Cricket 1895

F eb . 28, 1895. CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 25 A MERE mention of the fact that a fund is being raised to provide for Bob Lipscomb’s widow and family, who are unfortunately left in straightened circumstances will be sufficient I am sure to enlist the support of cricketers, pro­ verbially charitable as they are. When he had the means Bob Lipscomb’s hand was always ready to assist distress, and personally I can confidently recommend this as a most deserving case. The prin­ cipal cricketers of Kent are taking an active interest in the movement, and Mr. W. B. Pattison, Graylings, Beckenham, is acting as Hon. Sec. Any sums which Cricket readers may think well to send to this paper will be duly acknowledged and handed to Mr. Pattison. T h a t George Giffen should be presented with a testimonial in recognition of the services he has rendered to Australia by his brilliant performances as a cricketer, is only a fitting appreciation of a mag­ nificent record as an all-round player. To judge by the result of the inaugural meeting held at Adelaide on January 15, too, it looks as if the movement would be as successful as it deserves. The following resolution was carried with acclamation:— That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that a testimonial be presented to Mr. George Giffen in recognition of his valuable services in the advancement of cricket in Australia. O n e touch of nature it is rightly said makes the whole world akin, and it is more than a mere phrase to say as one of the speakers at the meeting did, that the great South Australian cricketer has done a great deal to advertise the Colony throughout the world. As an exhaustive article on his career appears in another part of this paper, I should probably be going over the same ground, even if I felt so inclined by a reference to any of his past records. Still, it may be of interest just now to relate the fact that up to the middle of January, in Inter-colonial contests and matches against Stoddart’s English eleven, Giffen had made this season 604 runs in eleven innings. On two of these occasions, moreover, he was not out, so that the average for these matches was 67-11. In the three test matches he scored 359 runs for six completed innings, or an average of 59 83. And this, be it added, only represents his achievements as a batsman. Add to this that he is the most consistent bowler in Australia, and, well, there you are. As an all-round cricketer it may fairly be said that he has no parallel at the present time. T h e axiom that a prophet is not believed in his country, would hardly apply in Giffen’s case, to judge from the tone of the following letter which appeared in a recent number of the South ■Australian Register . “ HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE.” Since the Colonial Secretary has utterly tailed to appoint the Lord Chief Justice in succession to His Excellency, I think, in con­ junction with thousands of others, that the Premier should recommend George Giffen as the most popular man in the community for the honourable position of Governor. I am sure that if the solid voters had a voice in the election he would be the unanimous choice of the people of this great commonwealth. He is a paragon of virtue ; he has done more on the cricket field to advertise Australasia than any other 10,000 citizens; for years his name has been a household word in Great Britain and the United States; he has met all comers on the cricket ground of those continents, and to date he is a stranger to defeat. Trusting the Premier will take this matter in hand. Of course we have had cricketer governors, and, indeed, a few weeks ago India could boast two governors who had graduated with success on the cricket field. But this proposition opens up boundless possibilities. His Excellency Lord George Giffen would sound very well. Perhaps the Sporting League will consider the proposition with a view to adoption in its program—gram, an it please you. “ There are stranger things in heaven and earth,” &c., as Shakespeare says. After all, a cricketer’s training is not a bad experience for any position of responsibility. ------ M e n t io n of cricketer governors reminds me that Lord Harris, whose term of office as Governor of Bombay has just expired, is now on his way to England. That he should have lent additional dignity to the high position he has occu­ pied during the last few years, as well as fulfilled the grave responsibilities attend­ ant, with marked credit, has been no sur­ prise to those whohave had any knowledge of his powers of administration, as well as of his j udgment and decision. According to the official programme, he is to react Dover on the 9th of this month, where an official reception awaits him. Cricketers will heartily welcome him back to Eng­ land. Some little changes which have taken place in the cricket world would, I venture to think, hardly have taken place had he remained in the old country. T h e news of the death of Mr. E. M. Hadow will be received with regret by all classes of cricketers. It is only some six months since his elder brother A. A., an all-round athlete of almost equal ability, died. The fourth of a brother­ hood of cricketers, he was certainly not the worst of the quartette. In 1880, as well as 1881, he batted in brilliant style for Harrow against Eton, and indeed as a boy cricketer he showed exceptional promise. For a time he played fairly regularly for Middlesex, and with con­ siderable success as an all-round player. Latterly though he had got out of first- class cricket, though retaining an active interest in the game. As a racket player he had few superiors at his best, and if I mistake not he was amateur champion for a time. A good sportsman without “ side ” he was deservedly popular in all relations of life. He died at Cannes on the 20 th i n s t . ------ T h e universal interest taken in the recent test matches in Australia could hardly have been better illustrated than in an incident reported in one of the colonial papers just to hand. No sooner had the mail steamer dropped anchor at the Semaphore off Adelaide than there was a general rush to the side to learn news of the third test match then just begun, which had been provided in anticipation by the forethought of the tide surveyor. On the following day (Sunday) another steamer of the P. and O. line the Himalaya also hove in sight, bound from Melbourne to the Semaphore. The westward bound steamer had signals flying, but not of distress, only reading “ How’s the Cricket.” The Arcadia signalled back “ England all out 124,” so that when the boarding launch ranged alongside the Himalaya the officials found the passengers almost as well informed about the cricket as themselves. As was only natural, the brilliant per­ formance of the younger Trott against Mr. Stoddart’s Team had made him the hero of the hour in Australia at the time the last mail left. A 3 he was only twenty- two years of age on the 6 th of this month, Albert Edwin Trott, it goes with­ out saying has a great future before him. Considering that this was his first trial in a test match, his 110 without being out, too, against the pick of the English bowlers, was a remarkable per­ formance. In addition to his capacity both as a batsman and bowler, it de­ serves, too, to be added that he is a bril­ liant field. —■— P e e l , so one of the Australian paper’s say, was thinking of sending Briggs a pair of spectacles as an appropriate New Year’s gift in commemoration of his two “ blobs” against Ballarat. It was as well he did not, for he got the dreaded pair himself immediately after in the test match. It was the first time he had gained the distinction in Australia, and Sir Robert boasts with satisfaction that he has now got specs in England, Ire­ land, and Australia. C r ic k e t e r s who have had occasion to visit Trent Bridge during the last few years, will learn with regret that Mr. Edward Browne has just resigned the office of Assistant Secretary, which he had held for some time. Mr. Browne has been a leading personality in sport of all kinds in Nottingham, but particularly in cricket and football, for many years. A familiar figure there the year through, visitors to the Notts County Cricket Ground will miss one on whose ready help they could always count. I t is high praise of itself that F. A. Iredale, the New South Wales Cricketer, should have been dubbed by a capable critic as “ next to Giffen, the best bat now in Australia.” According to all accounts he is a gentle tapper of the most approved type and the English public will look forward with anticipation to the hope of seeing him with the next Australian team. The cricket critics in Australia are too of one accord in praising his style. His easy upright stand at the wicket and the manner in which he gets over the ball make him, like Bruce, a batsman always pleasant to watch, so says one of the fraternity. On the off side in particular he seems to be very strong, and as he keeps the ball moving he is just the class of batsman an English crowd naturally delights to honour. NEXT ISSUE MARCH 28.