Cricket 1892

“ Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron . K e ^ e & r a ^ s s i ^ A b r o a a . T H U R S D A Y , J A N U A R Y 28 , 1 8 9 2 . PR I0E 2d. M R . W . B R O C K IE . T he history of the Germantown C.C. is in a great measure a record of the acclimatisation and development of our national game in the United States. Cricket would always, it goes without saying, have secured atemporary or partial foothold in the chief centres and outlying districts of the American continent where business takes Englishmen. But the credit of the popularity which the king of sports enjoys at the present time on the other side of the big drink is essentially due to the enterprise of young America. And not the least pleasant feature of the progress _of cricket across the At lantic is the reflection that it has been the outcome of sportsmen, most of them indigenous to the soil. A chronicle of the growth of the game in Philadelphia, where it has been carefully nurtured and protected in the face of many and continuous difficulties, is indeed one of the most pleasant pages of latter-day cricket history. And in this missionary work the Ger­ mantown Club has always been one of, if not the moving spirit. Since 1854, it has been the princi­ pal centre of cricket influence, the chief agency in spreading the cricket cult among the youth of Philadelphia. Some of the very best players of yesterday as well as ^to-day, found the inspiration which made them subsequently famous under the fostering care of the fathers of the Germantown Club. Brewster, Clarke, Pat­ terson, and Brockie, these are a few jotted down from memory of the cricketers who have made Ger­ mantown a name to conjure with in American cricket. And though last in order, not the least in merit of the quartette is the good all-round player who captained Philadelphia against Lord Hawke’s team in the autumn, Mr. William Brockie to wit. Though born at Birkenhead (on June 28, 1864), Mr. Brockie emigrated so early to the States that he may fairly be termed an American cricketer. It was in Philadelphia at least that he learned the game. The Ger­ mantown Club, indeed, can claim to be not only his sponsor but to have been the foundation of his subsequent fame as an all­ round player. A love of cricket was evidently inborn with him, for he was selected at an unusually early age as ona of the most fitting members of tha junior team for preferment. Nor was he as yet out of his teens when the honour of a place in the Philadelphian team to visit England was thrust upon him. The records of the trip in 1884, too, show that though one of the youngest of the party, he was by no means one of the least reliable. A resolute hitter as well as a brilliant field, his MR. W ILL IAM BROCKIE. all-round cricket was rarely out [of place. His performance at Scarborough was one of the best of the tour. W ith Stoever he helped to add 178 runs, and his score of 113 not out was the second best of the tour. Since that time he has occupied a very prominent place among the cricketers of the United States. In 1888 he had the best average for the Germantown Club. The Young Americas that season had particularly good reason to speak favourably of his powers as a fast scorer, for his 108 against them was an exceptionally fine display of free and resolute batting. In more important matches, too, the season of 1888 was fruitful of luck for him. In the International contest with Canada at Toronto, hewas in his happiest vein, and as a recognition of his success in making the highest score on the side he was presented with a bat by the President of the Ontario Cricket Association. Business prevented him joining the Gentle­ men of Philadelphia on their visit to England in 1889, and his effective all-round cricket was greatly missed. That he would have done the side credit may be gathered from the fact that in the following year he was in quite the forefront of American batsmen. His selection to captain the Gentle­ men of Philadelphia against Lord Hawke’s team last fall will be suffi­ cient proof of the high estimate in which he is held in bis own country, not only as a player, but as a judge of the game. With a neat style Mr. Brockie is never a dull batsman to watch. He has any amount of nerve, and if allowed to get set is sure to be very troublesome, being able to force the game with great power if required. Though not lacking in patience, his forte is free cricket. He can hit well, too, all-round, though the majority of his runs are made on the on-side. A bril­ liant field anywhere, a safe catch as well as a good thrower, he is as much an adept at saving as he is at times in making runs. Our portrait is reproduced from the “ Souvenir volume of the visit of Lord Hawke’ s Team of English Amateur Cricketers to America,’’ issued by the American Athlete Publishing Co., of Phila­ delphia. At a private meeting of the Committee of Notts County Club, held at Nottingham on January 22, a suggestion that the County Eleven should this season play matches with local teams was discussed, also the question of a benefit match for Alfred Shaw, &c. The annual benefit matches for Nottingham players are to be extra matches.