Cricket 1892

MAY 5, 1992 CRICKET: A WEEKLY EE COED OF THE GAME, 105 “ A pprobation from Sir Hubert Stanley is praise indeed.” The value of such a testimonial can be fully appreciated by those who recognise in the cricket critic of the Australasian newspaper one of the best all-round players o f the earlier Aus­ tralian teams. A conjunction of two amateur wicket keepers of such excep­ tional merit was something of a phenome­ non. And what is still more remarkable is the fact that circumstances were so far favourable as to admit of the presence of the two representative amateur stumpers of the day in Lord Sheffield’s team. It refutes Shakspeare’s theory that “ two stars keep not their motion in one sphere.” will be fully representative of Australia. An important step at all events has been taken in placing on record the aims of the new Council. Its objects were defined to be as follow s:— (o) The regulation of visits of English or other teams. ( b ) The regulation of visits of Australian teams to England or elsewhere in conjunction with the governing bodies of the places visited, (c) The settlement of all dis­ putes or differences between Associations represented on the Council. (<J) The appoint­ ment of umpires for International and Inter­ colonial matches. (e) The alteration or amendment of or the addition to the Laws of Crioket in Australia. B e f o r e the subject of Lord Sheffield’s team passes into the region o f ancient history it would be ungrateful if som e notice were not taken of the sports­ man-like attitude of the Melbourne Club in its relation’s with the English cricketers. “ Mid - on,” the cricket critic of the Melbourne Leader, in a very interesting summary of the tour, which appeared in the Age news- paper, writes :— “ No Victorian can re­ flect upon the incidents of the tour with­ out feeling proud of such an institution as tbe Melbourne Cricket Club, whose C om m ittee, in the m ost spirited and generous manner, spontaneously offered Lord Sheffield the use of their magnifi­ cent ground without charge immediately they heard of his intention to visit Aus­ tralia.” But the effect of liberality such as that o f the Melbourne Club is far-reaching in its influence, and by no means con­ fined to the colony most interested. Our own M.C.C. has a worthy prototype iu the Australian club with the same initials. “ One touch of nature makes the world akin.” And English cricketers will be proud of the kinship which shows itself in such a patriotic as well as practical fashion. THE PROMISE OF MAT. With the dawn of merry May-time they anticipate a gay time, They, the batsmen—for their play time's now set in, from coast to coast, And the Parcaa they’re imploring to be kind when they'd be scoring [While the fixture-cards are pouring in upon us by each post]. And the trundlers, in high feather, practise now for hours together, Dreaming, while they spin “ the leather,” of the gladsome supper-song That at even they’ll be trolling, when they’ve done big deeds in bowling [While the fixture-oards are rolling in by dozens all day long.] And the cricketers have visions of the ourious decisions That the umpire (’spite derision) may pro­ nounce—yet never grieve; On the banks of Cam they’re striving; near the Isis cutting, driving [Still the “ fixtures ” keep arriving at our door from morn till eve]. It’s a song of fixtures! fixtures! framed in Poe-ian metrio mixtures, That at eaoh recurring May-time crioket secretaries sing, And the “ Weekly Record's ” printer shaketh off the sleep of Winter, For it’ s “ fixtures ” all the daytime that the weary postmen bring. PRINCIPAL MATCHES fo r NEXT WEEK. T h u r sd a y , Mat 5.—Lords, M.C.O. and G. v. Sussex; Cambridge, The Seniors’ M atch; Oxford, The Freshmen's Match. F r id a y , M ay 6.—Werneth, Lancashire v. XVI of Werneth and Captain; Taunton, Somerset­ shire Colts Match. S a t u r d a y , M at 7.—Keigate, Surrey C. and G. v. Keigate Priory. M onday , M ay 9.—Lord’s, M.C.C. and G. v. Lanca­ shire; Leicester, Leicestershire .Colts Match; Oxford, The Eleven v. XVI. Freehmen; Cam­ bridge, FreshmenN M atch. W e d n e sd a y , M ay II.—Kennington Oval, Surrey Colts v. Clapham Wanderers. A point which has given rise to a considerable amount o f discussion on occasions was brought prominently into notice during the return match between England and Victoria. It was the out­ come o f a wonderful catch made by Graham, who was acting as substitute for Walters. Briggs had hit one of Trott’s, not only blooming hard, but blooming high, so high that it seemed as if the ball had gone fairly out of the ground. Running back in the hope of reaching it, Graham got quite to the fence, than which he could no further go. Leaning back over the railing he managed to make a magnificent catch, just securing the ball with his right hand held up to the full extent of the arm straight above his head. So far indeed had he leaned back that his cap fell on to the seats in the public enclosure. The question, of course, was whether the ball was over the boundary when it was actually caught. M a k in g all due allowance for the un- propitious weather, which was certainly not of a character to conduce to the best possible exposition of the game, the Freshmen’s match at Cambridge, or at least the earlier part, does not seem to have given any cause for rejoicing. What cricket there was on the first day seemed to suggest that Mr. H ill’s side must be the better at all points. The best bats­ man on the day’s form was E. Field, who was captain o f the Clifton College elevens o f 1890 and ’91. H is sixty-eight, not out, was on the whole an excellent display. He is a sturdy cricketer with very good defence, and is particularly strong on the off-side. Last year, as those who follow Public School cricket at all closely will remember, he was not able to take part in the principal matches owing to an injury. As far as I can hear the best bowler on Monday’s show was Parker of King’s School, Canterbury. He is medium pace with a high delivery, but at present, at times, a little lacking in accuracy. To judge from the report of the meeting which took place at Adelaide on the 25th o f March, the Australian Cricket Council is at last an accomplished fact. Tas­ mania and Queensland were neither of them represented, but with the other Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia in accord, there is little reason to doubt that the Council I f the new body only succeeds in carrying out the objects embodied in the first three of the above resolutions, it will have done more than enough to justify its existence. Festina lente, though, is a motto I would commend for its adoption. In any case it has had a useful example in the effect o f an excess o f zeal on this side which should point its own moral. W h a t an influence the visit of Lord Sheffield’s team to Australia has been for good has been fully proved by the un­ doubted revival which has taken place in the principal centres of Australian cricket during the season just over. It is peculiarly gratifying to find that the keen rivalry bound to be evoked in the more important contests has not left any but good feeling. Excess o f zeal may at times have caused errors of judgment. Even in these cases, though, what most sportsmen would have regarded as trivial matters have been perhaps magnified into undue importance. On the whole, though, the tour has done much to tighten the bonds which unite the cricketers of the old Country and the new. It is pleasant, too, to find that one of the very first acts of the new Australian Cricket Council was to send a letter to Lord Sheffield, showing their hearty appreciation of the sportsmanlike spirit which prompted him to under­ take the heavy responsibilites of such a tour, and of the keen interest he showed in everything that could conduce to the furtherance of cricket in the Colonies. As the letter will no doubt in the future be a rather important matter o f cricket history, it will be well to reproduce it verbatim. “ March 28. “ To Lord Sheffield, Tasmania.—Dear Sir,— The representatives of the New South Wales, Victorian, and South Australian Cricket Associations in conference to-day desired me, as their Chairman, to convey to you their warmest appreciation of the interest you have shown in Australian crioket by bringing into competition with it, in the Colonies, the greatest champions of England. It is gratify­ ing that the international contests have been characterised by the kindest social amenities, which it is hoped may have an enduring influence for good. So far as Australia is concerned, it will not stop upon the steps of tbe pavilion nor fade away at the gates of the cricket grounds.—I remain, yours very faith­ fully, H. Y . S p a r k s , Chairman Australasian Cricket Conference.”