Cricket 1892

“ Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron, N o. 29 6. VO L . X I. Registered lot Transmission Abroad. THURSDAY, MAY 5, PR ICE 2d. MR. A R T H U R JAM E S L E D G E R H IL L . H a m p sh ir e cricket has rarely been unrepre­ sented in one or other of the University elevens during the last ten years. Mr. H . W . Forster, who still occupies the position of Captain, was one of the best all-round members of the Oxford team, some five or six summers back. A little earlier, another fine cricketer and a predecessor in the Captaincy did excellent service for Cambridge, though not so soon, at least in the opinion of many capable judges, as he should have done by reason of his undoubted merit. And now the County is fittingly represented in the Cambridge eleven, in the person of the Hon. Secretary of the University Cricket Club, born at Bassett, near South­ ampton, on July 26, 1871, Mr. Hill has been identified with Hampshire all his life and by every tie. Hardly every tie, perhaps, as much of tho tuition he received as a boy was at Marlborough. This reservation though will not disprove his claim to be considered of Hampshire growth, a cricketer of Hants, in fact, thew and sinew. A preparatory school at Southampton gave him his first lessons in discipline. His cricket career did not, however, seriously oommence until his entry at Marl­ borough College. The commence­ ment of the year 1884 saw him in statu pupillari there. Then only in his thirteenth year, his cricket had of course yet to be formed. Still his possession of considerable promise as a cricketer is shown by the fact that he ob­ tained his colours in the School eleven in 1887, when he was just reaching his sixteenth birthday. His first appearance, too, at Lord’s was suggestive of more than or­ dinary capacity. The Rugby match of 1887 was sufficient to establish his reputation as a youngster of considerable promise. The Marl­ borough eleven proved their superiority at all points, and gained a decisive victory by 217 runs. To this success Mr. Hill’s all-round cricket contributed in no small degree. In bothjbatting and bowling he showed to advantage, and his scores of 14 and 30 were something of a revelation to those who re- g arded him chiefly as a bowler. Still it was is bowling that got him his colours, and his record for a first year as a bowler was much above the average, showing 51 wickets at an average cost of nine runs. Though fairly successful in the following season, his best efforts were reserved for his third and last year at Marlborough. On his form of 1889 he was indeed one of the best all-round Public School cricketers of the year. Singularly enough, though a consistent run-getter throughout the season, he was not fortunate enough to get a run in the one innings he had against Marlborough at Lord’s. But for this failure he would have had a batting average far superior to any School player of the season. As it was, he had in addition to the best bowling figures a very fine record as a bats­ man, an aggregate of 373 for nine completed innings, or an average of over forty runs. His all-round cricket in 1889 at Marlborough justified the belief that he would be of con­ siderable use to Cambridge University. His first appearance there, too, fortunately for him, was a success. The Freshmen’s match of 1890 enabled him to make his mark at the very outset, earning the double distinction of the highest score, as well as a very creditable analysis. Cambridgethatyear was rich in Freshmen, and Mr.Hill had dangerous rivals in Messrs. F. S. Jackson, R. N. Douglas, and E. C. Streatfeild, all of whom got their blues in their first year. Two good scores of 18 and 58, in one of quite the earlier matches against Mr. A. J. Webbe’s team, however, impressed those m authority so favourably that lfis place in the University eleven was assured. On the whole, too, he fairly deserved this recognition by some useful all-round cricket, even if there were no exceptional per­ formances with either bat or ball. His plucky cricket in the early part of the Oxford match last year will be fresh in the memory of C r ic k e t readers. Cambridge, who had gone in first, made a very bad start, so bad that five of the best wickets had fallen for only 61 runs. Mr. Hill’s timely stand with Mr. M’Gregor, however, proved the turning-point of the innings, and his 62 laia the foundation of a good score, which enabled Cambridge to pull through in the end, though only with very little in hand. In the remarkable run-getting match at Brighton last June he helped materially towards the establishment of an English record. In fact, the honours on the Cambridge side were decidedly his, as his scores of 75 and 61 re­ presented the highest contribution to the University’s totals of 359 and 366. Singularly enough fortune was very kind to Mr. Hill on his first appearance for Hampshire in July, 1890. Devonshire represented the opposition on that occasion, and the bowling was so much to his taste that the outcome of his intro­ duction to Hampshire cricket was a score of 106. In other lines of sport Mr. Hill has shown his capacity. As a Rugby foot­ baller he has made his mark, serving with credit in the Marlborough Fifteen, and subse­ quently for his College and County. He also represented Marlborough in racquets and boxing. Mr. Hill bowls fast round, and as he comes very quickly off the pitch and keeps generally