed that Lord Londonderry has expressed a desire to promote the interests of the County Club, and islikely to becomeits president. All the old players will be available next year, and in addition the County will have the services of Mr. A. W. Welch of Stockton, a medium bowler, who has bowled with great success in local cricket this year, but whose business engagements did not permit him to assist the County. The executive also expects to make an arrangement with the Sunderland Cricket Club, under which all County matches will be played on the Sunderland Ground. [No particulars have been received from the Secretaries of the other County Clubs]. T h e London Ramblers (late City Ramblers) dine at the First Avenue Hotel, Holborn, on Monday evening next. T h e annual dinner of the Burlington Wan­ derers C.C. will take place at the Holborn Restaurant, on Friday, Deo. 6 . G. D a v id s o n , the Derbyshire professional, has, it is said, signed an agreement to play for Warwickshire when the period of two yeari requisite for qualification has expired. M e s s e s . A. G il l e s p ie and Ferrie, who visited England with the Gentlemen of Canada two years ago, were first and second in the batting averages of the Hamilton (Ont.) C.C. this year. The former had an aggregate of 216 for eleven, the latter of 144 for twelve oompleted innings. The former was also the most successful bowler, with 41 wickets for 213 runs. W e have received from Mr. Harding, the Art Stationer, of 45, Piccadilly, a number of Christmas Cards, several of which represent sporting subjects. That they are artistic in conception and design goes without saying, when we state that they are the work of Ernest Griset and other well-known artists. Those who know the uniformly high quality of Mr. Harding’s productions, too, do not need to be told that they are worthy of the reputa­ tion of the house. Mr. Harding claims that his are the only Christmas Cards produced by British artists and British workmen, and this is an additional claim to that of their own intrinsic value, NEXT ISSUE, DECEMBER 27.