Cricket 1894

458 GEiOKET s A WEEKLY RECOED OF THE GAME; dec. 28 , X 894 concerned, too, will be given to Lord Hawke for taking the initiative in the matter. One may differ from his premises, of course, without disagreeing with his conclusions. Personally, I should think that the county clubs were quite as much, if not more, interested in the matter of good decisions as the captains or their elevens. B ut even conceding that the question o f the hour is the survival of the fittest in the matter o f umpires, it is difficult to imagine that a m ajority o f those con ­ cerned could be found to favour the em ploym ent o f old players in matches where the counties for which they have played are engaged. E ven overlooking the question o f principle, it is only fair to the m en them selves that they should not be placed in a position where even a suspicion o f bias is possible. T h e news that George Lohmann, the famous Surrey cricketer, is going to make his appearance again in an injportant match will be received with universal satisfaction. According to the latest advices from the Cepe, he is to represent the Cape Town C.C. against its great local rivals, the Western Province C.C., on New Year’s Day. To judge by the result of the first meeting of the season between the two clubs, next Tuesday’s fixture, too, should be full of excitement. The game on November 28, indeed, produced a re­ markable finish. The score was a tie when the eighth wicket of Cape Town fell. To increase the sensation, too, Watermeyer, his successor, who was at the wickets with Mills, was run out from a no-ball just as time was up. How the excitement was piled up may be judged from the graphic description ot the South African Review. It may be premised that Cape Town had to get 97 to win in an hour and a half, and with fifteen minutes left 80 had been got for the loss of seven wickets. Smuts, who was in with Mills, was bowled with the game a tie. Here is where the South African Review comes in :— Watermeyer hurried in with one minute left. Davidson’s first ball got past the wicket keeper. The crowd shouted for the players to run, other yells begged Van der By], who was searching for the ball which lay at his feet, to send it iD, but complete demoralisation had set in, and a run which could have been crawled was missed. The next ball went to Richards at deep, but he returned grandly. At the fourth ball the umpire called no-ball, and the game was won. Watermeyer and Mills were bent on running, and Milton at mid-on returned cleverly, enabling Davidson to run Watermeyer out at the moment time was called. The no-ball, how­ ever, had done it, and the Cape Town had won by one run with one wioket to fall. Curiously enough, the Cape Times seriously argues that the gam e was drawn on the ground that the no-ball did not count. M ention of Lohmann reminds me that he is making arrangements for his return to England next summer. As far as one can judge, too, he seems hop eful, to say the least of it, of his ability to take his place once more in County Cricket. It is rumoured, moreover, that the Surrey Com­ mittee have expressed their readiness to give him a benefit match in 1890. Further, there is some reason to believe that in the event of a visit from an Australian team during that season the proceeds of the match between England and Australia, as in the case of Maurice Eead last year, would be set apart for him. In any case C bic k e t readers will be delighted to learn that there is at least the chance of bis return to English cricket fields. A crick eter who had urged the flying ball with success in many parts, -passed away at Melbourne at the end of last month, in the person of A. MacPherson. A Scotchman by birth, he did good ser­ vice for the Pittsburgh Club in America, and subsequently for the Phoenix Club of Chicago, for both of which he scored largely. His last game in America was for Detroit against the Australian team, on October 18 and 19, 1893. On that occasion, too, he was successful, making the highest score in each innings. E.M. came out first for the Thornbury eleven the other day. This time it was not a cricket match. The occasion was the election for the Parish Council, and “ The Coroner” scored freely as is his wont. Of the eleven successful candi­ dates he had the highest figures. In fact he won easily on the first innings with just under forty runs—I mean votes —to spare. T h e negotiations for the visit of a Canadian team to England next year seem to have fallen through. This is the more to be regretted as the earlier news afforded some hopes of success. The Canadian Cricket Association, at a meeting held at Toronto on December 3, appointed a Sub-Committee consisting o f Messrs. D. W. Saunders, A. Gillespie, both o f whom were over here with the Gentlemen o f Canada, B. C. McCulloch, and G. S. Lyon, to find out whether a representative eleven could be secured, and satisfactory financial arrangements made for a trip to England in 1895. In the event of success, the Association agreed to give its patronage to the under­ taking. It would appear as if the result of their enquiries was unsatisfactory. In any case a recent cablegram from the other side announced that it had been determined not to go on with the project. W a lte r H u m ph reys ’ enjoyment for the rest of the Australian trip will be con­ siderably marred by the news of the death of his elder brother. Early in the seventies, G. T. Humphreys’ services as an all-round cricketer were of some value to Sussex. At times an effective bat, he was besides by no means a bad wicket­ keeper. With better chances, indeed, he might have made a reputation as a stumper. He diedsuddenlyi last Wed­ nesday week at Brighton. T hanks to the untiring efforts of Dr. B. B. Anderson, who has represented the West Indian authorities over here, the visit of a team of English Amateurs to the West Indies has become an accom­ plished fact. Mr. B. S. Lucas, is to captain the side and berths have been booked in the Medway which is to sail on the seven teenth of next month. The principal Cricket Clubs in the West Indies have taken up the matter with great warmth, and Mr. Lucas and his party therefore are assured not only of a trip interesting in itself but in addition of a most enjoy­ able time socially. As will be remembered, it was Dr Anderson who originally broached the subject at the meeting of the County Secretaries in December, 1893, and his is the credit of carrying a far from easy task to a satisfactory conclusion. His tact and judgmtnt throughout entitle him in par­ ticular to the thanks cf all who are con­ cerned in the progress of the West Indian Islands. But more than that, he has done good service to our grand old game, which is sure to acquire increased in­ fluence from this new hand-shake of c ricketers across the seas. J ust now, when anything relating to Australia appeals forcibly to the sym­ pathies of C ric k e t readers, there is a special fitness in the issue of Mr. C. P. Moody’s brochure , entitled “ Australian Cricket and Cricketers, 1856, 1893-94.” Mr. Moody, who is known to the initiated as “ Point,” the writer of Cricket Notes for the South Australian Register, Ohseiver,and Journal, has seen the game played over here by Australian cricketers, as well as at home. He is therefore able to write with a practical knowledge of their capacities under different conditions. His summary of Australian cricket can­ not fail to be of use, as well as interest. In addition to a brief resume of Inter colonial and International matches, contains complete batting and bowling averages of Australians in eleven-a-side matches, as well as a list of Australian cricket records and curiosities, a litho­ graphic representation of the Sheffield Shield, with full page portraits of G.Giffen, F. B. Spofforth, J. J. Lyons, H. Graham, W. L. Murdoch, H. Moses, A. C. Banner- man, A. Coningham, J.M‘C. Blackham, C. T. B. Turner and W. Bruce to add to the value of the contents. J a m es L i l l y w b i t b 's A n n u a l for 1895 will be published ia a few days. W i s d e n ’ s A lm a n a c k for 1895 is just out. A notice must be deferred till rex 1; month. D a v id s o n , the Derbyshire cricketer, scored 42 not out and 81 for Westtm Province v. Cape Town on November 28, besides tak'ng seven wickets for 76. N EX T ISSUE JANUABY 31