Cricket 1890

SEPT. 18, 1890, CRICKET: A WEEKLY EE COED OF THE GAME. 4 0 9 anywhere and in any company to make runs, and he makes them in away that delights the public. His hitting is brilliant all round, and in forcing the game he has few equals. His defence is good and sound, but it is his dash­ ing, rapid scoring that charms everyone; and he is a rare good man at a pinch. Everyone who has had to do with the captaining of a team knows how diffioult it is to get some players to hit out and risk their wickets in the hope of achieving a win. X have had many cases of the kind to contend against, but I have never had to ask Mr. Shuter twice to make a bid for victory. He can grasp the situation as quickly as anyone, and he is in­ variably equal to it. Surrey has done wonders under his leader­ ship. Matters were not too rosy when he undertook the captaincy, but it did not take long to prove to the Surrey committee that they had got the right man in the right place. He has the eleven well under his command, and he has the gratification of knowing that Surrey has to thank him to a great extent for its high position to-day. Which nobody can deny. T h e following paragraph, forming one of the naval and military announcements in the last number of the London Gazette, will be of interest to C ricket readers. R o y a l M i l i t a r y C o l l e g e . — Capt. E. G. Wynyard, D.S.O., the Welsh Regiment, to be an instructor, vice Major P. Luttman- Johnson, of the York and Lancaster Regt., who has vacated the appointment. Hampshire cricketers will be particularly pleased if, as seems likely to be the case, this appointment means the retention of Capt. Wynyard’s services for County cricket. A B a ttle correspondent has been good enough to send me a table showing the figures of the principal batsmen in first- class matches up to Saturday last. BATTING AVERAGES. Times Inns, notout. Buns. Most in an Inns. Aver. Shrewsbury ... 42 ... 5 ..,. 1560 ... 267 ... 42.6 Gunn ..........52 ... 6 ... 1572 ... 228 ... 34.8 Mr.J.Cranston 37 ... 3 ... 978 ... 152 .... 28.26 A bel.................30 ... 1 ... 834 ... 151* ... 28.22 Mr.W.G. Grace 52 ... 3 ... 1392 ... 119* .. . 28.20 Mr.A.J. Webbe 36 ... 1 ... 995 ... 134 .. . 27.15 Mr.W.W. Read 47 ... 2 ... 1141 ... 94 .... 25.16 Painter ..........28 ... 1 ... 683 ... 119 . 25.8 Mr. W .L. Mur­ doch ..........60 ... 2 ... 1332 ... 158 ..,. 22.56 Mr.T.C O’Brien 39 ... 1 ... 855 ... 105 . 22.19 Mr.A.N.Hornby 82 ... 2 ... 673 ... 75 ... 22.5 Quaife ..........38 ... 3 ... 774 ... 156* ..,. 22.4 G.G.Hearne ... 32 ... 4 .. . 616 ... 60 . 22 Lord Hawke... 33 ... 3 .. . 658 ... 74 ..., 21.28 M. R ead..........40 ... 2 ... 819 ... 135 . 21.21 H all.................40 ... 6 ... 719 ... 64 .... 21.5 Sugg ..........38 ... 2 ... 765 ... 171 .... 21.9 Dr.J.E.Barrett 60 ... 6 ..,. 1127 ... 96 ... 20.47 I n last week's “ Gossip ” I made brief reference to the victory of the Parsee team over Poona, the particulars of which had just come to hand as I was bringing my weekly notes to a close. The Parsees, who were 3 rims to the bad on the first hands, played up so pluckily on the second day, that they were able to terminate their second innings with two wickets in reserve, and in the end to win with a respectable margin of 107 runs in hand. The Kangas, both of whom have already figured with credit on English grounds, were, as a reference to the score will show, very much in evidence, and con­ tributed very materially to the success of their side. The best all-round cricket though, perhaps, was that of M. D. Kanga and M. E. Pavri, and the latter, who created such a favourable impression two years ago as a bowler, it is satisfactory to note, is also adding to his reputation as a batsman. Parsee Cricket, I hear from the members of Mr. Vernon's team, has made a wonderful advance during the two years that have passed since the second team visited England. As, too. they have definitely announced their in­ tention of sending over another com­ bination to try their merits against a better class of English teams than they met here on the occasion of the last trip, it will be interesting to see how they will fare under the ordeal of a higher test. I n alluding briefly to the Poona match last week, I mentioned that Lord and Lady Harris had been giving another in­ stance of their sympathy with cricket in entertaining the members of the two teams. Lord Harris, too, utilised the opportunity afforded by a request to de­ cide the vexed question of the fairness or unfairness of the bowling of R. E. Mody, one of the most prominent of Parsee bowlers, to give his opinions on the par­ ticular question of the application of the law dealing with doubtful bowling. You will perhaps wish [he said] thatlshould offer you my opinion on the vexed question of doubtful actions which has been exercising the minds of the cricketing public in this Presidency of late. I had hoped that I had done with vexed cricketing questions when I left home; but as I cannot ignore that my opinion has been referred to as carrying some weight, I cannot refuse to give it. I know that it has been suggested that I should act as referee in the case of a particular action. Although I regret to disoblige any who may so wish it, there are two excellent reasons why I should not. In the first place it is well known that I have a mortal antipathy to any action that is in the least suspicious; indeed I have so strong a bias against doubtful actions that I have no doubt my friends at home would describe it as a monomania. Under such circumstances I should not be an impartial judge. In the second place therules of the game have already supplied you with two excellent officials who are the sole judges of fair or unfair play, and who, if they have studied the rules of the game, know that with regard to this particular question, if they are not satisfied with the absolute fairness of any ball, it is their duty to call “ no ball." I lay stress on the words “ absolute fairness,’’because theywere inserted on my motion when the laws were revised, and because I hoped umpires, with that law behind them, would take my view, and give the doubt against the bowler. The laws lay the re­ sponsibility on umpires, and with their pre­ rogative I have no intention of interfering. T h e Parsees, though, were infinitely more gratified with the opening remarks of Lord Harris’s speech, and his expression of hearty sympathy with their efforts to improve the character of Parsee cricket. “ He was glad,” he said, “ to have had the opportunity of entertain­ ing the Parsees, and assuring them of the keen interest he took in their cricket affairs as well as in those of his own countrymen. He believed that in encouraging fondness for athletic games the Parsees were doing a great ser­ vice to the nationalities of India. There were not wanting some who would minimise the effect of their devo­ tion to cricket, and who would criticise it as of no value and a waste of time. He would recommend them, however, not to distress themselves by such carpings, and to remember that a people, to be great and to make themselves respected, must cultivate bodily as well as mental activity, and that there was nothing to prevent them doing both. Holding the opinion he did of the general good to be produced by moderate pursuit of active out-door pursuits, it had given him the greatest pleasure to observe the stronghold that cricket had taken on the natives of India.” T he tour of the Australian team is drawing to a close, not altogether, I should fancy, to the regret of the majority of its members. Under ordinary cir­ cumstances the cricket should have finished with the termination of the match at Hastings yesterday. There was a general feeling, though, in favour of an additional fixture to replace the third match against England at the end of August at Manchester, in which not a ball was bowled, and therefore Murdoch and his comrades have another three days to pass before they can feel that their real work is over. It is quite as well, too, perhaps, that the end is so near, for the team have been playing the last few matches under great disadvantages. With Jones altogether disabled, Ferris broken down, and Murdoch, Barrett, and Lyons none of them just latterly in the best condition for going, the team generally have not presented the appear­ ance of typical athletes. Under all their difficulties, however, and there have been many causes for disappointment, the Australians have borne them­ selves like cricketers, though the results of the tour can not have been satisfactory from any point of view. English cricketers one and all will wish them a hearty God speed and a pleasant voyage on their journey home. T h e Compliments of the Season (with Mr. Punch’s kind regards).—The most popular of Colonial Strikers—Our illus­ trious guests, the Australian cricketers. REMAINING FIXTURES FOR THE SEASON. Thuesdat, S ept . 18—Manchester, North of Eng- land v. Australians. M o n d a y , S e p t . 2-2 —Richmond, Surrey Eleven r. ■lghteen of Mid-Surrej.