Cricket 1895

“ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.” — Byron. THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1895. THE ENGLISH TEAM IN THE WEST INDIES. The party of Amateur Cricketers who left London on Wednesday, the 6 th inst.. for a tour in the West Indies, reached Barbados safely on Monday. The West Indian Inlandi have not before had the opportunity of welcoming an English team, so that the first visit of English p'avers is sure to excite the greatest int irest. From the outset,, the social side 01 the trip has received full consideration. While cricket is necessarily the primary purpose in the selection of the team, regard has also been had to proficiency in other sports. Originally, it was hoped that Lord Hawke would have been able to have undertaken the captaincy of the team. The Yorkshire captain, however, found it impossible to make arrangements for the trip, and in his place the command of the party was given to Mr. R. S. Lucas, the Middlesex amateur. A proficient himself in other sports besides cricket, Mr. Lucas also had an eye in the choice of his team to those who had also proved their skill in other games. Hockey, for instance, will, in addition to the Captain, have capable exponents in Messrs. Sewell and Barker. In billiards and lawn tennis, too, the team should be able to hold their own. As far as cricket is concerned they can only be clashed as a moderate side. Still as the cricket is not to be taken too seriously, the team will no doubt fulfil one of the many purposes of the visit in making a personal acquaintance with the natural attrac­ tions of the West Indies as well as the many advantages they offer in respect of climate as health resorts. In any case, whatever the success of the team as cricketers, the value of the tour if only from an educational standpoint should not be underrated. Of one thing Mr. Lucas and his men are thoroughly as­ sured, the heartiest welcome wherever they go. The party consists of the following gentlemen :—R. S. Lucas (captain), Mid­ dlesex; Leigh - Barratt, Norfolk; R. Berens, Westminster and Oxford; F. W. Bush, Surrey County; H. R. Bromley- Davenport, Cambridge University; J. M. Dawson, Cambridge University and Yorkshire Gentlemen ; Arthur Priestley, M.C.C.; R P. Sewell, Essex; H. Smith Tarbeville, M.C.C.; W. H. Wakefield, Oxford University and Liverpool; J. H. Weatherby, M.C.C.; M. M. Barker, Rad- ley, M .C .C .; R. L. Marshall. The team left Southampton on the 16th in the Royal Mail Steamer Medway. Lord Stamford, who with Lord Hawke and Mr. N. Lubbock had formed the committee for arrangement and selection, was among those present on their departure from Waterloo. Dr. R. B. Anderson, to whose untiring efforts the successful issue of the negotiations for the first visit of an English team was mainly due, accom­ panied the party as far as Southampton, and so saw the last of them before leaving England. A Reuter’s telegaam announces the arrival of the team at Barbados on Monday, and also mentions the hearty reception accorded to them on their arrival. According to the printed route, the team are to stay a fortnight in Barbados, a week in the Leeward Islands — Antigua and St. Kitts ; a week in the Windward Islands —St.Lucia,St.Vincent, and Grenada; a week or ten days in Trinidad, and a week or so in Demerara. If the printed route is followed the team will leave Demerara on March 22nd, and arrive in Jamaica on the 29th, leav­ ing for England on April 16th, and arriving at Plymouth on May 1st. If the route be shortened the team will leave Demerara on March 8 th, arrive in Jamaica 15th, leave Jamaica Tuesday, April 2nd, and arrive in England Wed­ nesday, April 17th. In most of the islands the cricket will be found to be above the average. In Barbados,Trinidad, and Demerara iu particular, the English team are sure to have the game played under favourable conditions, and with a certainty of good cricket, played in the spirit of true cricket. For the photograph of the team, which was taken on board the “ Medway” j uat before she left, we have to thank the proprietors of Sporting Sketches. CRICKET IN AUSTRALIA . SOUTH AUSTRALIA v. VICTORIA. The first inter-colonial match of the Australian season of 1891-95 was played at Adelaide on November 30th, and December 1st and 3rd. As they beat the Englishmen by six wickets the South Australians were the favourites for the match with Victoria, although Victoria sent to Adelaide the strongest available team. Bruce, owing to pressure of business, has had to give up first-class cricket, and an in-growing toe nail, which necessitated an operation, has kept Hugh Trumble idle. The game was contested under ideal conditions so far as the weather was con­ cerned, but the wicket did not come up to the highest Adelaide standard. O wing to an unexpected coolness of the atmos­ phere it was not very dry when play was commenced, and the consequence was that players’ spikes easily wore one or two patches, which before the end of the first day were awkward. Blackham won the toss from Giffen, and went to the wickets. Three good men were out for 26, Graham being caught at slip, while Jones’s fast ones bowled two men. Harry and Worrall made a stand, although early iu his innings the former was badly missed by George Giffen at slip. Once GifFen got on the spot he bowled so well that nine wickets were down for 182. Then Black­ ham and Albert Trott, by plucky hitting, put on 70, and the total reached 252. This represents a batting failure, as the team which goes in first in Adelaide should make 350 to have much chance in a game. Before stumps were drawn on the first day the Adelaideans lost one wicket—Lyons bowled off his pads—for 15. On the Saturday Reedman got out straight away, and two for 16 was the record, but Dyer and Darling made a long stand. The former, a man about thirty years old, who was not tried in inter-colonial matches until last March, played a fine innings for 102. He gave tour chances at 20, 43, 55, and 75, but all were difficult. Darling batted even better