Cricket 1893

DEC. 28, 1893 CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME, 481 valves. But what of the players themselves ? If they are in hea'.th and favoured with a fair amount of 1backbone,’ they manfully revel in their work. It has been my fortune more than once to undergo these sensations, and the ]etrospect even now produces a healthy glow that almost makes one forget the weight of years— the blood seems to travel faster, and with its exhilarating force rai-es a man beyond his ordinary es imate of himself.” Of reminiscences of the frolicsome life enj‘ yed by cricketers of the pre-railway atd pre-Victorian era, <f the life-long friendships made and cemented while the cumbrous stage coach creaked upon its wearisome journey, of the practical jokes which beguiled the tedium of travel in those days, we have not room here to speak. These reminiscences bubble up in every direction to illustrate every phase of the game which may come under discussion. And well they may, for in addition to having been single-wicket champion of England, a member of the England eleven, and a familiar figure at Lord’s, Canterbury, Brighton, etc., Mr. Fenner was long in the forefront of athletic life at Cambridge, having for twenty-five years been secretary of the University C.C., and during the whole term of its existence also secretary of tbe Town C.C.; he was the founder of Fenner's ground and the Gymnasium, an officer of the first Corpi of Rifle Volunteers commissioned (that of Cambridge), and did a thousand and one other things to promote athletics and cricket, and was also for jears churchwarden of Great St. Mary’s at Cambridge. We cannot wonder therefore that he is a “ full man.” When oDe is with him anecdotes of athletic progress, of famous cricketers of the past, and graphic descriptions of notable games in which he ha- taken part, and of incidents in a visit to the States before steam traffic commenced, quickly wile away the time. Perhaps we cannot do better than conclude by quoting an eulogium upon the value of cricket, which is an outcome of Mr. Fenner’s life-long devotion to the game. “ It would not be possible,” he remarked, “ to convey to the reader anything approaching the interest that is felt, and the exertion necessary to secure by legitimate means a victory in the cricket field, when the flower of the country are brought together to test in ea'nest their skill. The trials in all the principal contests exhibit in a marked degree the attributes of our countrymen when placed upon Iheir mettle. The most important of the?e are: muscular power, physical enduranoe, and a thorough command and mastery over self; these national characteristics become much strengthened on the eri ket field, by the con­ stant demand for their ex-rcise and the invariable necessity for their application, It is difficult to even approximately estimate the good that accrues directly and indirectly from the inculcation of those acquirements, which are so essential alike in the cricket field and in the general work of life. Fortu­ nately tbe game yet lives as a means of pro­ moting the real happiness of the masses, and so long as it is governed by the manli­ ness and fine spirit of honour that have distinguished it in the past, so long will it retain its rank in the growing record of our national athleticism. Its reputation has been secured by a long series of honourable exploits, and so long as it abjures all mal­ practices, preserves its high social character, and continues to open fresh avenues for the forma ion of valued friendships, its future will be safe from the hands of the destroyer.” H.R. GENTLEMEN v. PLAYERS. BY J. N. PENTELOW. Continued from page 466. Nine players opposed Eleven Gentle­ men in 1831. Three of the amateurs new to the match deserve a few words of description. One of them was Mr. C. Harenc, whom old Lilly, with charming modesty, described as the second best bowler in England—he himself being the best. Sir Frederick Bathurst, the best bowler in the Army, who sent the ball in at a tremendous speed with the full swing of his arm, delivering it when at about the height of his hip, was another. He was in the Guards, and played for the Gentlemen as late as 1854, when he was about forty-seven. The third must have a paragraph to himself. Few more popular cricketers than Mr. Felix have ever handled a bat. “ The king of men ” (says the dear Old Buffer)—“ schoolmaster at Blackheatli, cHcketer, scholar,linguist, singer, musician, artist, and the cheeriest man who ever went into a cricket field.” “ He knewthe whole science of the game, and had a hand and ej e such as no one e’er beat him at" . . . . “ could make music on anything, from a church organ to a pair of tongs,” said grand old Fuller Pilch. In spite of the presence of these three, the nine Players v>on by five wickets. Mr. Budd was no longer there to help the Amateurs’ score; and those who chiefly contributed towards their first total of 139 were Mr. H. Kingscote (33) and Herbert Jenner, the old Cambridge wicket keeper, who had made top score for h s University in the very first University match played, in 1827 (32). Searle, with 37 and 16 not out, again did best for the pros. Alfred Mynn, the idol of Kentish people, and one of the most lovable and fascinating figures in all cricket history, made his first appearance for the Gentle­ men in the 1832 match, when the Amateurs defended wickets of the size used between 1775-98 (22 inches by 6). All the space I can spare is utterly insufficient to do justice to Mynn’s sterling qualities as a cricketer and a man. He seems to have been loved by all who knew him; and every writer on cricket during his time unites in sounding his praises. The “ In Memoriam ” verses to him which appeared in Bell's L ife at the time of his death in 1861, are among quite the best cricket verses extant. He was a giant in stature, over six feet, and ofthemost powerfulbuild imaginable. Old Pilch, who loved him as a brother, used to say he looked “ fit to carry a church and a whole congregation round the town.” Fuller himself, Wenman, Dorrinton, and Alfred Mynn's brother Walter, were all six-footers ; but the Lion of Kent, as Alfred was called, was bigger than them all. In spite of his presence, the Players won this match by an innings and 34 runs, though their own score was only 151. Lower and narrower wickets made little difference to such a bowler as old Lilly. Broadbridge’s 49 was by far the highest score in the game. Sixteen Gentlemen opposed eleven Players in 1833, and were well beaten by nine wickets. Mr. Roger Kynaston, afterwards hon. sec., and since treasurer to the M.C.C., played for the first time ; but the match was one of very small scores, old Lillywhite having quite a day out, while Wenman was in fine form be­ hind the wicket. In 1834 the game was evenhanded, and the Players won in an innings, Fuller Pilch making 60. The Gentlemen were given Cobbett and Redgate next year, and made a better fight, only losing by six wickets. Alfred Mynn’s finely hit 53 was the feature of their batting. Eighteen Gentlemen took the lists in 1836, and won by 35 runs, Alfred Mynn, with 29 and 30, being by far their most successful batsman. His brother Walter —at one time the only man who would longstop to his bowling, said to havebeen a very stiff and awkward bat, but with a big heart and unending pluck—and three University men of fame in the annals of the game—Mr. C. G. Taylor (“Taylor the most graceful of all ”). a beautiful bat and effective bowler, of whom Pilch said that his bowling was “ all over the shop, like a flea in a bed;” the Hon. E. fi. Grimston, and the Hon. F. Ponsonby— aupeared for the first time. Alfred Mynn and H. Lowth, the Oxonian, dismissed the pros, for 77 and 99. There were two games in 1837. The first was that known as the “ Barn-door Match ” or “ Ward’s Folly,” though the atter title seems to me strikingly ungene­ rous, for Mr. Ward was one of tho truest sportsmen the game has ever had, and it was in no small degree owing to his exertions that the annual match did not fall through altogether. The Players had to defend wickets 36in. by 12in.; but nevertheless won in an innings (though they only scored 99, and had eight wickets down for but 17), old Lilly taking nine of the Gentlemen’s wickets in their first innings, and sharing equally with Red­ gate in the second. Fuller Pilch was out for nine, “ hat knocked on wicket ! ” Lillywhite and Redgate were again among the chief factors in dismissing the Sixteen who represented the Gentlemen in the second match for 74and 42, scores small enough to allow the Players to win by an innings and 38 runs. James Tay­ lor made 49 and Pilch 34. The Gentlemen had Pilch, Cobbett, and Wen.nan as given men in 1838; but, though Cobbett secured 12 wickets, they were beaten by 40 runs. As in the two matches in 1837, Alfred Mynn was not playing. This was Mr. William Ward’s last match, and William Hillyer’s first. Hillyer was one of the greatest bowlers of his day. Mr. Gale describes his action in coming up the bowling crease as like that of a waiter carrying a lot of hot plates, and in a hurry to get rid of them. But hear what Pilch said about him: “ Ground and weather didn’t matter to Hillyer: rough or smooth, wet or dry, sand or mud, he could put a ball on a sixpence, and he