Cricket 1891

JUNE 11,1891 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME. 171 matoh for a county, it was pointed out in reference to the above that the cases of Mr. A. CJ. M'Laren for Lancashire last year and Kicketts 195 (not out) for Lanoashire v. Surrey in 1867 were the only instances you could reoall. The above feat was achieved by Mr. Lyndhurst Winslow in the year 1875, at Brighton, in his first match for Sussex v. Gloucestershire. In that fixture, Mr. Winslow made no less than 124 runs in an hour and three-quarters, scoring three 4’s from one over of W .G.’s. If I mistake not, it was the lim e Mr. Winslow who played for the Twenty- two of Johannesburg against Major Warton’ s England team at the Cape in January of 1889. T he following extract from the diary of an old cricketer has been kindly given to me by a keen sportsman who has done much to illustrate practically the force of heredity in cricket in the person of one son who has played an important part in University matches, and others who have figured prominently as Public School players. The reference to the game in the middle of the last century is particularly interesting. Monday, September 24th, 1759. — At leven, got up on the little horse, and went to Moulsey Host to see a cricket match. Faulkner, W . Eadmead, T. Darling, Piper, T. Allen, S. Harden, the latter beat by leven notches. We had fair, clear weather—the wind at N.E., and like to be dry. Mr. Harden Honnor, who is now in his seventy-sixth year, is a descendant of the above S. Harden and of Reuben Honnor, whose family—including himself—have owned considerable estate (about 130 acres) in Laleham Parish for fully 300 years. The diary from which the above was taken was that of Captain Beuben Honnor of Laleham, who was a great cricketer in his day. T he follow ing w ill show the results of the m atches played by the nine leading Counties this year, up to date. Played. Won. Lost. Dwn. Surrey ................ 4 ... 4 ... 0 ... 0 Kent...................... 2 ... 1 ... 0 ... 1 Sussex ........................ 8 ... 1 ... 1 ... 1 Yorkshire ......... 2 ... 1 ... 1 ... 0 Gloucestershire ... 3 ... 1 ... 1 ... 1 Middlesex ......... 4 ... 1 ... 2 ... 1 Lancashire ......... 2 ... 0 ... 1 ... 1 Somersetshire ... 2 ... 0 ... 1 ... 1 Notts ............... 2 ... 0 ... 2 ... 0 The Match between Lancashire and Kent fixed lor June 4, 5, and 6, at Manchester, was never began. T he announcement of the election of Messrs. R. A. Bayford, Q.C., and B. M. Bray as Benchers of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, in succession to the late Sir Patrick Colquhoun and the late Mr. Hare, will be interesting to C ricket readers, who know the two Benchers as keen supporters of the best of all games. Mr. Bray’s appointment to the Recordership of Guildford gave me the opportunity a few weeks ago of tracing his cricket pedigree. Mr. Bay­ ford, too, will be still remembered by many as an all-round player of more than ordinary ability, as well as an ardent believer in County cricket. He was a member of the Cambridge Eleven of 1857 and two succeeding years, and also acquitted himself with credit for Middle­ sex as well as Surrey, for the latter of which he was qualified by birth. He was also one of the promoters of the Middle­ sex County Club in 1864, and served for a time on its Committee. He was a good free bat, hitting especially well to leg, as also a useful slow round-arm bowler, and, as a wicket - keeper, above the average. He also took an active part in the Volunteer movement, and was an Ensign of the Cambridge University Rifle Corps. I h e a r , on the best authority, from the G.O.M. himself, that the team which the Earl of Sheffield is to personally con­ duct to Australia next autumn is pretty well settled. As far as present arrange­ ments go Mr. W. G. Grace will have four amateurs to accompany him. It is in­ tended that there shall be two really capable wicket-keepers, and though Mr. Philipson has not, to the best of my knowledge, actually promised, it is con­ fidently hoped that he will be able to go to take turns with Mr. G. McGregor, the Cambridge captain, who has, I under­ stand, accepted. Mr. A. E. Stoddart has also promised, and Mr. O. G. Radcliffe will go. The four great professional bowlers, Lohmann, William Attewell, Briggs, and Peel are certainties, and barring accidents, Sharpe, of the Surrey Eleven, is sure of a place in the team as fast bowler. It »s not decided, I under­ stand, whether the team is to number twelve or thirteen, exclusive, I presume, of Shaw. In any case the choice for the remaining vacancies will rest between Abel, Maurice Read, P. H. Sugg, and Chatterton. The names are sufficient to show that the team will be a very strong one at all points. It goes without saying, moreover, that the majority of them should be able to make the best use of the run-getting properties which are said to be the great characteristic of Colonial wickets. A correspondent , who is unfortunately by reason of his health not able to see as much of cricket in England as he used a few years back, has been good enough to send me some few particulars to show the growth of the game in Greece. “ To-day,” (Sunday, May 31) he writes from Corfu, “ we had a grand cricket match, and, when I tell you that I was the only Englishman on either side, you can imagine what interest the Greeks take in the game. All the expressions they use are English, such as 1well played,’ ‘ well bowled,’ &c. They have, of course, scoring books or sheets, but ‘ bowled,’ 1caught,’ ‘ stumped,’ etc., are entered in Greek. If I can get hold of the score sheet, or a copy, I will send you a further notice. The Greeks are keen on the game, and turn up strong for practice every afternoon. Ordinary soldiers play, too, and not badly. I made in the first innings two hits out of the ground, and then drove a ball tremen­ dously hard and low down to mid-wicket, standing close in. A soldier, one of the bowlers, took the ball with the greatest of ease, I thought it a fluke, but I gave him in the next innings a still hotter one, which he also took quite professionally. All the fielders near the wicket stand close in, and do not ‘ funk ’ a bit. A few days ago it looked as though we had taken over Corfu again, as the Island swarmed with English sailors, and there were five or six men-of-war here.” T he formation of an Australian Con­ federation for the purpose of controlling the arrangements for the tours of Colonial teams in England, and, I take it, for regulating generally the interchange of visits between English and Australian cricketers, seems, everyone interested in the proper conduct of such matters will be glad to hear, now certain to become an accomplished fact. The Cricket Asso­ ciations of the three leading Colonies, at least, appear for once to have determined to work in concert in the general interest of the game. Indeed as both Victoria and South Australia have expressed their approval of the proposal emanating from New South Wales, it appears certain that this Triple Alliance will have the desired result—the formation of an organisation with the common object above mentioned. I have purposely refrained from referring to the new body as the Australian Cricktt Council. The undignified collapse of the English institution bearing the same title makes one a little nervous. But after all it is mere superstition. Absit Omen. T he influence of two keen cricketers like Lord Harris and Lord Wenlock at the head of affairs in the important Presidencies of Bombay and Madras seems to be, as was only to be ex­ pected, producing the most beneficial results in infusing new life into Indian cricket generally. The enthusiasm of Lord Harris over anything relating to cricket has been fully proved. Since his appointment as Governor of Madras, Lord Wenlock, too, has utilised every oppor­ tunity of showing his active interest in the game, to the extent even of receiving more than one hard knock on the cricket field. A proof of the effect of his direct sup­ port has recently been shown in the rumour that there is a possibility of Madras sending a team shortly to Ceylon, and that the project has received his cordial support. The cricketers of the Presidency, indeed, are congratulating themselves on the fact that the sympathy of a cricket-loving Governor has already begun to work, and a Madras paper goes so far as to suggest that if this idea is only carried into execution under his auspices, Lord Wenlock will have done something to endear himself for ever to the Cooum-ingrained inhabitants of that city. A trip to Ceylon would not be a difficult matter for a Madras team, and as Cingalese hospitality has always been so hearty, a visit to that Colony would be as enjoyable as it would be beneficial to the game in the East.