Cricket 1896

14 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J a n . 30, 1896. the negotiations having been under consideration and exercised their close attention for some time past. The committee heartily congratulate the club on the much improved and sound financial position it now occupies, and trusts that every member will continue the efforts made last season for an increase of subscribers by introducing at least one new member, so as to quickly bring up the roll to the much-desired number of 2 , 000 . Turning to the performances of the team in the past season the committee regret that they cannot present a more satisfactory report. Nineteen matches were played, of which three were won, eleven lost, and five drawn. The committee trust that several draw­ backs, such as accidents and ill-health, which befel some of the permanent team last season may not occur in 1896. They feel that but for these misfortunes the result of the season’s matches would have been very different. The match at Trent Bridge v. Lancashire was devoted to Flowers’ benefit, the profit from which, after paying all expenses, was £64 4s. 8d. This, added to the public subscription from members. &c., brought up the total to £402 18s. 3d., which has been duly paid to Flowers. In addition to this a local newspaper was the means of ob­ taining £'50 in shilling subscriptions, and about £5 was paid to Flowers direct, making altogether a total of about £457. The committee have arranged the the following fixtures for the coming season, v iz.:—Home and home matches with Sussex, Kent, Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Surrey, Lancashire, York­ shire, and Derbyshire. One match each with M C.C. at Lord’s, and with the Australians and Cambridge University at Trent Bridge. The committee have decided to give the latter fixture for Sherwin’s benefit. The usual Colts’ match will be played at Easter, and the annual match Notts Colts v. Yorkshire Colts will be played at Worksop. It is hoped that this will be appreciated by the subscribers and supporters of cricket in the northern part of the county. The committee are deeply impressed with the necessity of establishing a sys­ tem by which the most promising of the rising players may be retained in the county and their abilities developed. Now that the club has been so happily freed from debt a scheme has been pro­ posed for this purpose. In order that all members may be made thoroughly acquainted with the proposal, its full details have been printed and sent out to each subscriber in the hope that it may be confirmed by the annual meeting. It is earnestly hoped that such a scheme, if adopted, may be the means, in the course of time, of so strongly recruiting the county team as to cause it to take its place once more in the very front of English counties. The proposal confers a very important extra advantage to all subscribers by giving them the privileges of practising at the nets at which the county professionals will be engaged. The development^ suchaschemewill naturally cause large extra expenditure upon the funds of the club amounting at the very least to £250 per annum ; but if it attains the desired end the committee feel that the members will in no way begrudge this extra outlay. To ensure its success it is earnestly desired that all subscribers should use their utmost endeavours to bring the membership roll up to 2,000, and the committee would also feel,deeply grateful to any subscriber who (in con­ sideration of the extra boon conferred and the result which is hoped to be attained) would voluntarily double his present subscription. It is also hoped that not only the members but every lover of cricket in the town and county will use his best endeavours to popularise the game and bring increased support to the club. The greater the increase of means placed at the disposal of the committee the greater will be the opportunity of returning first-class talent. The committee were very grateful for the response to their appeal of last year, and also to those local clubs who closely allied themselves to the county by becoming members. A U S T R A L IA N TEAM OF 1896. THE FOLLOWING IS THE PROGRAMME. May 11. Sheffield Park v. Lord Sheffield’s Team. May 14. Leyton, Australians v. Essex. May 18. Eastbourne v. South. May 21. Crystal Palace v. England XI. May 25. Sheffield, Australians v. Yorkshire. May 28. Manchester, Australians v. Lancashire. June 1. Oxford, Australians v. Oxford University. June 4. Bristol, Australians v. Gloucestershire. June 8. Wembley Park v. England XI. June 11. Lord’s, Australians v. M.C.C. and Ground. June 15. Leeds, Australians v. Yorkshire. June 18.* Birmingham, Australians v. Gentlemen. June 22. Lord’s, England v. Australia. June 25. Nottingham, Australians v. Notts. June 29. Bradford, Australians v. Yorkshire. July 2. Manchester, Australians v. North. July 6. Southampton v. Hants. July 9.* Leyton, Australians v. Players. July 13. Leicester, Australians v. Leicestershire. July 16. Manchester, Australia v. England. July 20. Derby, Australians v. Derbyshire. July 23. Lord’s, Australians v. M.C.C. and Ground. July 27. Oval, Australians v. Surrey. July 30.* Bexhill, Australians v. Earl De La Warr’s XI. Aug. 3. Birmingham, Australians v. Warwickshire. Aug. 6. Canterbury, Australians v. Kent. Aug. 10. Oval, Australia v. England. Aug. 13. Brighton, Australians v. Sussex. Aug. 17. Oval, Australians v. Surrey. Aug. 20. Cheltenham, Australians v. Gloucestershire Aug. 24. Taunton, Australians v. Somersetshire. Aug. 27. Liverpool, Australians v. Lancashire. Aug. 31. Scarboro’ , Australians v. England XI. Sept. 3. Hastings, Australians v. South. * Provisional. TH E N E X T AU STRA L IAN TEAM . Felix, of the Australasian newspaper, had the following remarks on the subject of the coming Australian team in a recent issue of the paper. Rumour has it that Harry Trott, George Giffen and Syd Gregory are likely to be the trio. The one thing specially lacking is a new bowler of high-class merit. Charlie Turner and George Giffen cannot last for ever. A fast bowler is regarded as indispensible, and the choice will be between Jones, of South Australia, and C. Eady, of Hobart. The latter is placed at a considerable disadvantage in not having an opportunity of playing frequently in inter-colonial matches. One first-class judge of cricket in Hobart speaks very highly of Eady, and is confident that he would acquit himself creditably as a member of an Australian eleven, but so far as I can gauge the feelings of leading players I fancy Jones is looked upon at present as having a better chance than the Tasmanian of being selected as the “ fast bowler ” of the team. Would it be not worth while to take two fast bowlers, seeing that Mr. Stoddart had two in his team to Australia, where the wickets in leading matches are, as a rule, better than the wickets in England. Those who pick the team should remember that fast bowling and a rough wicket mean disaster to batsmen. So notable is the dearth of first-class bowlers that many view with disfavour the notion of sending a team home in 1896; but having asked Mr. Alcock to arrange a programme we are now committed to the scheme, and the Australasian Council will no doubt do its level best to send home a thoroughly representative team. George Giffen is, I believe, sure to go, and the brilliant left-hander, W. Bruce, will, I sincerely trust, be induced to make another trip. He is in great form all round this season, and if he be in similar fine fettle in 1896, lovers of the game in England will have a treat in watching his batting and fielding. I am anxious to see M ‘Kibbin shape again with the ball, because his club performances so far during this campaign have been good. Perhaps, after all, he may be the “ star ” George Giffen considered him when he dealt out destruction to the wheat-fielders on the Sydney ground last season. Syd. Gregory told me that he could score faster off M‘Kibbin than off Charlie Turner, be­ cause the former could not keep a good length. But he may improve. One thing is certain, and it is that he can break a lot from either side. The inter­ colonials in Melbourne and Adelaide will no doubt enable us to form a fair estimate of what M'Kibbin can do. Frank Iredale andSyd. Gregory appear to beall there. I think Frank’s style willbeappreciatedint,’ ow’d country. In Adelaide Clem Hill is looked upon as a certainty. The Vic­ torians to a man refer to his batting against them in November in the highest terms, and with his fielding they were also delighted. Some say that as a wicket-keeper he will be of service, but, so far as I know, he is a poor hand with the gloves. Joe Darling is a South Australian who is considered to have a strong claim for inclusion in the team, and I must say that this cool and sturdy player has won a high place in my estimation. There seems to be some doubt whether the famous hitter, Jack Lyons, will be chosen, hut unless he can be supplanted by a better hitter, I don’t see how he can be omitted, for a big hitter or two must be taken. As to wicket keeping I have heard the names of Jarvie, Johns, and Lewis, and at present it looks as if Lewis would run Jarvie very close. Lewis in NEXT ISSUE, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27th.