Cricket 1891

APRIL 16, 1891 CRICKET: A WEEKLY EECOED OF THE GAME. J 53 Greater Britain had reached us from time to time, with the additional intelligence that he was far from feeling himself again; but somehow this failed to prepare us for the news of his death. He only reached England, in the “ Lusitania,” on March 23rd, and before the week was out—on the 30th—he was no more. Pilling died at Manchester, in the thirty-sixth year of his age. Born at Bedford on July 5, 1855, Lancashire was the county of his adoption — in much the same way that Surrey was the adopted county of the late Edward Barratt, on whose recent death we touched in the last issue of this journal. Pilling’s initial appear­ ance for Lancashire took place in August, 1877, and it is not too much to say that his prowess behind the stumps contributed materially to the advancement of that shire in County cricket. Such progress did he make, indeed, that he was quickly recognised as one of the most brilliant, if not the very best stumper in England, and was regularly chosen to represent the Players against the Gentle­ men. It seemed only natural, too, that Pilling should make one of the team which, under the leadership of Alfred Shaw, toured through the United States, Australia, and New Zealand in 1881-82. Here his wicket-keeping was greatly praised, and deeply impressed the Maoris in particular. For several years thereafter he continued a prominent figure, both in county cricket and in representative matches, besides making a second trip to the Colonies in 1887-88 ; but when, two or three seasons ago, his health began to fail, he had to be omitted from the eleven, and last year he did not appear at all. In addition to his skill with the gloves, he was no mean bats­ man,and on one occasion assisted Briggs to add 173 runs for the last wicket of Lancashire v. Surrey; and he played football as well. Popular socially also, Pilling’s active little figure will be greatly missed, and we think we cannot do better than conclude this brief notice by echoing the opinion of Lillywhite18 Companion when Pilling was at the height of ins success: “ The best wicket-keeper in England ” During the last few days two members of the House of Commons who were both identi­ fied with cricket’ have passed away. While at Cambridge, the Bight Hon. George Augustus Frederick Cavendish Bentinck, M.P. for Whitehaven, assisted Tom Taylor, Sir Spencer Ponsonby Fane, then the Hon. Spencer Ponsonby, and the Earl of Bessborough, then Hon. F. Ponsonby to found the “ Old Stagers,” whose dramatic performances have formed such a prominent feature kof the Canterbury Week since its institution. An amateur actor of more than ordinary ability, he was the moving spirit of the Old Stagers at the Canterbury gatherings, and superintended their arrange­ ments generally there. A Canterbury Week would have been voted incomplete with­ out him, and he rarely if ever missed one. lie was a liberal supporter of the game as well. Another active follower of cricket, too, joined- the majority on Saturday in the person of Mr. T. K. Tapling, M.P. for the Harborough Division of Leicestershire. Educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was very popular at both places. Though very fond of cricket, and a member of the Nondescripts, M.C.C., Surrey, and other clubs, he never was able to devote himself assiduously to its pursuit, lie was a member of the amateur team which visited India last winter under Mr. G. F. Vernon’3 captaincy, and played occasionally for them. The obituary notices in one copy of the Times last week contained the an­ nouncement of the death of two old members of the Surrey County Club, and liberal patrons of cricket, Messrs. Stephenson Clarke a?SL "‘. Strachan. The latter was father ?\ a' George Strachan, whilom captain of f 6 S r V Eleven. He practised regularly at the Oval for many years, and was especially popular with all classes of Surrey cncketers. CRICKET CHIRPS. S ubscriptions for The American Cricketer will be received by the Manager of C rick et . M r . C. I. T hornton is in London again after his tour in Australia. C ricke * t is published now every Thurs­ day morning till Sept. 24. Mr. W . E. R oller has returned to England after wintering in Pau. Mr. B. W. C ave has been appointed Vice- Consul at Mombasa. A n English amateur team will probably visit America at the end of September. A rth u r H id e was married at Hambledon Church on the 8th inst. to Miss E. Hozier. W ootton has been engaged as coach at Winchester College from September next. T he annual general meeting of the Hamp­ ton W ick C.C. was held on Saturday, April 4. S u rrey plays Warwickshire at Birmingham on June 18, and at the Oval on August 24. T he first smoking concert of the City Police C.C. was held at the Champion Hotel, Aldersgate Street, on March 25. W e understand that, although residing in London, Mr. F. R. Spofforth will keep up his residential qualification for Derbyshire. M r . J. E. K. SiUDDis at present doing good work as Hon. Sec. of the Polytechnic Young Men’ s Christian Institute. S. P. J ones played a good innings of 71 not out for the University v. The Orientals, on March 7th, at Sydney. G. G iffen and J. J. Lyons scored 143 runs in 70 minutes for Norwood v. South Adelaide, at Adelaide, on March 7. T he American Cricketer commenced a New Volume on March 18 in an enlarged and very much improved form. W e are officially informed that there is every probability of a visit from a repre­ sentative Australian team next summer. M r. W . Y ardley was again the author of the book of words for this year’s Guards’ Burlesque. M r . G. H .W ood and several other members of the Marylebone Club are making a tour round the world. B y the death of Lord Truro, Mr. T. M. M. Wilde, well-known in connection with the Incogniti C.C., has been raised to the peerage. I t is probable that the fixture Card of Somersetshire County will be extended so as to include two matches with Notts. K. E. B urn and C. J. Eady put on 261 for the sixth wicket in second innings of South v. North Tasmania, at Launceston, on February 28. O ne of the latest additions to Madame Tussaud’s Waxwork Exhibition is a repre­ sentative cricket match at Lord’s between two teams of “ models.” T he members of the Roslyn C.C. were this year one of the earliest among suburban clubs to open their regular programme. They played Hook Village, at Surbiton, on Easter Monday. T h e ties for the United Hospitals Challenge Cup will this year be played (in May and June) on the Athletic Association Ground at Rich­ mond. T he first issue of eight thousand of the six shilling edition of Mr. W. G. Grace’s new book on Cricket has been sold out. A second is in preparation. M r. A. H. S mith has been elected Captain of the Northbrook C.C. in succession to Mr. C. Pearse, who has resigned after six years’ service. T he reproduction of Mr. A.Stuart-Wortley’s picture of Mr. W . G. Grace, exhibited at the Royal Academy last year in photogravure, will be ready at the end of May. T he annual meeting of Club Delegates in connection with the London Playing Fields Committee will be held at the Polytechnic, Regent Street, on May 12. I n the match between North and South of Tasmania, played at Launceston, on February 27th and 28th, 1,187 runs were scored in two days. M r . W. A. B ettesw orth , the old Sussex Cricketer, has just issued an illustrated book, illustrating the ideas of some of the gentle sex about the riding of bicycles. T he innings of the Sydney Club, in which S. Gregory andlWJToble put on 463 runs for the eighth wicket, closed on February 14th for 563. T he wedding of Mr. L. K. Jarvis, the old Cantab, with the Hon. Adeline Thellusson, eldest daughter of LordRendlesham, is fixed for the 22nd inst. A n evening concert in connection with the London and Suburban Cricket Association, will be held at the Polytechnic, Regent Street, on Saturday next. T he Sussex Committee are asking the Counties they are down to meet this year, to allow W. L. Murdoch, who has just gone, or is just going, to reside in the County, to play for it. I n South Africa, on March 14, Western Province v. Woodstock scored 313 for four wickets (innings declared closed). Of this number Frank Hearne contributed 153. Seven bowlers were tried before he was dismissed. F. H earne received a benefit match at Newlands, Cape Town, on March 14, the fix­ ture being “ Western Province v. All* Comers. ” Local clubs cancelled their engagements in order to give Hearne a good match. T he Executive of the Sussex County Club have decided to offer the match Sussex v. Gloucestershire, at Brighton, on July 8, 9,10, for the benefit of Walter Humphreys, ^in consideration of his over twenty years’ service. A nother new Club has been formed at Barnes, Surrey, to be called the Barnes United C.C. Its headquarters will be Barnes Common, by permission of the Common Conservators. T he Southern tour of the Crystal Palace C.C. extends from August 10 to 29. The matches are against Plymouth, Newton Abbot. Torquay, Exmouth, Sidmouth, Seaton, SouthWilts, United Services, and Eastbourne. T he Green Jackets Week will commence at St. Cross on July 13. There will be three matches—Green Jackets v. I Zingari and Free Foresters, and Past and Present K .R.R. v. Past and Present R.B. T he next number of C ricket will con­ tain a portrait and biography of Robert Moor- house, of the Yorkshire Eleven. He has accepted an engagement at Lord’s for this year. I n a match in Brisbane between the Albert and Stanley Clubs for the Aitchison Ale Trophy, the latter scored 26 for eight wickets. Ail the 26 were got by A. Coningham, who was not-out. T he newly formed Glasgow Cricket Union has arranged to take over the preliminaries connected with the visits of Dr. Grace’s Eleven and the South of England Eleven to Scotland this summer. M r . W . H. W orthin gton , the retiring President of the Derbyshire County C.C., has offered to contribute .£64 of the deficit of i ‘314 on last year’s working if five others each subscribe £50. E . F. S. T ylecote came in second in the competition for the Spring Medal and Singapore Cup of the Royal Blackheath Golf Club, on Monday last. F. S. Ireland, the Hon. Sec. of the Blackheath C.C., was third CRICKETERS— B est < -C C B « Goods City Agents — b ea r this M a rk . —Advt P aiiton & L e steb , 94, Q heen S t ., C heapside .