Cricket 1895

M ay 9, 1895. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 123 “ CASSELL’S FAMILY MAGAZINE” ON FRONT-RANK CRICKETERS OF TO-DAY. In its May number Cassell's Family Magazine blossoms out with, an article bearing the above title, written by an Old Player who is by no means a praiser of the times gone by at the unfair expense of that now with us. True, he thinks that the heavier scores now so frequent are due in great part to the improve­ ment both in pitches and in the out-fielding, but he recognises that we cannot for ever look to “ W .G .,” Shrewsbury and Gunn to keep on playing, and in fact that there are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it. Front-rank cricketers of to-day are a worthy race fit to succeed sires whose renown is won and will endure. Foremost place, or rather No. 1 of the front rank, in Australia is conceded to George Giffen, whose record this season has been so fine that the Antipodean newspapers claim for him premier honours of the world. Yet our Old Player reminds us that Giffen’s first- class cricket commenced with seven consecutive duck’s eggs, and that after one of these early matches he sat for hours on a fence, too upset to be hungry, and too ashamed to go home before the household had gone to rest. Yet perseverance and pluck brought success, as has frequently happened both with the individual and with the team. And thus did our team in Australia win their first test match after defeat stared them in the face, and thus under even more trying circumstances did the team taken by Mr. Lucas to the West Indies pull a match out of the fire, a match most curiously similar to that at Sydney. Mr. Lucas, by the way, is quoted as a young player whose future career will be watched with great interest. Two school­ boys, at the times of their debuts, in A. C. M‘Laren and J, R. Mason, who are both still very young, are mentioned as likely to be mainstays of the game in the coming years, and “ Mr. Prince Ranjitsinhji, Esq.” as a very interesting prominent performer of late. His supposed ignorance of English has given rise to some laughable situations, es­ pecially when opponents have audibly remarked, in the belief that he could not apprehend their meaning, that it was “ time that beggar was out,” or, when he was hit by the ball, that they hoped “ this joker had got some of the steam knocked out of him now,” and then at lunch time heard that beggar talking English fluently. Surrey cricket must of course find honor­ able mention in an article on front-rank cricketers of to-day, and with an acknow­ ledgment of Mr. Shuter’s leadership and George Lohmann’s play as the principal actors of the champions’ success, the turn of William Brockwell arrives for record in the premier rank. It is well to be reminded, in view of his comparative failure in Australia, that last year Brockwell five times exceeded the century at the Oval, scored 1,491 runs, and piled up an average of 45. Thomas Wayward the younger will, it is hoped, surely **ow in the footsteps of old Tom, though a oit off colour last season. But Yorkshire emands notice in the Old Player’s notes, and • Jackson’s brilliant career certainly marks him as one who could not be omitted romthe representative English team. Alike at Harrow and at Cambridge, he captained the eleven, and in the latter capacity check­ mated the tactics of Oxford, who wished to follow their innings in the Varsity match, by directing C. M. Wells to bowl a ball for four wides to the boundary. Another noteworthy incident in his career occurred last year when, with S. M. J. Woods, he bowled unchanged through both innings, for Amateurs v. Pro­ fessionals. Brown, of Driffield, one of the little men of cricket, and a recent arrival at the front, is likely to remain there, for nerve aud pluck combined with brilliant form are his in a remarkable degree. The fall of Notts from want of encouragement to young and rising players, together with the cramped and over-cautious play pf the county’s older men, who have grown old together, is sad. But is not an Old Player rather out of it in quoting 241 to win in three hours as a seemingly impossible performance. Surely this rate of scoring, though good, has often SURREY COUNTY CLUB. W. G. GRACE, JUX. been exceeded. But passing mention is made of C. B. Fry, Lionel Palairet, and H. T. Hewitt, the last two the heroes of the record stand for the first wicket; but room for a paragraph is found for young “ W. G.,” who as yet has accomplished little more than a succes d'estime, but who has now and then shown promise of form, which for his great father’s sake, everyone must hope he will speedily attain and retain. The present ambition of this scion of the house of Grace is his blue at Cambridge, but although he has been given a better trial than falls to the lot of many aspirants, he has rarely been suffici­ ently successful to warrant any confident hope of his obtaining the coveted honours. Still everything for which he wishes may come to him who can only wait well enough and play well enough, and it ought not to be held impossible or even improbable that the hope of the house will fail. We are allowed by Messrs. Cassell to reproduce a capital photograph of Mr. W. G. Grace, junior, which will no doubt be of interest to the readers of Cricket. There was a good attendance of members at the Oval on Thursday, on the occasion of the annual meeting. In the first place Sir Richard Webster was chosen president in place of Lord Oxenbridge, to whom a cordial vote of thanks was passed, coupled with an expression of sincere regret at the ill-health which had compelled him to withdraw from the position he has held so long. Sir Richard Webster having been elected by acclamation, Mr. Wildman Cattley (the treasurer)—who for the time being occupied the chair—con­ gratulated the meeting on the fact of the club having been fortunate enough to find so excellent a successor to Lord Oxenbridge. Sir Richard Webster, after thanking the mem­ bers for his election, presented to Mr. John Shuter the testimonial subscribed in recog­ nition of his long captaincy by the members of the club, payed a warm tribute to the splendid services of Mr. Shuter from the time of his first appearance for the county in 1877 down to his resignation of the captaincy at the beginning of last season. It said much for Mr. Shuter’sunfailing tact, judgment, and temper, that he had managed the eleven so long with such brilliant success, Surrey for six years in succession under his leader­ ship having occupied the proud position of champion county. Only a silver salver was publicly given to Mr. Shuter yesterday, but the presentation consists also of a grand piano and a pair of guns. Mr. Shuter responded in admirable taste. His connection with Surrey cricket had been a very happy one, and he wished particularly to thank the committee for the absolute confidence they had always reposed in his j udgment. The report, whichhas already been published, and balance sheet were unanimously passed. General Mar­ shall was elected vice-president in place of the late Lord Bessborough— to whose memory Mr. Denzil Onslow paid fitting honour—and Mr. Wild­ man Cattley was re-elected treasurer. The eight members of the committee retiredby rotationwere all re-elected,, while Major Marindin was elected to fill the place vacated by Sir R- Webster. ESSEX COUNTY CLUB. In the absence of Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. C. M. Tebbut, the treasurer, presided at the annual general meeting of the Essex County Club, held in the Pavilion, at Leyton, on Thursday. The report showed that although the club was stronger financially than hitherto- the balance was still on the wrong side, the- liabilities amounting to £131 3s. 5d., to meet which there was only £14 13s. Id. in hand, the loan of £2,000 from Mr. Tebbut not being taken into account. The great need of the club was an increase in the paying members, 1,500 being required to ensure a financial success. At present there are 1,097 gentlemen and 112 ladies on the club roll. A new station has been opened near the ground, which will give increased facilities to visitors from the North of London. Messrs. R. C. Gosling, A. J. Edwards, G. Pagenstecher, and W. Comerford, the retiring members of the com­ mittee, ware re-elected unanimously. The meeting was followed by a dinner.