Cricket 1891

AUG. 27, 1891 CEICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME, 377 T he rumour of his intention to retire from first class crioket, it is to be feared, is only too correct. This will naturally involve his retirement from the Captaincy of the Lancashire eleven, and I have reason to believe that he will not act again in this capacity. The full effect of his loss can only be understood by those who have had opportunities of estimating the force of his personality in Lancashire cricket. To say that he has been and is idolised by those who have served under him is only to express the respect andaffection hehas engendered by an untiring devotion to the game itself, as well as a never-failing con­ sideration to advance the interests of those with whom he has worked. At the same time Lancashire is fortunate in having at hand a cricketer of such ability, as well as one so well fitted to take the post of Captain, as Mr. S. M. Crosfield. A keen and enthusiastic player himself, Mr. Cros­ field is already very popular with all the members of the team he will have to direct in the future. W h o ever is to Captain the Lancashire eleven next year will find his anxieties lightened considerably by the knowledge that he will be able to claim the services throughout the season of such a promising batsman as Mr. A. C. McLaren. Business has prevented last year’s Harrow Captain from helping the County except on rare occasions this summer. I have it on the best authority, however, thatthere will not be the same difficulties in his way another year, and that he will be available for all the Lancashire matches of 1892. The co-operation of such a sterling cricketer, as a regular member of tho eleven, will add very materially to the all-round strength of an already very formidable side. C ricket readers, one and all, will welcome him heartily as one of the most likely acquisitions to the standing army of County cricket. W h at did the writer of the “ Cricket Notes” in last Monday’s Vail Mall Gazette mean, when he congratulated Mr. J. Shuter on his foresight in sending Maurice Read, Lockwood, Mr. Key, and Hender­ son, to force the game at the close of the match between Surrey and Lancashire at the Oval on Saturday night. Henderson, as an exponent of the forcing game, is a pleasing fancy of the Pall Mall man. It conjures up to my mind Cabel Plummer’s retort in “ Dot,” when exceptionwas taken to the colouring of the toy horse he had just made, that it was as near nature as one could expect for a penny. A correspondent sends me particulars of a bowling performance quite out of the common, the work of a young station- master at Murrow, which is situate between Peterborough and Wisbech. The occasion was a match between Parson Drove and Gedney Hill, played at Parson Drove on August 11. In their first innings Gedney Hill were dismissed for seven runs including one extra, and the Murrow station-master, whose name is W . C. Hall, was credited with nine of the ten wickets. Nor does this fact represent the full extent of his achievement. His analysis was indeed remarkable, even for amatch ofthis class, so much so that it deserves the distinction of a special line. Overs, Mdns. Buns. Wkts. 2 .. 1 .. 2 .. 9 In one over he took five wickets, and what is more noteworthy, as will be seen, he dismissed nine batsmen in ten consecu­ tive balls. The hero of this feat, I may add, was born at Thornbury, the home of at least one of the great brotherhood of Grace, E. M. to wit. “ The Master” will, I am sure, be highly pleased to hear of the success of a native of Gloucester­ shire, and one moreover who hails from his own immediate neighbourhood. T he dissertation on the County Championship which has filled column after column of one of the sporting dailies for the last few weeks would appear to be endless, to judge by the fact that some of the competitors seem still to be coming up smiling in spite of many a knock-down blow. But after all what can be the use of such a discussion ? Gui Bono ? To any contract or arrange­ ment two parties are necessary, and I have not heard of any desire for a fixture against England at the Oval. Indeed not the least amusing feature of the affair is that the Surrey Committee, as far as I can learn, have never had the question of a match against England brought before them in any way. More than that, I think I am correct in saying that there has never been an expression on their part of a wish for such a match. W h e th e r it would be to the advan­ tage of the game or not that the Champion County of the year should meet England is a matter that will no doubt give rise to a diversity of opinion. At the same time, should the general feeling be in favour of such a fixture, there should be no difficulty in the way of its arrangement. In this case it would have tobe an annual event. If so, what real difficulty would there be in the way of a date being left vacant at the annual meeting of County Secretaries, say for quite the end of August or at the latest the first week of September ? The co-operation of all the different County Clubs would of course be essential, and at the outset there might perhaps be some small difficulties in the way of detail. But if such a match is to be recognised and to receivegeneral support these would be very soon overcome. This year it is obviously too late. S u r rey crioket has lost an active sup­ porter by the death of Mr. George Carter Morrison, of Beigate, which took place at Folkestone on Friday last. A love r of the game, Mr. Morrison lost no oppor­ tunity of showing his sympathy with and interest in its exponents. During his long residence at Beigate, while engaged in municipal affairs, he found time to give active countenance to athletic organizations of different kinds. Presi­ dent of the Beigate Priory Club for many years, he presided, if I remember rightly, at the banquet given during the Beigate week, in which he took great interest. As Town Clerk he bad also rendered good service to the borough of Beigate. Fond of every kind of sport, he was a familiar figure in all parts of Surrey. For many years, too, he had served on the Committee of the Surrey County Cricket Club, on which his judgment and experience were much valued, and he will be greatly missed. One of his sons, F. C. Morrison, a good cricketer as well as footballer, has played with some success for the Old CarthusianB and Surrey at the latter, for Beigate Priory and the Gentlemen of Surrey at the former game. B y the retirement of Superintendent C. H . Outbush, the Metropolitan Police will lose one of the best supporters of physical education the Force has had. It was through his efforts that a cricket club was started not long since, and though it does not seem to have flourished the failure was due to the difficulties of concentration rather than to any lack of energy or want of organisation. When the London Playing Fields’ Committee came into existence Mr. Cutbush at once took an active interest in the Society, whose sole object is to encourage physical exercise and provide greater conveniences for recreation. He is still an active member of the Council of that deserving Institution. T he following will show the results of matches between the nine first-class Counties up to date : Played. Won. Dwn. Lost. Pts. Surrey ... .......... 15 .. 11 .. 2 . . 2 9 Lancashire .......... 15 .. 8 .. 8 . . 4 4 Middlesex .......... 15 .. 8 .. 2 ... 5 3 Notts ................. 13 .. 5 .. 4 . . 4 1 Kent........................ 14 .. 4 .. 6 . . 4 0 Somersetshire ... 12 .. 5 .. 1 . . 6 -1 Sussex ................. 14 . . 4 .. 3 . . 7 -3 Yorkshire .......... 16 .. 5 .. 1 . . 10 -5 Gloucestershire ... 16 .. 2 .. 4 . . 10 -8 PRINCIPAL MATCHES FOR NEXT WEEK. T h u r s d a y , August 27.—Kennington Oval, Surrey v.Kent; Leyton, Essex v. Lancashire; Notting­ ham, Notts v. Middlesex ; Scarborough, York­ shire v. M.C.C. and G.; Oxford, Oxfordshire v. Wiltshire (second day). F r id a y , A u g u st 28—Lord’s M.C.C. and G. v Staffordshire. M onday , A ugust 31.—Scarborough, I Zingari v. Gentlemen of England (Scarborough'Festival).