Cricket 1890

MAY 1, 1890, CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME. 89 It is gratifying to note that there is very chance of the name of Blackham continuing to remain a power on Australian cricket fields, even should the great cricketer who has made it famous be compelled from any cause to retire from active pursuit of the game. “ Mid-on,” the critic of the Melbourne Leader, says that it is pleasing to feel that his younger brother Fred will in all probability prove a worthy successor to the nonpariel, though in a different department of the game. This youngster [writes “ Mid-on” ] who is not yet 17 years old, has performed so well on several occasions that I hope to see him playing regularly in senior cricket next season. On New Year’s day, it may be remembered, when playing for Brighton against South Melbourne he bowled five wickets for 34 runs, subsequently I recollect him playing an excellent innings on the Melbourne ground, and on Saturday last he bowled four wiokets for 11 runs for Brighton Union against South Melbourne Wesleyan cup team. He has a nice easy delivery, keeps a good length and can break a bit, bats in good style and shapes remarkably well behind the wickets. With the additional advantage of youth, and his brother being perhaps better able than any other man in the Colony to practically ooach him, it will not be surprising to find Fred Blaokham in the front rank before many seasons are over. A n announcement appeared within the last few days to the effeot that as a result of the visit of Mr. Vernon’s English team to India in the winter the cricketers of the Northern Provinces had come to the decision to send a team to re­ present them in England next summer. I f this proposal assumes a definite shape there is quite a chance, as far as I can learn, that there will be two Richmonds in the field, and both from India. At least, I hear on the best authority that the Parsees are seriously meditating a third visit to this country, stimulated apparently by their recent victory over the English Amateur Combination at Bombay. The Parsees, indeed, have found so much benefit to their all-round cricket from their last trip to England that anyone who has had any practical experience of their enthusiasm for the game will hardly be surprised to hear that they are again fired with ardour to seek English cricket fields. They are fully satisfied, indeed, of the marked advance made in Parsee cricket during the last two years, and the promise of their young players, who are coming to the front, seems to have encouraged them so much that I shall not be surprised to hear that they contemplate a somewhat more ambitious programme than those arranged for them on the occasion of the two previous visits. T h e authoritative statements that have appeared during the winter in some of the leading newspapers published in South Africa would have led everyone to believe that the manager of the Australian team had definitely agreed to visit the African continent on the conclusion of the heavy programme arranged for them here in September. I am assured however by Mr. Boyle that this is not the case. The matter was left by him in abeyance until he reached England, and, as far as I can gather, the possibility of this ex­ tension of the Australian tour is rather remote than near. T h e r e has also been a rumour that the Australians might take in Bombay on their homeward journey. I hear from Mr. Boyle that he has just received a very hearty letter from Lord Harris—an excellent portrait of whom, by the way, appears in the second number of British Sportsmen —wishing the team every good luck during the tour. The new Governor of Bombay expresses the hope that the residents in his Presidency may have the pleasure of seeing the Australians when their English engagements are completed. If only as another proof that Lord Harris has every intention of continuing his personal and active interest in the game, it is of interest to add that he has assured Mr. Boyle of a hearty welcome should the team find themselves able to make Bombay a halting 'stage on their return to the Colonies. T h e Metropolitan cricket public will be concerned to know that there will be an opportunity of seeing four, at least, of the new members of the Australian team in a match to-morrow afternoon. Messrs. Charlton, Walters, Burn, and Gregory, as well as Mr. Lyons, the great batsman of South Australia, who was over here in 1888, have kindly promised to play for Mr. W. W. Bead’s Eleven on the ground of the Athletic Association at Richmond to-morrow. In addition, Mr. Read will have the assistance of Mr. Key, Mr. Fielding, and Lohmann of the Surrey Eleven, as well as of Mr. R. J. H. Arbuthnot, far above the average of amateur wicket-keepers some few years ago, who has just returned from India for a short time. The match is Mr. W. W. Read’s Eleven against Fifteen of Richmond and District, and play is to begin at eleven o’clock. It will be of interest to those who want to see how the Australians shape to know that the Athletic Ground is only two minutes’ walk from Richmond Station. T h e following appeal speaks for itself. I can vouch myself that any contributions will be well bestowed and serve to help the young athletes of a very deserving institu­ tion. D e a r S ib , —As the cricket season is now commencing, may I make an appeal through your valuable columns to that generous body who play cricket, to help our lads to take part in the noble game. Our great want is “ flannels.” I feel sure that many of your readers in looking in their “ kit ” will find a pair of flannels too old or too worn for them to again don. To these, I say, they will confer the greatest benefit upon us if they will send even a single pair, which can be easily sent by parcel post to me here, and their gift will be much appreciatedby our lads. Ola cricketing materials will be the greatest help to us and be a source of endless pleasure to our lads. Apologizing for troubling you, believe me, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, C. Jersey Home for Working Lads, 99, Stamford Street, London. M y prediction of last week that Mr. C. A: Smith would, in all probability, reach England at the end of this month has turned out to be accurate. I was unfortu­ nate enough to miss “ Round the Corner” myself when he paid me a flying visit at my official residence on Tuesday morning on his way through London to Brighton. I gather, however, from those who did see him that he was in the best of health and spirits. His exuberance at seeing a real cricket-ground again after a long spell of the artificial substitute can easily be imagined. That he was eager to get to work again was shown by the fact that he had hardly reached Brighton before he was away to the County ground to open his shoulders with a little practice. His many friends will be heartily pleased to hear of his safe return to the old country. T h o u g h the sinister reports which appeared with such frequency throughout the winter months hinting at a probable disruption of the Surrey Eleven were no doubt received with incredulity by the majority of C r ic k e t readers, the persis­ tency of their circulation must, to judge by the inquiries which I had to answer my­ self, have caused a certain disquietude to cricket enthusiasts of a nervous tempera­ ment. I read recently in a South African paper that Bowley, Beaumont, Wood, Lockwood, and Sharpe were all at “ loggerheads ” with the Surrey Commit­ tee, and indeed, according to some of the rumours, there was really a fear at one time that the County would be without a professional at all. It was enough to remind one of the curse in the “ Jack­ daw of Rheims ” :— Never was heard such a terrible curse, But what gave rise To no little surprise Nobody seemed one penny the worse. T h e worst of all, though, remains behind, to judge by letters I have received during the last few days. From them I learn that a startling announcement appeared in a recent issue of the Boy's Own Payer. But I had perhaps better re­ produce one of the communications I have received, from a correspondent who signs himself “ Anxious.” In an article, “ The Cricket Seasons of 1889 and 1890,” in the Boy’s Own Paper for May, 1 see the following remarkable sentence, “ Surrey will this year lose Mr. Shuter, who led it from the rear to the front place among the counties.” As the commencement of the season is almost upon us, and it seems rather strange that I have not seen the slightest hint of Mr. Shuter’ s retirement from first-class cricket in your or any other paper, I should feel very much obliged if you would, through the medium of your, valuable paper, verify this, to me, extraordinary statement.