Cricket 1894

DEC. 28, 1894 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME; 457 conditions on a wicket which helps the bowler to any great extent, Anyhow, the possibility of a win put the English team one and all thoroughly on their mettle, and in the result they were able to win with only ten runs to spare. It was a glorious victory, even allowing that luck turned the scale at the finish.Stillto go in were scored, which is 103 above any aggregate as yet recorded in any impor­ tant match. So far, indeed, there have only been five instances of over thirteen hundred scored, as the following will show. wkts. 1894—Mr. Stoddart’s Team v. Austialia 3514 40 1882—Victoria v. New South Wales 1411 30 1891—Cambridge University v. Sussex 1402 40 1890— „ „ M.C.C 1389 39 1894- „ „ V. M.C.C. & G. 1332 37 (Reproduced from the Sydney Mail.) against a score of 580 in the first instance, and to follow on subsequently in aminority of 261 and then win, will be conceded to be under any circumstances a magnificent display of plucky cricket. I n every way the match will stand out as one of the most remarkable in the history of the game. In all 1,514 runs | I n analysing the relative performances, it may be pointed out that while (he match between Cambridge Universityand Sussex at Brighton,in 1891, onlyextended to three days, that finished at Sydney last week occupied five days and a bittock. On the other band, the time of actual cricket in Australia is hardly so long as it is in Eng­ land. In point of high scoring, perhaps, after all, the distinction of the best record still belongs to the memorable match between Non-Smokers and Smokers on the ground of the East Melbourne Club in 1887. On that occasion 1,294 runs were scored for twenty-four wickets, which gives an average of just under 54 runs. B ut it was not only in the aggregate that the recent match furnished a record. Up to this month the highest innings in the matches between England and Australia was the 551 of the Fourth Australian Team at the Oval in 1884. The Australians beat this last week by 35, so that the two best collective performances, as well as the highest individual innings, the 211 of W. L. Murdoch in 1884 at the Oval, stand to the credit of Australian cricket. How the wickets in the Colonies favour the batsmen is shown by the fact that in three of the matches so far played by Mr. Stoddart’s team over twelve hundred runB have been scored. Total W its. 1514 v. Australia ............. ... 40 1263 v. V ictoria.................................. 40 1215 v. South Australia ............. 31 C k ick et readers will be interested to know how far the chief members of Mr. Stoddart's Team have been performing with the bat. The following figures, for which I am indebted to “ Wanderer” of the Sportsman, will supply the informa­ tion. Mr. A. C. Maciaren— 2-28 25 4 *12 *74 Mr. A. E. Stoddart— 66 9 77 78 79 149 13 36 4 20 - 22 53 B row n - 115 20 15 11 117 4 Ward— 41 11 4 Brockweil— 45 1 4 Mr. L. H. Gay— *S9 29 17 3 *16 *12 334 Agg. Aver. ... 367 ... 73.40 ... 603 ... 63.25 ... 367 ... 48.97 86 18 117 75 117 423 ... 47. £0 81 33 49 37 , 270 ... 33.75 . 163 ... 30.60 T he question of the fitness of umpires for the more important matches came to the front at the meeting of County Sec­ retaries at Lord's early this month. The subject has been creating a good deal of discussion for the last year or two, and anything that will tend to limit the ap­ pointment to really capable men is sure to receive hearty support. A t the same time, I am bound to say, the counties themselves have allowed the matter to degenerate into something like a grievance by their own default. In the original constitution of the Cricket Council, provision was made that the names of all the umpires nominated should be sent round to the various counties bo that exception might be taken to any before the list was finally ratified. Instead, the practice has been to accept without question the recommendations of the counties, with, as the result, the employment of many to whose fitness objection might fairly have been taken. E v e r y o n e will recognise that good is likely to come out o f any serious proposal for the im provem ent o f the umpiring in county matches, The thanks o f all [U l.& .glloA& art. (CajJ-aiiv) UT.H-Isock.moo& hroujii. /a t lia r ? to.. N EX T ISSUE JANUARY 31