Cricket 1894

NOV. 29, 1894 CHICKED s A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME; 441 knowledged as quite the best amateur tennis player. T h e nearest approach to Alfred Lyttel­ ton in the records of University athletics within my own recollection was another Old Etonian, C. J. Ottaway. He was, too, a quintuple blue. Both in the Oxford cricket and football elevens, he subsequently played for the Gentlemen at cricket, and captained the English foot­ ball eleven against Scotland. Like Lyttelton, he represented his University at racquets and tennis, and in the singles as well as the doubles. His fifth blue he got for athletics, representing Oxford in the hundred varJs race at Lillie Bridge in 1873. Mr. K. E. D ig b y , who has just been appointed Permanent Under Secretary of State for the Home Department,in suc­ cession to Sir Godfrey Lushington, will be wel lremembered by Harrovians as one of the best cricketers the school had in the first half of the fifties. He captaiued the eltven in 1854 and 1855, and with success, helping to win both matches against Winchester and Eton. Though he played for Oxford he soon withdrew from active cricket, to devote his attention to the pursuit of his profession as a barrister. A younger brother, Reginald Digby, also formed one of the Harrow eleven of 1860, and sub­ sequently represented Oxford for three years. T h e retirement of Mr. J. G. Q. Besch from the office of Hon. Sec. of the Hamp­ stead C.C. deprives Metropolitan cricket of one of its most active and intelligent officers. Both as a player and, in a greater degree, in his administrative capacity, Mr. Besch has contributed largely to the development of the Hamp­ stead Club of late years. But it is in his position as Hon. Sec. that he will be most gratefully remembered by the members. Since 1888 he has fulfilled the responsibilities of by no means a light office with singular care, as well as judgment. To carry out properly a heavy match list such as Hampstead arranges success­ fully, requires no small powers of organisation, and, if any proof were want­ ing of his ability in this direction, it would be found in the remarkable success which has attended the Hampstead Club during the last two years. Mr. Besch’s successor is Mr. W. R. Marshall, whom, by the way, he succeeded himself in 1888. F rom the general tone of the papers to hand this week by the Australian mail, it would appear as if the relations between the Victorian and New South Wales Cricketing Associations, consequent on Blackham’s remarks to the New South Wales umpire on the occasion of the last International match, had not been im­ proved vo any great extent. The Victorian captain, it may be well to recall, made certain reflections on J. Tooker, the New South Wales umpire, which were, not without reason perhaps, resented by the executive of the governing body at Sydney. I t would appear to an ordinary mind that a little mutual explanation would have been sufficient to close the incident without allowing a momentary irritation to attain the importance of a public dis­ cussion. The last advices would seem to suggest that the matter has been magni­ fied into an Intercolonial grievance, even to the extent of momentarily interrupting the continuance of the time-honoured matches between Victoria and New South Wales. “ ’Tis true, ’tis pity, etc.” None the less, everyone will hope that the next mail will bring with it news that diplomatic relations between the two colonies have been thoroughly restored. T he cricket fathers of the Cape Colony have signified by resolution, at a recent meeting of the Western Province Union, that in their opinion it is advisable for an English team to visit South Africa during next winter. After the success of the South African cricketers in England, it was only to be expected that there would be a desire to receive an English com­ bination at home, and at an early opportunity. Geoige Lohmann, the Surrey cricketer, it ha3 been public property, has been desirous of taking an English team out there for some years,and as the Western Province Union have decided to allow him eighty per cent, of the gate after deducting expenses, to be agreed upon, there should be no difficulty in coming to a satisfactory arrangement. The feeling of the Western Province meeting was strongly in favour of a large majority of amateurs in any combination visiting South Africa. G. D a v id so n , the Derbyshire profes­ sional who has gone out to Cape Town under an engagement with the Western Province Cricket Club, has safely reached the scene of his labours for the next few months. With Frank Hearne (of Kent), C. Mills (of Surrey), Middleton, who is a native of one of the northern counties, and Davidson, Cape Town will have a quartette of instructors who ought be­ tween them to improve materially the character of the cri3ket out thire. W h ich reminds me that another English professional of many parts as a cricketer is also off to warmer climes for the winter. J. T. Hearne, the Middlesex bowler, leaves England to-morrow for India to fulfill an engagement with the Maharajah of Patiala. Hearne's mission will be to impart the rudiments of the game to the natives in general, and to the Maharajah's son in particular. The diffusion of cricket among the native races of India, it goes without saying, will be an influence for moral as well as political good. No doubt the good work he has done for Warwickshire was not without its influence on the brilliant success obtained by Mr. W. Ansell in the recent election for the Birmingham School Board. Any. how, he had the satisfaction of heading the poll with 146,009 votes, or an advan­ tage of no less than 112,680 over the second man. This, I should fancy, must be a clear record for the particular class of sport. U nless the information in the papers should prove to be incorrect, which Heaven forfend ! Lord Harris is to return to England next March, on the com­ pletion of his term of office as Governor of Bombay. All classes of English cricketers, it is needless to say, will heartily welcome him back. T he Rev. W. G. Edwards, who recently received from the hands of Princess Christian a handsome testimonial on leaving Windsor to take an important country living, was for several years the Hon. Sec. of the Windsor Home Park C.C. This was only one of many branches of lay work with which he was identified. In other circles than in cricket, in which he took particular interest, it is safe to say he will be greatly missed. T h e new County ground for Bucks, at Aylesbury, should be by this time well on towards the first stage of completion. The executive, with a promise of ±‘800 towards the cost, have wisely decided to start on the work of laying the cricket pitch, even though a considerable sum, estimated at about ±700, will still be required to defray the other necessary expenditure. The intention is to build a suitable pavilion, fence the ground thoroughly, and in addition to make a really good running track. The enter­ prise of the Bucks committee should meet with the hearty support of all cricketers in the County. C b ic k e t readers who had the oppor­ tunity of admiring the graceful, as well as forcible, methods of Percy McDonnell, the great Australian batsman, will be glad to know that his hand has lost little if any of its cunning, his arms none of their power. Percy, who is apparently now located in Queensland, was on the knock at all events in Brisbane in the middle of last ijionth. He was playing for the Graziers, and contributed sixty-eight to their total of 323 for four wickets. C anon M c C orm ick , who is succeeding the late Canon Prothero as Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen, is a good repre­ sentative of the School of Muscular Christianity. In his day an excellent cricketer, his powerful form and graceful style will be well remembered by the older generation of cricketers. He figured several times me tesle in the cricket of the Canterbury week, and, to the best of my recollection, did good service both for M.C.C, and I Zingari. NEXT ISSUE D ECEMBER 28