Cricket 1889

DEO. 27, 1889. CBlCKET: A WEEKLY EECOED OP THE GAME. 47? Mr. E. H. Mallett, who proposed this motion, saidthat clubs established in his county had had a precarious existence, and had mainly existed through the enthusiasm and generosity of a few individuals. Their matches hadnot pro­ duced any great amount of public sup­ port, andthe playerswere not particularly keen. It was not surprising such was the case, as there was very little of the element ofcompetition. It wasnecessary there should be a systematising of minor county cricket in order that the element of competition might be introduced. What he desired to see was the formation oftwo classes among the minor counties, so that opportunity would be afforded for competition, and that the same methods that were in vogue among the leading counties should be adopted in ascertain­ ing the position of each county at the end of the season. The question was asked at a council meeting in 1886—“ How was it possible for a second-class county to become first-class ?” The gentleman who put that question did not receive any answer, and it seemed to be looked upon as absurd to think it was possible for a minor county to become first-class. He saw nothing absurd in that question, and he thought an attempt should be made by the Council to provide some system by which the spirit of emulation was introduced into other than first-class cricket. As a step in that direction, he suggested that the Council should classify the counties, and include with the first class one or two of the best second-class shires, then have a system deciding the position of each class, and the county at the bottom should exchange places with the top county in the lower class. If second-class counties were to continue to exist there must be some system of arranging matches. So tar as Durham were at present concerned they were in a hopeless position, as they couldnot obtain fixtures with other counties. Lord Harris, in supporting the resolu­ tion, thought that the time had come when, if possible, some steps should be taken to assist those counties which had not the opportunity of playing the best counties, and to give them that oppor­ tunity. Whatever classification or pro­ posals were made, everything depended upon the goodwill of the first-class counties, and their opinion as to whether it would pay them. Mr. Ansell said there had been some correspondence between his county (War­ wickshire) and Durham as to whether the latter’s resolution or the one proposed by Warwickshire should be put forward. His county’s resolution was as follows :— In the interests of county cricket it is de­ sirable that an official classification of counties should be made annually by this Council, and that a sub-committee, consisting of the President, with three representatives from first-class and three from second-class shires, be appointed to recommend a scheme for this purpose, such scheme to include a scheme of promotion by merit, under which a county may rise from one class to another. The resolution as amendedwas carried, and Surrey, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and Som­ ersetshire were elected to form the sub­ committee. Lord Harris suggested that if it met with the views ofthe counties they should invite Lord Cobham, formerly known as LordLyttelton, to take the chair during the ensuing year. He had been a first- class cricketer, and continued to take keen interest in the game. Yery recently he was President of the Marylebone Cricket Club, and was an excellent man of business, Mr. Grace then proposed, and Mr- Turner seconded, that the Chairman’s suggestion be adopted, and the resolution was carried unanimously. Hon. Ivo Bligh was elected honorary retary and treasurer. Dr. Bussell Bencraft proposed a vote of thanks to Lord Harris for the efficient way in which he had carried out his duties as President of the Council, and heartilycongratulatedhimonhis appoint­ ment to the Governorship of Bombay. Mr. Ellison seconded the resolution. LordHarris, in responding, said that he was exceedingly obliged to them for the vote. He hoped and trusted that his action in proposing to the counties that a County Cricket Council should be formed had been proved by the results not to be an unwise step. Only this year at any rate it had showed that it was necessary that counties should be able to combine, and in future it might be valuable that they had that power of combination. In taking leave of them, his lordship sin­ cerely trusted that the Council and the counties would continue as they had done in the past, to insist upon county cricket being the purest form of cricket that could be played. He would not take the liberty of offering advice, because he was sure they would be very careful to watch that the thin end of the wedge of prize was not inserted in­ to county cricket, and he hoped that the counties would discourage as far as they possiblycould, prize giving torany cricket match»s whatever. County cricket was the one formof athletic sports at the pre­ sent moment which was absolutely pure, and therewasnothing beyond the honour of the game. He could not help re­ marking that if honour and glory were enough for county cricketers, he did not see why anything else should be required by cricketers in the lower classes. His lordship acknowledged the unvarying kindness which had been shown to him during twenty years’ cricket by all the counties with which he had been asso­ ciated, the readiness of the Council in adopting some of his views, and the courteous way in which they declined to adopt some others. In conclusion, Lord Harris said that his cricket bookwas pro­ bably closed, but it contained nothing but most agreeable recollections. It would be a volume to which he could refer with the greatest pleasure, and would recall many pleasant days and names which to the end of his life he would look upon as those of his best friends. A vote of thanks to the M.C.C. for the use of the roombrought the meeting to a close. PERIPATETICS CLUB. Matches played, 16—won 8 , lost 4, drawn 4. RESULTS OF MATCHES. June 8—Finchley, v. Christ’s College. Drawn. Peripatetics, 137; Christ’s College. 122 for 9 -wickets. June 22-Highgate, t . Highgate School. Drawn. School, 247; Peripatetics, 81 for 2 wickets. June 29-Egham , v. R.I.E. College. Won. Peri­ patetics, 1G3; College, 122. July 6—Isleworth, v. London International Col­ lege. Lost. Peripatetics, 118; College, 15'2. July 10—Willesden, v. Willesden Club. Won. Peripatetics, 85; Willesden, 64. July 13—West Kensington, y. St. Paul’s School. Drawn. School, 198; Peripatetics, 175 for 7 wickets. July 15—Cambridge, v. Pembroke L.V.C. Won. Pembroke, 86; Peripatetics, 264 for 9 wickets. July 16-Cambridge, v. King's and Clare L.V.C. Won. King’s and Clare, 56 and 77 ; Peri­ patetics, 145. July 17—Cambridge, v. Caius L. V. C. Won. Caius, 87; Peripatetics, 270 for 4 wickets. July 18 and 19—Cambridge, y. St. John’s L.V.C. Won. St. John’s, 63 and 49 ; Peripatetics, 116. July 2 0 -Cambridge, v. Jesus L.V.C. Won. Jesus, 107; Peripatetics, 154. July 29 & 80—Tooting, y. Upper Tooting. Lost, Peripatetics, 223 and 142; Upper Tooting. 267 and 99 for 2 wickets. August 3—Streatham, v Streatham. Lost. Peri­ patetics, 115; Streatham, 120 for 3 wickets, August 5—Surbiton, v. Surbiton. Won. Surbiton. 71; Peripatetics. 157. August 10—Chiswick Park, v. Chiswick Park. Lost. Peripatetics, 139; Chiswick Park, 144 for 6 wickets. August 14—Richmond, v. Richmond. Drawn. Peripatetics, 69 for 1 wickct. BATTING AVERAGES. Times Most in Inns, not out. Runs, an Inn. Aver. Rev. E. B. Firth 7 ... 0 .... 275 ... 83 ... 39.2 W. Thompson 5 ... 0 ..,. 183 ... 84 ... 36.3 E. H. Leaf.......... 4 ... 0 ... 133 ... 103 .,.. 33 3 B. B u rton .......... 3 ... 1 ... , 59 ... 39*... 99.2 D. Li. A. Jephson 4 ... 1 ... 69 ... 27 .,,. 2:3. J. B. Oakley ... G ... 1 .... 113 ... 47 ... 22 3 A. H. Behrend... 3 ... 1 .... 43 ... 18*... 2'.2 F. Abraham ... 3 ... 0 ..., 58 ... 30 ... 19.1 J. Ogilvie .......... 3 ... 0 ..., 57 ... 31 .,.. 19. N. Morice .......... 8 ... 0 .... 151 ... 47 . .. 1S.7 A. Sharood 4 ... 1 ... 51 ... 33 ... 17. T. S. Sidney 10 ... 0 .... 135 ... 22 ... 13.5 H. F. Morice ... 16 ... 4 .... 103 ... 19*... 11 4 R.O. Crawford... 4 ... 0 .... 43 ... 26 ... 10 3 J. W. Onslow ... 4 ... 2 .... 20 ... 10*... IP. W. Mander 7 ... 1 .... 87 ... 14 ... 6.1 Hon. J. Powys... 3 ... 0 ... 17 ... 10 ... 52 The following played in less than 3 innings:— E. G. Rand 59—16, F. Hill 86-22, A. M. Latham £0 —6, W. S. Sawyer 25*—2, W. L. Spofforth, 25—0, P. T. Wrigley 18-2, C. A. Evors 13—3, E .C. Cooper 7 -0, W. F. Moms f—1, C. H. Evans 3 -2, H. S. Dominy 0—0, R. Broadley 0—0, C. S. Hunter 12, E. W. Moore 10, P. Darwin 8, P. Lofts 3, A Taylor 2. H, R. Ladell 1, E. H. Kelly 0, A. H. Newington 0, T. W. Steyens 0. DULWICH CLUB. The annual dinner of this club Was held on December 4 at the Holborn Restaurant, the chair being occupied by Mr. J. Blundell Maple, M.P. for Dulwich. The club is increasing its number of visitors, lias now- got a renewal for seven years of the lease of the ground at Burbage Road, Dulwich, nnd the match list for 1889 (56 matches played) being found too small, more engagements are being made for the coming season. “ J oh x W isd e n ’ s C r ic k e t e r s ’ A lm anack for 1890.”—Just as we were going to press, a copy of the twenty-seventh edition of Wisden reached us. Under the capable editorship of Mr. Charles F. Pardon, it is hardly neoessary to say that the contents are of as vaiied and interesting a character as in 1889, no small praise, be it added. The frontispiece consists of photographs of nine great batsmen of 1889. The chosen nine consist of A. Ward, F. H. Sugg, Maurice Read, Hall, Abel, Henderson, Shrewsbury, Barnes, and Gunn. “ Wisden for 1890 ” should be on the bookshelves of every cricketer. NEXT ISSUE, JANUARY 27.