Cricket 1892

“ Toge ther joined in cricket’s m an ly toil. 5 ’— Byron , No. 268 VOL. XI. Registered for Transmission Abroad. THURSDAY, MA.Y 19, 1892. PRICE 2d. M R . C Y R IL M OW B R A Y W E L L S . T he attainment of a place in one of the University elevens is not by any means an easy task, as many good cricketers who have had to wait to make a reputation till their academical career has closed have reason to know to their sorrow. It is only of late years, too, that promotion has been the reward of real merit. Until recently the common im­ pression was that the University eleven was a close borough, with the honours, as a rule, only open to those who had the hall mark of one or other of the chief Public Schools. Latterly, though, the competition, whatever it may have been in the past, has been open. In the composition of the more recent University elevens the more favoured Schools like Eton and Harrow have been, indeed, in a distinct minority. At the present time Eton has only two, Harrow but one representative in the Oxford and Cambridge elevens. What has been their loss has been the gain of the minor Schools as well as of University cricket in general. Dul­ wich College, in particular, has been of late a useful training ground for the Cambridge eleven. R. N. Douglas and C. M. Wells were last summer two of the bright par­ ticular “ stars," and this year seems likely to bring an addition in the person of a younger Douglas, the young Freshman who has so far done so well. And of this trio O. M. Wells will bear comparison as an all-round cricketer with either of the others. Born in London on March 21,1871, he has only recently reached his majority. Dulwich College can claim the whole credit of his education, at least, as a cricketer. A. P. Douglas first, and then M. P. Bowden had proved the value of the School as a training ground for Surrey cricket. In 1886, when Mr. Wells first got his colours, B.N.Douglas was servinghis appren­ ticeship, as it were, to Surrey. At that early part of his career young Wells was aslow scorer, a batsman of the stonewalling type. A wicket-keeper at the outset, he gave up the position at the end of 1888 to devote himself to bowling, where there was, of course, greater scope. That year, too, produced a corresponding increase of freedom r»s a batsman, witness his scores of 71 against the Masters, and 40 against Surrey Club and Ground. The end of the season, too, saw the commencement of his connection with the Surrey County C.C., for which he did good service on two separate occasions. As a bowler he had an exceptional record for Dul­ wich in 1889. Altogether he took forty-two wickets at an average cost of nine runs. Five wickets for five runs against Tonbridge School on a run-getting pitoh, and eleven for 68 in the two innings against M.C.C. and Ground were the best of his School perform­ ances. As in the previous year, too, the Clifton eleven had reason to speak well of his all-round cricket at the Oval, for he not only scored 43 and 17, but also took six wickets for seven runs. His last summer at Dulwich proved him to be in quite the forefront of Public School cricketers. As a run-getter he was consistently successful, with 124 v. Ton­ bridge School, 100 against Mr.T.G. Treadgold’s XI.,and66not out and 71notout against Surrey C. & G. as his best records. In Devonshire later in the season he was also very much in evidence. He came, indeed, fresh from a big score of 136 for Seaton v. Sidmouth to assist Surrey against Essex at Leyton. The Trinity Freshmen’ s match gave him the important advantage of a good start at Cambridge in the following year. A score of 77 supplemented by eight wickets for 37 runs was a foretaste of what was to come in the University Fresh­ men’s match, in which |he made 49 and 39. Nor was his first appearance for Cambridge less noteworthy. On the contrary, he was seen to great advantage against Mr. C. I. Thorn­ ton's XI. Here he was not only successful with the bat to the tune of 58 and 14, but also with the ball, delivering 35 overs for 43 runs and three wickets, those of Messrs. W. G. Grace, W. L. Murdoch, and J. E. Barrett. AgainstM.C.C.and G. hewas equally effective. His 31 in the second inn­ ings was the top score on a difficult pitch, which favoured him in turn so much that he was able to take eight wickets at a cost of only 50 runs. Though out of luck in the later matches, still he had a good average of nineteen, and it is worthy of remark that he made double figures in nine of the thirteen inn­ ings he had. In College matches he scored heavily, so much so that he had an average of 42, with 101 not out against the Crusaders as ihe principal item. For Trinity L.V.C. he was even more effective, and in five innings he had an aggre­ gate of 471 runs, including scores of 160 v. King’s and Clare, and 155 v. Jesus. The University L.V.C. fur­ nished him as well with his best bowling record of last year, a little matter of ten wickets for eighteen runs against Cambridgeshire. His figures, indeed, for the L.V.C. were quite out of the common, showing a batting average of 58, with a bowling analysis of 7 runs for fifty- two wickets. As a cricketer Mr. Wells is of general utility. Though his style is not particularly attrac­ tive he is a dangerous batsman if allowed to get his eye in, and when set scores very fast. He bowls slow round-arm, and as he can break both ways requires a lot of watch­ ing. Smartness as well as certainty in the field complete his qualifica­ tions for excellence as an all-round cricketer. In other sports than cricket Mr. Wells has proved himself to be a proficient. He is, in fact, a double blue, having played full back against Oxford in the Rugby match last Feb­ ruary. As a footballer he had previously served his apprenticeship at Dulwich College, where he gained the honour cap as well as the cup for kicking in each of his two yearn. Besides these he won the fives cup, throwing the cricket ball, as well as the high jump in 1890.