Cricket 1892

“ Together joined in cricket’s m an ly toil.”— Byron . Regieter'edor^rranBmfs'aion Abroad. T H U R S D A Y , J U L Y 7 , 1 8 9 2 . PK IOB 2d. M R . M . R . J A R D I N E . To the majority of those interested, the name of the player, or players, who have principally contributed to the result, is sufficient to recal the incidents of any match of more than ordin­ ary interest. The extraordinary bowling feat which marked the finish of the Inter-Univer­ sity contest of 1870 will be widely remem­ bered by a reference to “ Cobden’s year.” The names of Yardley, Buckland, Game, and Butler, among many others, willjre- present to even a careless student of cricket lore, events sufficiently out of the common to revive the mem­ ories of particular years. The men­ tion of Key and Rashleigh will be enough to bring back with new freshness the gallant stand which produced such an unexpected victory tor Oxford in 1886. And now history has been to some extent repeating itself in the memorable partnership of Messrs. Jardine and Hill at Lord’s ou Thursday, which laid the found­ ation of Oxford’ s brilliant success of last week. By Oxford men at least the Inter-University match will be commemorated in a measure as Jardine’s year. As was the case with several others who have won honours at the English Universities, the credit of the Oxonian’ s early training in cricket belongs to Scot­ land. Fettes College has good reason to be proud of him as one of the most distinguished Public School cricketers of his day. His record of 1888 at Fettes established for him a reputation as an all-round player of exceptional promise. As a batsman he had an extraordinary average, one of over 77 for thirteen innings, with five not outs. But it was not only with the bat that he did good servico for Fettes. His out-cricket was of equal value, and besides being a good field he took twenty-four wickets at a cost of i ’ nst over six runs a-piece. The topes of his school career, too, were fully realised in his early trials at Oxford. Having gone into residence at Balliol College during the winter, he made a very creditable show in the Fresh­ men’s match in the following May. It was in every way a creditable display of all-round cricket, for, in addition to two useful scores of 24 and 57 for Mr. H. W. Forster’s eleven, he took four wickets at a cost of 51 runs. A capi­ tal second innings of 73 for the Sixteen Fresh­ men against the Eleven ensured him a trial in the University team in the first match of the year. It was not the most favourable occasion, and the Oxford batsmen generally fared badly on a sticky wicket against the bowlers Mr. A. J. Webbe had included in his eleven. Still, of some moderate batting, Mr. Jardine’ s was the best. Some ten days later, against Lancashire at Oxford, he showed cricket of a really high order, and his scores of 54 and 17 were, indeed, the one redeeming feature of Oxford batting. So far, on slow wickets, he had shown undoubted ability,which was lacking on the hard grounds later in the season. On the fast wicket at Lord’s, against Cambridge, he was singularly, unfortunate, so much so as to be bowled without a run in each innings. Though his first appearance in the Inter-University match was a failure, in the following summer he was seen to better advantage. His second score of 24 was not only the highest on the Oxford side, but in quality equal to any in the match, a highly creditable display of watchful cricket. Still his record for the season was not a brilliant one, and his best innings was one of 46 against M.C.C. and Ground at Oxford. "With the responsibility of the captaincy on his shoulders last year, there might have been some excuse if his individual cricket had been at all lacking. As it was, there was little or no falling off in his batting, even if there was anything want­ ing in his management of the side. A capital second innings of 62 not out, against the Gentlemen of England, averted what appeared at one time to be a certain defeat. A week later, too, against Mr. Philipson’s eleven, he was seen to the] greatest advantage on a wet wicket, scoring 70 out of a poor total of 207. Later in the sea­ son, however, he was less success­ ful, and at Lord’s, in the great match of the year, he again did little, only scoring 15 in the double innings. This year Mr. Jardine was not in residence at Oxford, and it was not until the close of the University’ s trials at home that he took his place in the eleven. An excellent second innings of 60 against M.C.C. and G., at Lord’s, foreshadowed his success against Cambridge later in the week, and curiously enough, as in the Inter- University match, Mr. Hill was his partner in the long stand he made against M.C.C. Of his brilliant performance against Cambridge last week, full particulars are given elsewhere. It is enough to point out that his aggregate of 179 is th» highest yet recorded in the Oxford and Cambridge match. His suc­ cess was the more gratifying as he had hardly fulfilled the exceed­ ing promise of hia career at Fettes at Oxford. As an all-round cricketer, Mr. Jardine would not be out of place in any eleven. He plays a watchful game, and on slow wickets has generally been seen to advantage. In any case, if he is allowed to get set, his is a very difficult wicket to get. In the field he is brilliant anywhere, with a smart return. As a medium pace bowler, too, he has been of use on occasions. Once in par­ ticular within our own recollection he was very successful. It was at the Oval in 1889, when Abel and Maurice Bead were thoroughly well-set. Put on as a last resource, he proved singularly effective, taking five wickets for 78 runs in Surrey’s big innings of 614. Mr. Jardine, who was born on June b, 1869, was played once for Middlesex presumably under the birth qualification. The one occasion was the memorable match against Somersetshire at Taunton, in August, 1889, which resulted in a tie. Though not fortunate enough to get his football “ blue,”