Cricket 1890

“ Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. BegiBtereaiOTTranSrio^Abroad. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1890. PRICEi ad. CR ICKET UP TO DATE. A S p o r t in g R e p o r t o p t h e F u t u r e . (From the St. James's Gazette of June 17). To a sooiety fully oonvinoed of the enormous blessings of the socialism at whioh we have at length arrived, it will seem strange that the world should so long have tolerated the unfair and invidious rules of cricket prescribed by the now suppressed Marylebone O.C. Yet it cannot be denied that at first some few persons wished to adhere to the old regulations; and it may be of some interest to future genera­ tions to preserve an aooount of the first match played under the new rules—that botween the London County C.O. and All England, on the 1st June, 1900. The County Counoil did, in­ deed, at one time prohibit the game, on the ground that it was essentially individualistic and contrary to the spirit of our enlightened age; bnt on some discontent being expressed, it was agreed that the sport should be allowed under the revised laws promulgated by the County Council, with the sanotion of two Junior Commissioners of the Treasury. It is needless to say that the main features of the new system are, that the innings of all bats­ men shall be of equal length, the innings of the whole side (now twelve in number) lasting two hours, and that all the opposing team shall bowl an over in turn. From the deci­ sions of the umpires an appeal lies to the Chairman of the Open Spaces Committee of the County Council. Manifestly just and equitable as are these provisions, and conform­ ing as they do to the socialistic spirit of our times, they met with some opposition from the malignant individualistic minority in the oountry. This faction, it is sad to say, were led on this occasion by Mr. Hyndman, whose statue was consequently removed from the Guildhall to the Chamber of Horrors in the Democratio Portrait Gallery, formerly known as Madame Tussaud’s. The match was played at Kennington Oval, the old Lord’s ground being now utilised as the People’s Free Circus Arena. Lord Rose­ bery (Chairman L.C.C.) captained the London side ex officio, and Mr. W. G. Grace, jun., led the England team, Mr. W. G. Grace, sen., the greedy monopolist of the bat under the absurd system formerly in vogue, being soheduled among the prohibited persons. England, as the visiting team, were entitled, under Rule 211, to the first innings; and Mr. Grace, with one of his supporters, commenoed batting. His hitting was tremendous, and he made five boundary hits from Lord Rosebery’s first over; but one drive having pitched over the pavilion and out of the ground, the umpires, under Rule 1, disallowed it, and no runs were counted. When twenty minutes had expired and the batsmen accordingly withdrew— neither having been out—the total was 74. The rest of the innings calls for little com­ ment. The lob bowling of the veteran Mr. Walter Read proved to have retained all its old deadliness, and he thrice bowled Shrews­ bury. Fifteen runs were therefore deducted from the England score, under the rule which provides that if a batsman is out he shall con­ tinue his innings for the rest of the twenty minutes allowed him and his partner, but five rans shall be subtracted from the total of his side. It is strange in this humane age to think that under the unfeeling rules of the M.O.C. there was added to the misfortune of getting out the disgrace of having to retire. The England soore (inoluding 34 wides) amounted to 197. Without any interval the men of London proceeded to the wickets. The batting was good, and the score amounted to 13, when a question arose whioh was referred to the umpires. Mr. Alderman Herbert Gladstone (said to have once been a politician), who was batting, complained that Mr. Graoe was un­ duly and inaividualistically active at point, having twice fielded a hard cut and once caught him. The umpires differed; but Sir William Harcourt (Chairman, Open Spaces Committee) allowed the objection, directed that three runs should be added to the London score, and that Mr. Grace should field 'not less than fifty yards from the wicket. The deci­ sion was received with applause. Lord Rose­ bery was cheered on approaobing the wicket with Mr. MoDougall; and having proved that he exceeded the waist measurement for veterans (Rule 703), Mr. Alderman Haggis was allowed to run; for him. Owing to being a little out of practice the distinguished Chair­ man was twice caught, bowled four times, and leg-before-wicket on seven occasions. His score amounted to minus 64. The London total was 41, which was considered .excellent. When the England team took their places at the wicket a second time (the ridiculous custom of -punishing good batting by making the other side “ follow on ” having been abolished by the new code), the scoring was again rapid. Lord Rosebery being fatigued appointed Lohmann his proxy to bowl for him ; but the power of attorney, not having been registered, was disallowed. When the England XII. were 250 ahead the London captain declared the innings dosed (Rule 2). The two batsmen whose turn came next strongly objeoted, especially as it was Lord Rosebery’s over. The discreditable taint of individualism in the England team thus manifested led to an unseemly dispute, and a quarter-of-an-hour was lost in wrangling. The power of terminating an opponent’s inn­ ings (without compensation) is one of the greatest improvements made by the new rules, and supplies a long-felt want. Eventually, however, Lord Rosebery withdrew his motion, and the old Surrey loving oup was passed round to the spectators. The Poet of the Oval promised to have some new verses on the incident next day. Requiring 363 to win, London oommenced its seoond innings with Mr. Walter Read and Beaumont at a quarter to six, the game having oommenced at 10.30 a.m . and luncheon having occupied an hour. Mr. Read’s artistio and soientifio pulls were much admired. The ground was now orowded and the scene very brilliant. The band of the L.C.O., under the superintendence of the 43rd Sub-Assistant Inspector of the Labour Department (Amuse­ ment Section) was in attendance; and the disused gasometer made an excellent band­ stand. At half-past seven London wanted 300 to win, and the last pair of batsmen had just begun their innings. The game was, there­ fore, in a most interesting stage when the clock struck the half-hour. The umpires thereupon drew stumps, in spite of protests from the spectators. They explained that they had worked for eight hours that day, and under the Eight Hours (Prevention of Hard Labour) Act they and the players would com­ mit a misdemeanour, punishable with fines and relegation to a hospital, if the match con­ tinued without a lioence from the magistrates. The dispute in the second innings of England, of course, occasioned the delay and protracted the proceedings beyond the eight hours’ limit, and such a case is not provided for by the rules or the Aot of Parliament. The interest­ ing contest thus terminated, and the Eng­ land XII. claimed that the match was drawn ; but upon the question being put to the vote (Rule 3) the spectators deoiaed by a large majority that London had won. It is pleasant to see that the ohivalry and spirit of fair play, whioh always distinguished the Oval crowd, has not been lost or diminished now that we have arrived at the only state of society possible to a free, equal, fraternal, logical, and Bellamistio community. *,* Owing to an accident we have been com- elled to hold over the portrait and iography of Dr. J. E. Barrett of the Australian team, which should have ap­ peared to-day, tilj next Thursday.;