Cricket 1890

JU L Y 31, 1890, CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME. 2 9 7 fashion, by hittingW ade, in thelast over, to the tune of 22 runs. If I remember rightly, too, the great Bonnor, playing for the third Australian team against I Zingari in September, 1882, scored 20 in one over off Mr. A. P. Lucas at Scar­ borough. In both the last two cases, it may be added, four balls constituted an over. Quit custodiet ipsos cuatodes ! No wonder there are occasionally deep com­ plaints about the delusions given in some of the most important matches, if the following incident, as I have no reason to doubt from the »ource of my informa­ tion, be correctly stated. In a match bordering on what is called first class, not very long ago, when one of the elevens took the field it was seen that a Brown, Jones, or Robin­ son, an’ it please you—was not of tho number. Another glance, though, Bhowed him dressed in the garb of spotless white which now is worn by the umpire— beautifully symbolical of his purity—I suppose prepared to do his duty in what some would, in their ignorance, imagine to be the most responsible position on the cricket field. “ But what have you done with B. J. or B. ? ” said one of the batsmen. “ Why is he not playing ? ” “ Oh,” was the reply, “ his sight has gone, and we have had to fill his place.” Defec­ tive vision in that instance was evidently not regarded as a drawback for an umpire. I t will be interesting to a great many C r ic k e t readers to know that the mem­ bers of the Philadelphian team which visited England last summer, played a very important part in the decisive victory obtained by the United States over Canada at Philadelphia a fortnight ago. E. W. Clark, G. S. Patterson, N. Etting, D. P. Stoerer, F. E. Brewster, H. P. Baily and H. I. Brown were all in the American eleven, and the seven of them together contributed 222, out of 249 from the bat, Patterson, who ap­ pears to be in wonderful run-getting form this summer, was responsible for as many as 126 of them. The bowling honours, too, were shared by H. I. Brown and Bailey, the latter of whom, as many will remember, fimished up the English tour last August, by taking the last three wickets ef Cambridge University L.V.C. with successive balls. Between them the pair took seventeen of the twenty Canadian wickets. The United States, I may add, won by an innings and 31 runs. C r ic k e t readers who have not as yet had an opportunity of visiting the pretty ground attached to the Lyric Club at St. Ann’s, Barnes, can hardly do better than utilise the occasion presented to them this week by the visit of the Australian team. The eleven to oppose the Colonists will, in the absenoe of Lord Hawke, be captained by Mr. C. I. Thornton, and consist, in addition, of Messrs. A. E. Stoddart, ~W. E. Roller, W. W. Read, G. McGregor, T. . C. O’Brien, and Loh­ mann, Peel, M. Read, Ulyett, and Mold. Vi itors can enjoy their otium in the shape of the music provided by the pipers of the 93rd Highlanders and the bands of the Royal Marines and Northampton­ shire Regiment cum dignitate in the form of good cricket. The ground, I may state for the benefit of those who are going there for the first time, is a few minut s’ walk from Barnes Station on the London and South-Western line. M e n tio n of the Australians reminds me that an invitation hasjustbeen cabled to them to play somematches in America at the end of September or the beginning of October on their homeward journey. M y information is from the very best source, but as at the time of writing the offer can hardly have got into the hands of the Australianmanager, I am not able to form any idea whether there is any likelihood of his reconsidering the deter­ mination come to early next week for the team when they .leave England to go direot home. T h e following will show the positions of the eight leading Counties this year, up to date. Played. Won. Lost. Dwn. Points. Aver. Surrey ... 8 ...6 ... 1 ... 1 ... 5 ... 0.625 Notts ... 9 ...5 ... 1 .. 3 ... 4 ... 0.441 Kent ... 10 ...5 ... 2 ... 3 ... 3 ... 0.300 Lancashire 9 ...4 ... 2 ... 3 ... 2 ... 0.222 Yorkshire 9 ...4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... 0.U1 Middlesex 9 ... 3 ... 6 ... 0 ... -3 ... 0.333 Gloucester­ shir ... 9 ... 1 ... 6 ... 2 ... -5 ... 0.555 Sussex ... 9 ... 1 ... 8 ... 0 ... - 7 ... 0.777 The County Council has decided that the losses shall be deducted from the wins and drawn games not counted. W h a t does the following, taken froji “ Cricket and Lawn Tennis Notes” in the Pall Mall Gazette of Monday last mean ? The eyes of the cricket world will be turned anxiously in the direction of the Oval to-day, as a great deal depends on the issue of the great match. It is to be hoped that no per- sonalquestionswillinfluence the selecting com­ mitt e, and that Surrey will be represented by as strong a team as oan be found among the twenty good cricketers that are eligible. It will, no doubt, be a great satisfaction to the Sussex eleven, in the midst of their misfortunes, to know that the eyes of the cricket world were turned anxiously in their direction on Monday. It just occurs to me, though, as within the bounds of probability that the chiel that pens these notes was a “ little too previous,” and had the match between Surrey and Notts, to be commenced next Monday, in his mind’s eye when he wrote. But, looking l wer down in the same article, I notic the following: ‘Fixtures”—Cricket, To-day, Surrey v. Sussex, at the Oval,” so that the latter theory must be wrong. There, though, I never was good at conun­ drums. I give it up. C r ic k e t readers who remember the late Martin McIntyre, who did good service for Notts with bat and ball in the seventies, will be interested in the fol­ lowing anecdotes in W. G.’s “ Forty Years of Crioket.” He was a real good-tempered chap, too; and when he committed a slight mistake it was a very difficult thing to reprove him. Once, if not twice, during my Australian tour, the hospitality of our friends on the other side was too much for him, and he stayed up later than he should have; although I had given strict orders that eveiy one should retire early, so that we might win our match next day. I learned next morning that ho had been out late, and made up my mind to speak sharply. He appeared on the ground in good time, smiling as usual, although he had got a hint of the storm brew­ ing. “ Good-morning, sir I” said he, before I oould get a word out. “ McIntyre has just been talking to himself, and thinks himself a fool! ” What could I say after that? I cer­ tainly oould not improve upon it. However, it was a very hot day, and the wioket suited him, and he both batted and bowled well. He found time hang rather heavily with him one winter, and joined the Birmingham olice force—“ to keep himself in condition,” e said. After three weeks—when he had neither run anyone in, nor found occasion to complain of the morals of the town —he came to the conclusion that he must do something to prove his fitness for the post. He learned that some roaghs were in the habit of meeting on the towing-path on Sun­ days, and indulging in pitch-and-toss at a penny a throw. He secreted himself until the gamble was in full swing, and then sprang upon them and collared the most flagrant offender. The others bolted on his sudden appearance; but, finding he was unsupported, returned, rescued their companion, and so kicked and knocked Molntyre about that he had to go to the hospital for three weeks. When he recovered, instead of turning up to duty, or reporting himself, as he ought to have done, he took a holiday with his friends, and on his return was requested to resign. He never thought much of the force after­ wards ! PKINCIPAL MATCHES FOR NEXT WEEK. T h u r s d a y , Ju ly 31.— Barnes, Australians v. Lyric Club & Ground; Nottingham, Notts Gloucestershire, F r id a y , A u g u s t 1.— -Lord's, M.C.C. & G. v. Chel­ tenham College; Bradford,Yorkshire v.Essex; Btoke, Staffordshire v. Lincolnshire. M o n d a y , A u g u s t 4.— Lord’s, M.C.C. & G. v. Notts Castle; Kennington Oval, Surrey v. Notts Canterbury, Australians v. Kent; Bristol, Gloucestershire v. Sussex; Derby,Derbyshire v. Essex; Sheffield, Yorkshire v. Staffordshire Manchester, Lancashire v. Warwickshire; Sunderland, Durham v. M.C.C. &G.; Norwich, Norfolk v. M.C.C. & G. W e d n e s d a y , A ugust 6.—Lord's, M.C.C. & G. v. Northants; Sunderland, Durham v. Stafford­ shire.