Cricket 1891

« T o g e th e r jo in ed in cr ick e t’s m a n ly to il.”— Byron. EoJsferedSrTrSfsmissSnAbroad. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1891. PR ICE 2d. C O M IN G C R IC K E T . A few months ago there seemed small reason for believing that a record of the season of 1891 would have to be solely occupied with the doings of English Clubs and players. Preparations had been made a long time since for a visit from a Parsee, as well as an American team, and no small trouble had been taken to provide in each case a suitable pro­ gramme. The arrangements for the Par- sees had, however, not advanced suffi­ ciently far to make their withdrawal a matter of great concern to anyone. The case with the Americans, on the other hand, was quite different, and the un­ certainty which has been caused by the absence of any information from the other side of the Atlantic has subjected many of the clubs to considerable incon­ venience. From the first,we were ourselves sceptical of the probabilities of a visit of a really representative American team in the absence of any proof that the leaders of American cricket, the International Com­ mittee of Philadelphia, who, it must be re­ membered, had by common consent had the charge of all International arrange­ ments in the past, were in sympathy with the project. As it happened, however, Mr. Crowhurst, who came over from America to make the preliminary arrangements, found general support from the members of the County Council present at the historic meeting at the Oval last August, and whatever difficulties there might have been were apparently removed. The Secretary of the Surrey C.C. was subsequently invited to complete the programme at the meeting of the County Secretaries held in December, at Lord’s, and he acceded on the understanding that the co-operation of the leading Cricket bodies in the United States was secured, with a view to ensure the appearance of a team thoroughly representative of American Cricket, an obvious essential to the presence, much less tho success, of an American team in this country. Since the early part of December, no commu­ nication of any sort has been received by the Secretary of the Surrey County C .C. respecting the tour. Under the circum­ stances, therefore, he thought it advisable to send notice to Mr. Crowhurst that in the absence of any satisfactory information with regard to the trip, he would deem it expedient in the interest of the Eng­ lish Clubs concerned, as well as of the promoters, to cancel the fixtures arranged. There the matter rests, and in the face of the telegrams which have reached England from the States, showing that matters were not going smoothly there, as well as of the fact that the cricket fathers in Philadelphia, whose energy has acclimatised the game in that city, have never been consulted on the proposed visit, it seems to us to be far the best settlement of the question. It is a pity, of course, that any difficulty should have arisen, but still, many will be glad that English cricket will furnish the whole attraction for 1891. What the attraction is to be will be gathered from the following information,kindly supplied to us by the Secretaries of the principal Clubs. Derbyshire will have the same eleven as last year, and in addition the Com­ mittee hope that Mr. W. L. Shipton (who only took part in two matches in 1890, and made a very favourable im­ pression) will be able to play oftener. The card consists of home and home matches with Surrey, Notts, Yorkshire, Essex and Leicestershire, and one match with M.C.C. and G. The executive hope, too, to be able to arrange home and home matches with another County, as they have been disappointed by the abandon­ ment of the American and Parsee tours. A new groundman was appointed last August, and it is hoped that the ground will be better thau it has as yet been, as he has been very hard at work improving it all the winter. Derbyshire challenged all the eight leading counties, but five of them declined to play. Somersetshire was also invited, but also replied in the negative. Devonshire’s programme is of a more important character than in previous years, indicating tliat its executive is fully alive to the necessity of keeping County cricket well to the fore. Wilt­ shire, Hampshire, and Somersetshire will not be played, but Glamorganshire, Hertfordfordshirc, and Monmouthshire take their places to enable Devonshire to compare herself with the Counties of her own class. Anscombe will be qualified to play this year. The Rev. J. H. Copleston has resigned the Captaincy, otherwise there is little or no news of interest as showing the prospects of Devonshire cricket for 1891. The prospects of Essex cricket for this year are, we are glad to learn, very good. All the old members of the team are avail­ able, and with Messrs. C. D. Buxton, A. P. Lucas,B.C. Gosling,Rowe, and Bishop, with Pickett, Burns, Littlewood, and Carpenter, the County ought to make a good show. The financial position of the club, too, is more promising than it has hitherto been, and the ground is in splen­ did condition, having been well looked after by the head ground man, E. C. Freeman. Mr. Borrodaile is now Secre­ tary in succession to Mr. M. P. Betts. Home and home matches have been arranged with the following Counties :— Surrey, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Hampshire, Derbyshire, and Warwick­ shire, and in addition there will be a two- days’ fixture at Leyton, v. M.O.C. and Ground. The Hampshire eleven will be selected from the following:—Messrs. H. W. Forster (captain), F. E. Lacey, B. Ben- craft, Capt. Wynyard, Capt. Barton, A. J. L. Hill, L. H. Gay, H. E. W. Hoffmeister, A. C. Bichards, C. J. B. Richards, L. G. Bonham-Carter, D. A. Steele, C. Robson, with Baldwin, Roberts, and Soar. It is hoped that Messrs. P. T. J. Henery and E. H. Buckland, who have previously helped Middlesex, will be induced to play; Home and home fixtures have been arranged with Surrey, Sussex, Staf­ fordshire, Essex, and Leicestershire ; and there will also be. a match with M.C.C. and Ground at Southampton. Tho pro­ ceeds of the match with Staffordshire at Southampton will be given to Young, who