Cricket 1892

£ff Together joined in cricket’s m an ly toil.5’— Byron . No. 304 VOL. XI. Registered for Transmission Abroad. THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1892. PRICE 2d. M R . J O H N E R N E S T B y W. A nsell . H IL L . C ricket , like m usic, to use a popular expres­ sion, “ runs in families.” The truth of this is once more exemplified in the case of Dr. Hill, the Medical Officer of Health for Bir­ mingham. All his sons play the game, and play it well too, the youngest J. E ., the subject of this sketch, being perhaps the best of all as a batsman, while H. G. is preeminent in the bowling department. This young solicitor, in partnership with his brother, Mr. H. G. Hill, was born in Birmingham on Sept. 27, 1867, and received his education under the skilful guidance of the Ilev. A. R. Vardy, the Head Master of King Edward’s High School, New Street. The manufacture of cricketers is not exactly in the line of the Governors of this wealthy foundation; the production of Arch­ bishops is, perhaps, more to their taste, and so young Hill, while thankful for the store of Greek and Latin implanted in his mind by the Head, is bound to regard him­ self as a self-educated cricketer. The primitive ideas connected with all Birmingham cricket two decades ago, led people to believe the school coach an unnecessary appendage to the school ground, and so the hap­ less youngsters found themselves compelled to play with an outside club if they would attain to any effi­ ciency as batsmen. To his connec­ tion with the Handsworth Wood Club is due the credit of his early training, for by consistent practice here with his brothers, he developed all the latent talent he possessed, and must, therefore, in the absence of any tuition be termed a purely natural cricketer. For that organi­ sation he acted as wicket-keeper with considerable success until an injury to his hand practically closed his career as a stumper. In bat­ ting, though, he was for some time a most prolific scorer, and for several years has held the highest average in that branch of the game. In 1888 his average was 22.0; in 1859, 25.9; 1890, 85.5 ; 1891, 44.1 for 26 innings. Against Newent in 1889 he made 157, and the Bridg­ north players have lively recollections of the stand made by the brothers, J. E. ending the day with 200 not out attached to his name. Llanfairfechan was the scene of another cen­ tury last year (109 was the exact figure), and several local clubs around Birmingham recol­ lect totals just under the coveted three figures. His consistent form led the County executive to solicit his aid, and his first appearance against Yorkshire was a distinct success in the field, although less so as a batsman. Within five minutes of the start of the game, his nerve was put to a severe test by Ulyett, who made a huge drive straight to young Hill on the boundary, where he brilliantly caught the Yorkshire smiter high above his head. This for a youngster, accustomed to keep wicket, was a trying ordeal, and the happy result proved the real grit in his composition. He did nothing of importance in 1869, and his appearance for the county was only occasional. In 1890 he played more frequently, and made 86 not out against Durham, 22 v. Yorkshire, 25 not out v. Somerset, and in the capacity of ca p ta iD — through the absence of both Messrs. Bainbridge and Docker — actually won the Yorkshire match. An accident at football prevented his regular appearance in 1891, but on the few occasions in which he played he met with marked success, and usually under trying circumstances. A Manchester, upon soft turf baked by sun­ shine, when the rest could do nothing he scored 33 (not out) and 16; against the for­ midable bowling of Surrey, too, he realised 24 and 16 not out on a slow difficult ground ; while with Mr. Bainbridge against Essex the pair put on nearly a hundred runs without the loss of a wioket, and at the close of play he was still not out with 60 to his credit* These few occasions gave him the fine aver­ age of 39.1 for the year. During the present season he has been the victim of one or two bad decisions, and his highest score so far wai 46 against Notts, with useful contri­ butions of 20 out of 56 for the side against Lancashire, and 20 v. Lei­ cester. As captain of the Hands­ worth Wood Rugby Football team he has also achieved some success, representing the Midland Counties against Oxford and Cambridge, Devonshire, and Gloucester, but the rough and tumble work affected him internally and he has been com ­ pelled to relinquish the game. His unassuming gt nial manner, and an utter absence of side, have made him universally popular, while liis lithe, active agure and supple form give one the impression of an athlete every inch, and Warwick­ shire will be fortunate if a few others similar in stamp and ability will arise in connection with the families of the populous districts in and around Birmingham. So far,'from circumstances over which he has had perhaps little, certainly no direct control, he has perhaps hardly fulfilled the high expecta­ tions of those who have had the best means of judging his real capacity as a batsman. At the same time he has shown quite enough promise already to justify the belief that he will, if only he is able to devote the necessary time to the game, attain a much higher position in the estimation of the general public. He has all the elements of a successful batsman in him . He plays the game thoroughly and while possessed of some defence has no lack of power. A good field, he can be relied on in any position, having a very safe pair o f hands. Our portrait is from a photograph by E. B. Mowle, 174, Broad Street, Birmingham. N a t io n a l P r o v i n c ia l B a n k ▼. H it c h in T o w n .— Played at Hitchin on June 23, and o\*iag to rain resulted in a draw greatly in favour of the former. Score : National Provincial Bank, 112 (J. Gibbon, 54); Hitchin, 48 (Wilson, 25).