Cricket 1894

JAN. 25, 1894 SRICRETi A WEEKLY RECORD OB' THE GAME, 3 got together their strength, and con­ sequently their friends ventured to speculate to a large amount. The weather proved such as a cricketer would desire, and at a quarter past twelve all was in readiness.” The Gentlemen batted first and scored 95; the Hon. S. Ponsonby being top scorer with ‘25, and Mr. C. G. Wynch next with 20. Mr. W . Nicholson, we are told, exhibited some masterly play in his score of 11, and Mr. Ponsonbys inningB is described as a brilliant "one, “ every run being well got.’’ Mr. Arthur Haygarth is said to have “ proved a teaser as usual,” although he only made 6. Sir F. Bathurst quickly hit up 12, and the innings terminated at a quarter past two. “ Betting was now six to tour on the Players.” Wisden appeared to have been in great form with the ball. Dean and Jemmy Grundy were the two first men to appear at the wickets for the Players. The report speaks of their being sent in by “ the managers.” The bowling was shared by Sir Frederick Bathurst and Mr. Drake (fast and slow). Grundy was disposed of for one run, and John Lillywhite succeeded him. The latter having scored 6 when “ he was served the same as in his two previous innings on this ground”— stumped. Dean was top scorer with 27, Tommy Adams next with 23. The innings closed for 148. The Gentlemen in their second venture were all disposed of for 71. This left the Players but 19 to get to win, which they succeeded in obtaining for the loss of one wicket (Mortlock). The fielding of the Gentlemen is described as being very fine, and was much applauded; and the account concludes by saying that a very fine specimen of cricket was exhibited throughout the match “ and the very numerous assemblage appeared highly amused.” The great match having ter­ minated early, “ the players very readily consented to enter upon a second one, for the purpose of finishing the day, and, like the former, a brilliant display of cricket was exhibited.” In this match (if it can be called such) the Gentlemen totalled 121, and their opponents 83 for four wickets. John Lillywhite being the chief contributor with 59 not out. “ At the conclusion of the Gentlemen’s innings the players were called to the Pavilion, when the Hon. Frederick Cavendish in a brief speech addressed them to the effect that the M.C.O. were highly gratified by the ready manner in which they had con­ sented to enter upon the second match, and the brilliant display of cricket they had exhibited. In recognizing their manly and good conduct he handed them the sum of £13, which had been sub­ scribed by the members of the Marylebone Club present. Mr. Nethercourt having addressed the players in a feeling and encouraging manner, Dean and Wisden (secretaries to the United Eleven) returned thanks for the good opinion which the M.C.C. had expressed of their endeavours to meet the wishes of the C omm ittee.” The results of these Gentlemen and Players were at this time generally in favour of the latter, and for eleven years after this date they had it all their own way. There are many reasons to account for this. It is perhaps not saying too much to remark that man for man the Players were superior to their opponents as batsmen, and when one comes to consider their great strength in bowling is is easy to be seen that the great annual contest wss at this period a one-sided one. Then, too, the Players played together throughout the season in the All England and United matches, and consequently knew each other's play to a nicety, while some of the Gentlemen scarcely ever met save on the occasion of the great encounter at Lord's. The tables were turned in after years, when the Graces,' the Walkers, the Lubbocks, and many other great batsmen appeared on the scene. The Gentlemen became stronger, while the Players became weaker. Dissensions between the North and South, the All England and United, to say nothing of other mushroom “ England Elevens ” which sprang up, were too often the cause of the Players’ Eleven not being representative. And even had they always put their full strength in the field against their oppo­ nents they would not have been so formidable as they had been in the years past. Lockyer, the greatest of wicket­ keepers, had gone : George Parr was by no means what he had been ; Carpenter, getting on in years when he began first- class cricket, could not last so long as he would otherwise have done. His great rival Hayward’s day was done before his own, although he was five years his junior, The dreaded Jackson and Tarrant were men of the past, and Caffyn was out of the country. The Players still possessed the greatest bowling talent, as the names of Willsher, J. C. Shaw, Alfred Shaw, and Freeman testified, but never in the history ofcricket had we such a formidable array of batsmen to contend with as in those Gentlemen v. Players matches between 18CG and 1873. The three Graces, I. D. Walker, B. B. Cooper, C. J. Ottaway, A. Lubbock, A. N. Hornby, W . Yardley, W . B. Money, C. I. Thornton and many others were enough to try the mettle of any bowlers, however great. Returning once more to the 1854 match described in this article, I find names on both sides with which I became well acquainted in after years. I recollect Sir Frederick Bathurst, a finely-built, athletic-looking man. who bowled under hand at a terrific pace. Messrs. Drake and Marsham’s bowling, too, I can well remember. Mr. Arthur Haygarth was all defence, and took a lot of getting rid of, and whose back we fielders were always delighted to see. With all the players who composed the eleven in this match, I was intimate a tew years later. With Bickley I often played at the time I was little more than a boy. I always think he was even a better bowler than people gave him credit for. There was one ball he bowled which was exceedingly difficult, which pitched just outside the leg stump and broke in, always coming at lightning speed from the pitch. Jemmy Dean, the famous long stop,! often met, but he was past his prime at the date of the match I am writing of, as also was Tom Adams. AVisden and Jemmy Grundy were how­ ever in their best form with the ball, and John Lillywhite was at that time one of tne best bats the Players possessed. Lillywhite's batting was well worth a young player’s while to copy. His style of play was vigorous and manly; his cutting being especially pre-eminent. His defence, too, was always within the rules of good cricket. The superiority of the Players is proved, when it is remem­ bered that, although they on this occasion were without their chief batsman, George Parr, they were nevertheless able to defeat their opponents, the Gentlemen, by as many as nine wickets. CHAMPION H ILL CLUB. F ix t u r e s f o b 1894. April 2t—Honor Dak, y. Honor Oak April28—Champion Hil>, v. Marlboro’ May 5—Chanrpion Bil', v. Crojdon May 5-Brixton. v. Stanley 1st May 12—Champion Hill, v. Bees 1fit May 12—Champion Bil1, v. St. Jude's & ayl9—Battersea, v Battersea 1st May 19—Champion Hill, v. Battersea 2nd May 26 -Wanstead, v. Wanstead 1st May 26—Champion Hill, v. Townley Park June 2—Clapham, v. Clapham lBt June 2—Champion Hill. v. Clapham 2nd June 9—Champion Hil!,v. Walham Green 1st Jure 9—West London, v. Walham Green 2ndi June 14—Brixton Cricket Ground, Loughtoro’ Junction, v. Comet June 16—Champion Hill, v. St. Mark’s, Kennlngton June 23—Merton Hal’, Wimbledon, y. Polytechnic 1st June 23—Champion Hill, y. Bees 2nd June 30—Champion Hil1, v. Stanley 1st June 30—Thornton Heath, v. Thornton He ith 2nd Ju!y 7—Champion Hill, v. Battersea 1st July 7—Battersea, v. Battersea 2nd July 11—Champion Hill, v. Post Office July 11—Hyde farm, Ba'h&m, v. Oxalis Ju y 21—Tufnell Parlr, v. Bees 1st July 21—Champion Hill, v. Oxalia July 18—Champion H il',v. i hornlon Heath let July 58—Waastead, v. Wanstead 2nd August 4—Champion Hill, v. Clapham 1st August 4—Clapbam, v. Clapham 2r.d August 8—Croydon, v. Croydon August 11—Champion Hill, v. Comet August IS—West London, v. Walham Green 1st August 18—Champion Hill, v. Walham Green 2nd August 25—Merton Bal',Wimbled on,v. Polytechnic August 25-Cha r.pion Bill, v. St John'd September 1—"lhe Oval, Kenniugton, v. St. Mark'd September 1—Champion Hill, v. Matlboro’ September 8—Champon Hill,v. Eennington Wan­ derers September 8—Tufntll Park, v. Bees 2nd September 15—Champion Hill, v. St. Jude’s September 52—Thornton Heath, y. Thornton Heath 1st September 22—Champion Hill.v. Thornton Heath 2nd Send IJd. for Artistic Show Card of C r ic k e t with p rtraits of either Arthur Shrewsbury, George Lohmann, Dr. w. G. Grace (in four batting posi­ tions), or Mr. S. M. J. Woods. Suitable for hang­ ing up in Pavilions. Club, and Dressing Rooms. INDEXTO YOL.XII. of CRICKET Together with Title Page, etc., as a separate part. Price 7 wcpcnce Post Free 2 \d . NOW READY. OFFICE OF THIS PAPER- 41, St. A n d r e w ’s Hill, D o c to rs ’ Commons, E.C.