Cricket 1893

APRIL 7, 1893 CRICKET: A WEEKLY EECOED OP THE GAME. 89 recreations. Still, making allowance for a certain amount o f license always per­ mitted in such cases, the show, which is to occupy the Great Nave, at least, of the Palace, should not be without its interest to cricketers as to the followers o f other games. An exhibition of the ap­ paratus and appliances appertaining to the several branches of sports and pas­ times can not fail to appeal to those who use as well as to those who make them. A t the annual general meeting of the Surrey County C.C., to be held at the Oval, on Thursday next, the following members of the committee retire by rota­ tion : Colonel Bircham, Messrs. J. Bur- rup, R. H . Causton, M .P., R. Roberts, W. E. Roller, J. Shuter, W . W . Thomson, and T. Winterflood. As all are eligible for re-election, and no nomination of any new candidate was received up to April 14, as required by the rules, the eight remain in office for another term of three years. Accord­ ing to the annual report, the committee will announce at the meeting next week, as required by Rule 13, that the privilege of members to introduce a friend into the pavilion will be suspended in the matches between Gentlemen and Players, and Surrey v. Notts, as well as in all the Australian matches. W . B r u c e , who had been spending a few days in Scotland last week, after a flying visit to London, was off again on Tuesday, in company with Hugh Trumble, to P iris. The two Victorian cricketers will only have a very short stay in that gayest of cities, as they are due in town again on Friday morning. They are anxious now to get into form, and as the Conservators of Mitcham Common have, all rumours to the contrary notwithstand­ ing, kindly granted the use of the Green to the Australian cricketers for the purpose of practice, it is most likely that the majority, if not the whole of the team, will have their first spell of cricket there to-morrow. D r . J. E. B a r r e t t , the stonewaller of the last Australian [team, has just come home for the second time, though on this occasion he has made the journey entirely on his own account. The Doctor, who has come to Europe with his wife for a twelve months’ tour, is, as every one knows, unattached— that is in a cricket sense, at least he is not a member of the team. The presence of two batsmen of the “ b lo ck ” system would not have been to the advantage of the combination at all. According to all accounts, Dr. Barrett’s form during the last Australian season was up to his best standard, At the same time, Ban­ nerman was bound to have considerably the best of a comparison in the matter of all-round cricket. Nor was it unreason­ able that the benefit of a really fine field weighed sufficiently with the Selection Committee to give Bannerman the pre­ ference, with other things fairly equal. T h e presence o f C. B. F ry’s name in the list of classical moderators at Oxford, last week, hardly came as a surprise to those who know his exceptional ability as an all-round man. Still, his many friends will be glad to learn that he is likely to realise, thoroughly, the promise of his school life in matters of a sterner character than those in which he has al­ ready figured to such advantage. Whether other honours will give him quite the same amount of pleasure as the distinc­ tion of the triple blue is known only to himself. It is pleasant, nevertheless, to find proficiency at athletics and the higher studies combined in the person o f the young Oxonian. It was said of Bishop Ken that he was a learned prelate and an excellent player at football. It would be easy to point to many distinguished men of to-day, who could claim a double first of the same kind. T h o u g h he had been suffering for some years from a complaint which prevented him continuing active work as a cricketer, still the news of the death o f George Bull, the Northamptonshire professional, will come with something of a shock to those who remember his early promise. Some six or seven years ago he was one of the best all-round players in the Midlands. For five or six seasons his all-round cricket was of great service to North­ amptonshire, and at one time he looked like taking a very prominent position. An engagement was procured for him at the Oval, but the seeds of a lingering com ­ plaint had already begun to show them ­ selves, and he was only, if I remember, a few days on the Surrey ground before he was obliged to give up cricket. A voyage to Australia at the end of that season (1889) only gave him temporary relief. He settled down subsequently in his native village of Rushden, where he died a few days ago, in his thirty-third year. W ith a stronger constitution, he would in all probability have made a name for himself as a cricketer. T h e acquisition of every new space for recreation is a matter of concern to those who know the importance of open spaces for the dwellers not only in the immediate neighbourhood o f the City, but also in greater London. T o them, as well as to all C r i c k e t readers,the opening of the new ground of the Edmonton Cricket Club, at Hyde Side, will be a subject o f personal interest. The reports of the ceremonial show that the Edmonton C.C. can trace its existence so far back as 1836, so that it has a record of over half a century. The preparation o f the ground and the erection of the pavilion will cost the club a matter of over a thousand pounds. The readiness of the executive to assume the responsibility of such a heavy liability is of itself a proof of their confidence, as well as a guarantee of the interest in cricket by the good folks Edmonton way. A notable instance of fast run-getting is recorded in the Tasmanian M ail of March 18. The occasion was a match between the Australian Squadron, then in port, and a local eleven at Hobart Town on the previous Thursday. The game began at 1.30, and the local players closed their innings with the total 298 for six wickets. The Fleet, however, followed the example of their opponents, and with credit, for by the call of time they had made 259, also for the loss of six batsmen. As the stumps were drawn at 5.45, it only requires a very easy sum of arithmetic to show that 557 runs were scored in, allowing for the interval betweeen the innings, about four hours of actual play and with only twelve batsmen out. This is a little matter of 139 runs an hour, or an average o f about 48 for each wicket down. T h r o u g h the kindness of Mr. J. W . Arrowsmith, the well-known publisher— a keen supporter of cricket, as his active work for some years on the Committee of the Gloucestershire C.C. will prove—I have had an opportunity of interviewing the “ Kings o f Cricket.” B y this I mean that I have seen an advance copy of Richard Daft’s work which bears that royal title. But of this more anon and “ in another place.” Daft, t may add, is issuing a large paper edition o f his work. Each book will be signed by the author himself, and the edition, which is limited, will contain a list o f all the subscribers. Two guineas will purchase a copy of this special issue. I may add, that 1 hope, with the permission of the publishers, to reproduce one or two illustrations from the “ Kings of Cricket” in next week’s paper. M a u r i c e R e a d has not let the grass grow under his feet during the few days he has been in England, since his return from South Africa. Tht lack of oppor­ tunities for a game out there, too, does not seem to have had a very prejudicial effect, to judge by his performance for Thames Ditton on Saturday. The bowlers on the Stoics’ side, at all events, had their claims to the powers suggested in the title o f the club tested. Maurice, who can hit them “ blooming hard, blooming high, and blooming often ” when he is in the vein, was very much in evidence. His score of 73, according to the report of the match, was got in about an hour, which is sufficient to prove that he kept the ball moving at a good pace. The pace, it would appear, was too much for him, for he retired with the blushing honours of a busy innings thick upon him. T h is hopeful commencement o f Maurice Read is perhaps the one grain of com ­ fort to the followers o f Surrey cricket, just now in a combination o f misfortunes. Abel, who had been up to a few days ago fast recovering from the neuralgic troubles whioh have affected his eyes during the winter, unfortunately caught cold again during the last week, and it is now by no means certain that he will be able to take part in the earlier matches. W ood, too, is under the necessity of fur­ ther medical treatment, so that it looks