Cricket 1891

2 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. JAN. 27, 1891 end of the latter year that he left for England. But, going back a year or two, he was one of the Australians chosen to do battle against W . G. Grace’s team in ’73, when he made a small score of 7 not out. In March of the subsequent year he played against the same team, and made 6 not out. That was on the Melbourne Cricket-ground. In the same match he got three wickets for 29 runs, clean bowling both the Graces, amidst the greatest enthusiasm. In December, ’76, he was chosen against Lillywhite’s team. On the day before the match he arrived in town, and was practising on the Melbourne ground, when he met his friend Boyle, to whom he confided the unwelcome tidings that he was not in form, and asked if he should retire from the team. Boyle told him to play, and, as his defence was bad, to hit out at anything he thought he could hit. His performance was a surprise to everybody. He hit up 41 by brilliant cricket, there being three 5’s among the total; and he was finally caught out right on the chains by Chariwood, who was leaning up against the fence. In the second innings he made 12. In the same match he took in the first innings two wickets for 46, and in the second, seven wickets for 54. Midwinter played in the first match All England |v. All Australia, in which Charley Bannerman played such a magnificent innings for 165, when he had to retire hurt. “ Mid.,” in this match, made 5 in the first innings, and 17 in the second. In the first innings he took five wickets for 78, and in the second one for 23, Australia winning the match by 44 runs. In the return match he made 31 and 12, and took one wicket for 30 and one for 25. Grace had noticed his play in the first match in ’73, and on subsequently learning that “ Mid.” was a native of Gloucester, made overtures to him to go to England, and he arrived in London in ’77. At +his time Grace was captain of the United South, playing all over England, and “ Mid.” became a member of that team, and performed very well. A good story may here be interpolated of the Australian’sfirst visit to London, as related in subsequent years by himself. On his arrival in England he had as a companion a rough and ready digger named “ Denmark Jack.” “ Mid.,” himself, was a bit of a rough diamond in those days, though in subsequent years he acquired no small degree of polish. They had just exactly 80s. between them. When they reached Plymouth they saw by the papers brought on board that there was a match on the following day at Kennington Oval, North v. South, in which W. G. and G. F. Grace were taking part. “ Mid.” though he would see them as soon as he could. In the first place he would like to see them play, and in the second place he would like to see their for other reasons. On reaching the London docks, the pair chartered a cab to drive them to the Kennington Oval, believing it was about the same distancefrom the docks as the Melbourne Cricket-ground is from the Queen’ s Wharf. The drive appeared to be an uncom­ monly long one ; but as they were Australians, they came to the conclusion that the cabby was simply driving them about to see the sights out of sheer philanthropy. On arrival at the Oval tue driver made a polite request for 10s. 6d. “ Mid.” said he liked his cab very much, and had eveu taken kindly to the owner and would not mind, under other circum stances, being the owner of the horse; but, just at present, he had no desire to buy out the whole concern. He had come to England to pla-<’ cricket, not to drive cabs, or even to own them His sarcasm waa not lost upon the cabby, who, after offering to accommodate them both in a variety of ways, finally invited the Australians to go to the nearest police station and have -he question settled there. But “ Denmark Jack” had obscure recollec­ tions of being to a po’ice station before and declined a second visit, preferring to pay the fare iu full to an interview with the sergeant that might not end auspiciously. After they had seen the match, and feeling rather hungry, they retired to a restaurant, and galling for the bill 9f fare, went through it to 1 the best of their ability. As “ Mid.” himself used to put it, they had a “ real good tuck in.” Their astonishment on receiving the bill was great, for they found they were charged for everything separately. So much for bread, so much for meat, so much for vegetables, and so much for attendance; and, as “ Mid.” used to say, they were actually called upon to pay for their share of the tablecloth. It was one of those houses, not unknown even in these parts, where the customer is called upon to “ pay by results.” The figure entered against them was 7s. 6d. each. They both said they could get a week’ s board for that where they came from ; and that 15s. would set them up in an eating-house. But the money was paid over and the pair prepared to leave. The waiter, however, dogged their footsteps, and shadowed them to the door. “ Well, mate,” said “ Mid.,” turning round on the fellow in his blunt fashion, “ what do you want. Have you lost something ?” “ Per­ haps,” says Denmark Jack, “ he thinks we’ve collared his spoons.” “ Remember the waiter, sir,” said the man politely, “ Remem­ ber the waiter ! ” said Midwinter,! bursting with astonishment; “ we’re not likely to forget you, I assure "you.” “ Anything to give the waiter,” said the other, growing more explicit. “ The fellow wants your blessing,” said Denmark'Jack, acting as interpreter. “ Oh, no, sir,” said the waiter, “ only a tip ;” and he extended his hand for the Australian’s mite. In doing so he explained that he received no salary for waiting on the table; all he got as wages was what the guests liked to give him. “ Then,” said “ Mid.,” to the great amuse­ ment of all present, as he placed a sixpence in his hand—“ Pack up your traps ana go to Australia where I como from, and they will pay you for what work you do, without having to beg for your wages.” The fellow said he would think about i t ; and Denmark Jack walked away offended, remarking to his com­ panion, “ Why, they’ll think as we’re a couple on them emigration agents, if you goes on like this.” Soon after his arrival in England, Mid­ winter’s style as a cricketer underwent a radical change. Grace, who had engaged him, may be said to have taken him in hand, and he completely altered his batting. He used to play a free game, hitting out at almost anything; but Grace taught him to play a defensive game. He was very successful with his native county. His first match in its service was Gloucester v. England, on Kenn­ ington Oval, on June 26 and 27, 1877. The Gloucester team comprised the three’ Graces, who were then in their prime. The Australian at the outset was somewhat disappointing in his batting, getting only one in the first innings; but he bowled with marvellous success. In the first innings he took seven wickets for 35 runs, and in the second four for 46, Glou­ cester winning the match by five wickets. He played for the county throughout the season, and had an average of 26.14 for eight innings, being only beaten by the three Graces, and thus placed forth on the list. When the first Australian Eleven went to England, “ Mid. ” played in the first nine matches with them ; but being engaged by Gloucester he had to abandon his comrades before they had gone far. When they were playing Middlesex and “ Mid. ” had on the pads readv to go out, one of the Graces drove up and insisted upon his fulfilling his contract with Glou ester, which at the time had a match on with Surrey and wanted his services to pull them through. In 1881-2 he revisited Australia with Shaw and LilIywhite’ s team and played against all the teams out here for the Englishmen, but his success during the tour did not compare favourably with his previous performances. In eleven a-side matches he played 12 innings for an avprage of 11. In bowling he took 13 wickets for an average of 33. When the Australian tour came to an end he decided not to return to the land of his birth, but to remain in the land of his adoption, to which ' he was strongly attached. He remained in Melbourne after Shaw and Lillywhita had taken their departure, and we next find him trying his luck on the Stock Exchange, but with only moderate success.. For a while he played* with the East Melbourne Club, and was one of the team that won the M’Lean Challenge Cup, for which the matches extended over three years. It was about this time that he became the boniface of the Clyde Hotel, Carlton, where he remained about two years, and played with the Carlton Club, to whom, of course, he was a great acquisition and a tower of strength. In 1884 he went home again with the Australian team that visited England in that year, being one of the first upon whom the choice fell. He played 46 innings during the tour through the United Kingdom, securing 800 runs, four times “ not out.” This, as will be seen, gave him an average of 19. In bowling he took fifteen wickets for an average of 29. At the beginning of ’88 he went to South Melbourne, taking one of the local hostelries, and playing with the South eleven during that season. When the Australian team went to England in 1888 he was asked to form one of the party, but was unable, through business arrangements, to leave the Colony. It was evident,' however, that “ Mid.” was induced to decline the invitation for other than.business reasons. His eyesight was be­ ginning to fail him, and he could no longer see with that distinctness indispensable to a good cricketer. Continuing in the hotel busi­ ness, he secured the Victoria in Bourke- street; and from this onward he took no art in the game to which he had devoted the est part of his life. His career as a cricketer was closed, and the family troubles which broke his heart and '^brought him to a sad and premature end commenced. Mr. Boyle says he noticed certain peculiarities of manner about him before the last Australian team left for England, but it was a shock to them when it was cabled home that he had gone hopelessly insane. Midwinter was a'rough and ready youth when he made his first appearance in cricket circles; but his contact with people more refined had a salutary effect. When playing as a professional with the Gloucester Club he made a lot of money and looked after it pretty carefully; £15 or £16 a week was his usual share of the gate money. He was an all-round athlete, and as a quarter of a mile runner, had few equals in Victoria. He was a capital shot, and was devoted to fishing as a pastime. His constitution was marvel­ lously strong. On one occasion he was one of a party that had to camp out on the plains on the other side of Sandhurst. The rain came down heavily, the horses got knocked up, and after a long and exhausting walk, the tent had to be pitched for the night. “ Mid.” stretched himself out on the top of some bags, but the water rose and almost covered him. He lay fast asleep through the entire night in about 4in. of water, and never suffered the slightest effect from it. He had a wonderful memory, and always counted his own score when batting. He and Barnes, on one occasion, when playing against Leicester, made a remarkable stand, getting 452 runs between them. He never lost count of their joint score throughout. At Scarborough, on one occasion, his play was so brilliant that a collection was made among the spectators to present him with an improvised proof of their appreciation. He carried the money away in a carpet ba g; and he used to tell with great relish of his trouble in counting it, a process which occupied him exactly two hours. Someone remarked that a cheque would have been handier. “ Not a bit of it,” said “ Mid.,” who had no knowledge of cheques in those days. “ I would have to take a cheque to the bank, but the stuff is here, and I can do what I like with it.” There was £30 in the bag, the largest contribution being Gd., the bulk of it being in coppers. When he took up cricket professionally he never did (inything else for a living. 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