Cricket 1893

JUNE 1, 1893 0RXCRET g A WEEKLY BECORD OP THE GAME, 1 been improving their grounds considerably o late, and as this gives increased facilities for playing the strict game, a representative eleven of Dutch cricketers should be more difficult to beat. T be news of A. J. Webbe’s approaching marriage has brought intelligence that another well-known old Oxford cricketer is very shortly to change his.state. If my in­ formation is correct, W . H. Patterson will anticipate the MiddlesexCaptain in taking thig important step by a few months. The wed­ ding of the Kent captain, so rumour has it will take place at a very early date. Indeed, it is said that the matter has been so skilfully arranged as to provide for the completion of the honeymoon in plenty of time for the chief contracting party to oppose the Australians in the first fixture of the Canterbury week. T hat the veteran lags superfluous on the stage can hardly be said of tbe septuagenarian cricketer, Charles Absolon. The title of the Grand Old Man of cricket could hardly have a more worthy recipient. Though Tuesday last witnessed the completion of his seventy- sixth year, he celebrated the occasion in fitting style by playing in a match. That his infinite variety has even now not been entirely staled by custom was proved only a week or so ago by his fine performance in taking all ten wickets. No better illustration could be furnished of the benefits of ordinary care and moderation in every day life, in conjunction with a rational use of physical exercise, in conducing to a hale and vigorous old age than in the person of this really grand old sportsman. S uch a sensational over as that which marked the commencement of the first innings of the Australians against Surrey at the Oval last Monday, rarely falls to the lot of the cricket public to witness in an important match. With the first ball, Kichardson [nearly caught and bowled J. J. Lyons, from the third the great Australian smiter narrowly escaped being thrown out by Marshall, who might have got Trott out had he been able to get the ball to the bowler’s end, and the fourth saw J.J.L. caught at short slip by Henderson. To be nearly out twice, and then to be actually out in the first four balls of an innings, is an experience, particularly in the case of a bats­ man of such pronounced capacity for run getting as Lyons, which would of itself be sufficient to make this week’ s Australian match at the Oval memorable. I n a recent allusion to cricketers who were ambidextrous, I incidentally mentioned that I had an indistinct recollection of L . A. Shuter, who is right-handed naturally both as a bats­ man and bowler, bowling with his left hand, and in a fairly important match. A corres­ pondent has been good enough to call my attention to the fact that the Surrey captain’ s elder brother has, perhaps, a unique record for a right-handed man as a left-handed bowler. O n two occasions in the season of 1884 he did the hat triok, bowling with his left hand. The first occasion was in the memorable match between the Emeriti and Bexley Clubs at Bexley, on June 14,1884, when J. Shuter and T. Ashdown scored 404 without the loss of a wicket The second, if my informant is correct, was for the Erith Club, but again s whom the deponent knoweth not. A still more noteworthy fact in this particular con­ nection is that L. A. Shuter in one season took over a hundred wickets with his left-handed delivery. A lick B annerman was recently the recipient of a post card which shows the possession of a fine sense of humour by an anonymous corre­ spondent. To the card was attached the following advertisement, extracted from a Welsh p a p e r S t o n e -w a lle r s wanted. Good wages.—Apply, Foreman, Coedine Works, near Cardiff.” As it arrived while the match with Surrey at the Oval was n progress perhaps there was something specially fitting in the time of its delivery. A stone-waller, it is certain, was much wanted on the Austra­ lian side during that contest. At all events, A.C.B. would be strongly of that opinion, I am sure. MR. JOHN SHUTER. T he little Guv’nor was the victim of a most unfortunate combination of circumstances in the Australian match at the Oval this week. It was rather hard lines in the first place to be caught at the wicket at the very commence­ ment before he had the chance of getting the pace of the wicket. But in the second innings his ill-luck was even more pronounced. To be called for an impossible run for a cricketer who was a candidate for a pair is, I should imagine, the highest possible aggravation of misfortune. It is very satisfactory to know that Abel’s sight is very much better. He only wants, in fact, a little more strength to get back into quite his best form. A c o r r e s p o n d e n t (Mr. W- M- Stephen, of Dunshillock, Mintlaw, N .B ) sends me the following point to decide:—“ In a cricket match here, played on a ground where trees are grow­ ing, a batsman hit a ball which struck the top branches of one of the trees, and, glancing off, was caught by a fielder. The umpire of the in­ side when referred to said ‘ Not out.’ Some of us were of the opinion that it was out, because no agree ment had been made before the match began that in the event of a catch being made off a tree the batsman should be not out- No stipulation was made- regarding the trees at all.” It would be better in aU cases* oi*»*rse, to provide for tbe contingency o f the ball “ getting up a tree.” Still, it is the rule that batsmen can not be caught off trees fit other stationary objects on a cricket ground. ^ ft ) 1-7" . i 83if£. *. T he authorities at Cambridge are evidently determined to commemorate ii> , a. • fitting manner the exceptional attractions to be pro­ vided on Fenner’s Ground, now happily secured for the permanent use of the Univer­ sity, next week. What with the Surrey eleven, who have not played at Cambridge, if my memory does not play me falsely^since the early part of the seventies, in the first, and the Australians in the second half of the week, the cricket lovers in the town will have a programme which ought to satisfy them Something [of a new departure in the social way, too, has been introduced in honour of the County team. They are to be the guests of the University at a dinner on Monday. On Tuesday night there will also be a-smoking concert, with a small piece of acting by the A.D.C. As yet, the manager of the Australian team has not come to any definite decision as to the particular route the cricketers will take on their homeward journey. In addition to the proposals received from Philadelphia some months back, Mr. Cohen has recently had offers from other centres of American cricket, including one from the representatives of the New South Wales section at the Chicago E x­ hibition. At present the question of a visit to the States remains in abeyance. I hear it is contemplated to arrange a few additional matches, probably limited to two days, in various parts of England after the com pletion of the regular programme in Septem­ ber. In this event, if the team decided to go home via America, the subject of any cricket there would be, to some eitent, a secondary consideration. I t will be, I am sure, tidings of comfort and joy to C r ic k e t readers to know that the author of the “ Kings of Cricket” has just been added to the list of contributors to this paper. The first of a series of weekly articles by Richard Daft will appear in C r ic k e t of Thursday next. Daft has recently shown that he wields his pen with the same ease that gained for him the reputation as the most graceful batsmen of his day, and I am proud to number him as one of the regular members of the staff. Another new feature will be introduced in an early issue, if not next week. Under the title of “ Ihrough Cricketana ” will be given each week an interview with some one of light and leading in the cricket world. PRINCIPAL MATCHES FOR NEXT WEEK. June 1-Oxford, AUSTRALIANS v. OXFORD UNIVERSITY. June 1—Lord's. Middlesex v. Yorkshire. June 1—Oval, Surrey v. Gloucestershire. June 1—Leyton, Essex v. Leicestershire. Ju*'e 1—Manchester, Lancat-hire v. Sussex. June 1 —Nottingham, Notts v. Someroetshire. June 5 — Braoford, AUSTRALI1N3 v. YORK­ SHIRE. June 5—Lord’s. Middlesex v. Notts. June 5—Bristol, Gloucestershire v. Kent. June 5 —Birmingham, Warwickshire v. Leicester­ shire. June 5—Cambridge, Surrey v. Cambridge Univer­ sity. June 5—Derby, Derbyshire v. Cheshire. v. June 5—Oxford, University v. M.C.C. and G. June 5—Stoke, Sta'ff«wdshire v. Northants