Cricket 1892

t£Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.5’— Byron • N o. 311 VO L . X I. Registered lot Transmission Abroad. CRICKET NOTCHES. B y th e R ev . R . S. H olm es, In the Canterbury week, a3 everybody knows by this time, Attewell immortalized himself by bowling about the widest ball ever sent down; and of set purpose. The rumour is that the Kentish captain gave Walter Wright orders to get out as soon as possible, so as not to save the follow-on. Attewell, scenting mischief, determined to prevent this issue, and to this end deliberately bowled a ball several yards wide, which resulted in a boundary extra. I call attention to the cir­ cumstance at this distance not for the sake of questioning the legitimacy of such an act. It was genuine cricket. Any expedient to bring a match to a definite issue. I hope he would have done the same if that four had been added to the runs scored off his bowling > I believe he would. Any thorough sportsman would, for self-effacement is a prime character­ istic of your real sportsman ; he plays for his side, and not for himself. But isn’t it some­ what anomalous that, whilst overthrows tell against a bowler, wides and no-balls simply go down under the item of “ extras.” And yet overthrows have little or nothing to do with the bowler, whilst he alone is responsible for wides aud no-balls. I stated previously that in my judgment overthrows should count as extras, and should neither be reckoned to a batsman nor against a bowler; and I am equally convinced that the bowler ought to be penalized for both wides and no-balls, since these certainly belong to him. There is nothing in the Laws to prevent this change being introduced. Perhaps, however, it would be more satisfactory if in the next revision of the Laws, which I am very anxious should be as nearly perfect as possible, this point ,were explicitly dealt with. Speaking of Notts, I note with peculiar satisfaction that the splendid run of victory all along the line is to be commemorated in some practical way. A supper is decidedly English. And so is a well-lined purse. Why not have both ? Our professional cricketers are so worthy a class that distinguished services deserve substantial recognition. And crioket as a profession is none too lucrative; it may be as long as it last3, but that, mind you, is only some four months out of the year. Kent set a glorious example a fortnight since when they gave Aleo Hearne the sum of fifty sovereigns. Every Notts man deserves just as well at the hands of his County. Let there be a fair division of the “ swag ” ; where all have done so well, a distinction in the honors con­ ferred would be utterly invidious. Another notch. Harry Daft has played several not-out innings for his County this THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, year, and only last week, in the second innings against Middlesex, he was sent in first. This used to be the invariable custom; of late years it has been in abeyance. I hope it will come in again. Of course exceptions were made even in the good old times. Nothing would have been gained by putting in first such passengers as Slinn and Hodgson, of York­ shire fame, and I. C. Shaw and Morley of Notts. And perhaps to-day, when in most of our County teams every man is good for a score of runs now and again, this custom may not be so useful as in the days when there was a very decided “ tail.” Unless of course, in the case of a follow-on, and the not-out man be not too fagged. Or in the case of a “ Colt,” whose nerves are none too proof. That long interval on the pavilion seats is very discon­ certing. I remember seeing Maurice Read cased in pads for five mortal hours at Old Trafford in 1887, waiting for his turn. What wonder that, when it came, he retired without breaking his duck. After all, does the order of going in make very much difference ? Some chink it does. They talk and write of “ changing the luck,” whatever that may mean. Walter Read used always to go in second wicket down for Surrey. We all remember what that meant for his opponents. Latterly he began to show symptoms of increasing age. The luck was dead against him. He was then put in first, and with the most satisfactory results. And these results are due exclusively to the alteration in the order. So most people at once conclude. To me it is a case “ not proven.” I know an old whist-player. When things are going badly at his favourite pastime, he straightway rises, makes a tour thrice round his chair, to “ change his luck.” He remembers when the change follows, but forgets when it does not. Yet I cannot help thinking that W.G. does best when he takes the one place that has for many years been his by right. If he waits till three or four wiokets have fallen, he rarely plays up to his best standard. Perhaps there is less luck in cricket than we imagine. It’s a convenient word to have handy, if only because it offers a fairly decent screen for one’ s ignorance. It is the “ incapables ” in every department who seem to derive immense satisfaction from the cant quotation often on their lips, “ just my confounded luck.” Better be honest in future, and say instead, “ just my usual stupidity.” The latter is much nearer the truth of things. The Harrow Wanderers have, as is their wont, been touring up North, under the leadership of their veteran general, most sterling of cricketers, and truest of sporting friends. Spite of the burden of forty-eight years, I. D. Walker has just demoralized many a crack batsman with his crafty lobs. The men of Liverpool and Manchester were literally mowed down by his right hand. 1 8 9 2 . PR ICE 2d. Fancy nine men out of an eleven captained by A. G. Steel falling for 16 runs, and seven more in the other innings: whilst no less than eleven victims were sacrificed at Man­ chester. It only shows the value of good lobs. Cris. Tinley and V. E. Walker—past masters of this branch of the craft—wanted playing. Why don’t some of our younger men try their hand at lobs ? Good lobs won’t come all at once. They require a long and hard appren­ ticeship : but once master the secret, and you wili be worthy a place in the best match. It is well when cricket and philanthropy run together. The Harrow Wanderers, every year at Manchester, go in a body to the Ancoats Hospital. And no wonder. They have their own “ Harrow C ot” in the chil­ dren’s ward. And their annual tour of inspection is eagerly anticipated both by themselves and those who have elicited this emx>hatic expression of their sympathy. Cricket has always been a friend to charity. And so has football. I wish it were practicable for the same pecuniary aid to be given by cricket to our medical charities as comes every year from Yorkshire Rugby Football. One recalls with pride the immediate response on the part of our lead­ ing cricketers when the ill-starred “ Princess Alice ” went down in the Thames some years back. Anything that will prevent sport degenerating into a more selfish indulgence. “ But what about the week’s cricket,” demands an impatient public, who fight shy of a parson “ on the stump.” All in good time. These “ notches ” must run their own course, and even when that course happens to be off the line. Tho fact is, our dailies report matches so fully that it seems un­ necessary to serve up a re-heated dish. And cricket last week had but few points of special interest. True, Middlesex were twice thrashed, first by Notts, then by Surrey, the former having eight wickets to spare, the latter an en tire innings. And this week Notts and Surrey will in turn meet Somersetshire and Glo’ster- shire. One is curious to learn the results of these engagements. W ill they confirm the historic August match at the Oval, or no ? Notts lead by three points at present: will that number be increased or reduced during the next fortnight ? Moderate scoring characterized the Mid­ dlesex return at Trent Bridge. In the entire match, a bowler—Phillips—knocked up the highest innings, 46, though at the finish Shrewsbury and Daft—both well into the fifties—were full of running. But the pace was awful—a sort of snail’s gallop. So pain­ ful, that to put cricketers and spectators out of their misery, T. C. O’Brien commissioned Stanley Scott to help him to terminate the agony. It’s no good transferring the August match with Surrey to Nottingham, if that