Cricket 1896

J uly 23, 1896. OKICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 305 the bat, an average per innings of just over 32 (one not out), while the Southern bowlers took 13 wickets for 339, an aver­ age of about 26. The Northern contin­ gent of five scored 175, an average per innings of just over 19 (one not out). The Northern bowlers took 4 wickets for 180, an average of 45. It is unnecessary to enquire how much the apparent superiority of the Southerners was due to Ranjitsinhji and Richardson. I t was generally agreed, before the match, that the composition of the Eng­ land team was not satisfactory. It was a very bold experiment to choose MacLaren —an experiment which would have been recognised as a stroke of genius if it had met with success. The absence of Gunn and Hayward was a calamity—what would one not have given to have had them to help Ranjitsinhji in the second innings ? But whatever team had been chosen, it was not likely to have won, for during the last two or three weeks, nearly all English bowlers have been most decidedly “ off colour” ; even Richard­ son had not done himself justice for some time; Hearne, Jackson and Lohmann had been quite unsuccessful, while Briggs is not the Briggs of old. The long and short of it is, that England had no right to expect to win, but by accident. I t is greatly open to question whether it is wise to choose the team for such an important match so long beforehand that there is time for half the players to become stale. Surely it would be better policy to wait until a day or two before the match is to come off, and then to choose men who are obviously in form at the time. There is, for instance, no man in England, except perhaps Ranjitsinhji, more fitted to play for England at the present time than Captain Wynyard; he has proved himself' against all sorts of bowling, including that of theAustralians, who are not likely to forget his display at Southampton. But who shall say that in a fortnight’s time he or anybody else will be at his best ? D u r in g his second innings in the match between M.C.C. and Cambridgeshire, at Lord’s, Bean made two very hard off drives, which pitched under the awnings. One of the hits was within a little of being fatal to an elderly gentleman, who fortunately broke the force of the ball with the back of his hand. The gentle­ man afterwards observed that he had been in two railway accidents, in one of which eleven people were killed, and in the other, one man. To most people who are in the habit of noticing the contents bills of the evening papers, itmust have been amusing to mark the way in which those who were responsible for the headings spared the fetlings of their would-be readers. There was “ Latest Scoring,” followed by “ Exciting Finish” in not very big capitals, “ Australia’s Second Innings ” — by far the most alluring headline, inas­ much as it awakened curiosity, for why bother about the innings unless there was something curious about it ?—and finally “ Result.” Nothing startling such as would have been seen if England had won. A great chance was missed of not utilising the downfall of the first few Australian wickets by a heading “ Kangaroos Collapse ! ” W. L a w t o n writes as follows:— “ In ‘ Between the Innings,’ a short time ago, it was mentioned that regular matches between Surrey and Lancashire were first played about 1880. Matches were, how­ ever, played in 1866, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’73, and the series were renewed in 1880. I enclose particulars of these matches, compiled from oflicial sources by Fred Reynolds.” Year. Lancashire. Surrey. 1st inn. 2nd inn. 1st inn. 2nd inn. Winner. 1866 .. 195 321 for 8 .. 422 — .. Drawn. 1866 .. 125 86 ., 116 96 for 7 .. Surrey. 1867 .. 429 — .. 340 200 for 7 .. Drawn. 1867 .. 219 143 for 8 .. 171 261 .. Drawn. 1868 .. 204 93 for 2 .. 253 42 .. Lancs. 1868 .. 120 89 .. 351 — .. Surrey. 1869 .. 255 87 for 3 .. 209 132 .. Lancs. 1869 .. 130 163 .. 277 18 for 2 .. Surrey. 1870 . 150 49 for 2 .. 103 95 .. Lancs. 1870 . 81 103 .. 199 — .. Surrey. 1873 .. 262 — .. 44 105 .. Lancs. 1873 .. 100 115 .. 33 76 .. Lancs. 1880 .. 196 — .. 84 71 .. Lancs. 1880 .. 113 314 .. 226 141 .. Lancs. Iddison made 106 for Lancashire and Jupp 165 for Surrey in 18^6; Ricketts made 195, not out, for Lancashire in 1867 ; T. Humphrey 144 for Surrey in 1867 (return) ; Jupp 110 for Surrey in 1868 (return); A. N. Hornby 128 for Lancashire in 1873. Matches played-14. Lancashire "won 7. Surrey won ... 4. Drawn ..........8. Runs for Lancashire...4142 for 223 wkts. Aver. 18‘57. Runs for Surrey..........4065 for 236 wkts. Aver. 17‘22. B y a curious printer’s error—or perhaps the typewriter’s—“ Dagonet,” writing of Gentlemen v. Players iu this week’s Mustard and Cress, is made to say ‘ ‘ There is no truth in the statement that ‘ Ranjy ’ called out ‘ How’s that Umpire?’ when he bowled one of the white coated officials full in the chest.” It would be a very interesting andvery wide ball indeed which could hit an umpire in the chest. As a matter of fact Ranjitsinhji drove a ball back and hit the umpire hard. I t was pointed out in “ Pavilion Gossip ” last week that a speculator who would lay odds on England must be very bold man, whereas it would have required no boldness at all to offer three to two that Trott won the toss. On a tram. “ I tell you that Leicester­ shire is a second class county.” “ What rot. Why it was a first class county last year.” “ I didn’t say it wasn’t. I ’m speaking of this year.” “ Well, it is a first class county [this year.” “ Oh, is it ? Well then, what I want to know is this—if Leicestershire is a first class county, how is it that Warwickshire is’nt ? ” “ Well I am ------ (rest of conversation lost in the noise). O ne of the curiosities of the great match was that Abel, Brown, and Ranjitsinhji were not given a chance with the ball, despite the long stand made for the first wickets of the Austra­ lians, and yet they are all men who can get a wicket when the regular bowlers fail. A n important meeting: in furtherance of the Charles Absolon Testimonial Fund will be held on Thursday, the 23rd at 9 p.m., at Finsbury Park Hotel, 336, Green Lanes. All who are interested in the Testimonial are invited. T h e Rev. J. L. Davies very nearly accomplished the feat of making two hundreds in a match for Hull against the Harrow Wanderers on July 15 and 16. His scores were 95 and 113. F o r the sake of reference, the results of the matches played in England between England and Australia are given below, as well as the individual scores of a hundred. 1880 ..September € 1882...August 28 1884...July 11 ... 1884...July 21 ... 1886...July 5 1886...July 19 ... 1886...August 12 ...Oval ..Lord’s . ..Oval ...Oval .........England (5 wkts.) ...Oval .........Australia (7 runs). .. Manchester...Drawn. ...Lord’s ........ England (innings and 5 runs). 1884...August 11 ...Oval .........Drawn. ...Manchester.. England (4 wkts.) ...Lord’s .........England (innings and 106 runs). .England (innings and 217 runs). Australia (61runs). .England (innings and 137 runs). .. Manchester...England (innings and 21 runs). ...Lord’s .........England (7 wkts.) ...Oval ........ England (2 wkts.) ...Manchester...Abandoned (wet). ...Lord’s .........Drawn. ...Oval .........*England (innings and 43 runs). 1893...August 24 .. Manchester...Drawn. 1896...June 22.........Lord’s ..........England (6 wkts.) 1896...July 1 6 ........ Manchester...Australia (3 wkts.) England, 11; Australia, 2 ; Drawn, 4; Abandoned, 1. * Maurice Read’s Benefit. 1888...July 16 ... 1888... August 13 1888...August 30 1890...July 21 ... 1890... August 11 1890...August 25 1893...July 17 ... 1893... August 14 Individual Innings of W . L. Murdoch (A.) ...... 153*.. W. G. Grace (E.)............. 152 . A. G. Steel (E.) ............. 148 W . L. Murdoch (A.) ...... 211 P. S. McDonnell (A .)...... 103 . H. J. H. Scott (A .).......... 102 W . W. Read (E.).............. 117 W. G. Grace (E.).............. 170 Shrewsbury (E.) ............. 164 H. Graham (A.) ............. 107 Shrewsbury (E.) ............. 106 . F. S. Jackson (E.) ........... 103 . Gunn (E.) ......................... 102*. G. H. S. Trott (A .)........... 143 . S. E. Gregory (A.) .......... 103 . F. A. Iredale (A.) .......... 108 . K. S. Ranjitsinhji (E.) ... 154*. * Signifies not a H undred . . Oval ............. 1880 . Oval ............. 1880 .. Lord’s .......... 1884 . Oval ............. 1884 . Oval ............. 1884 . Oval ............. 1884 .. Oval ............. 1884 .. Oval ............. 1886 .. Lord’s .......... 1886 Lord’s .......... 1893 Lord’s .......... 1893 Oval ............. 1893 Manchester... 1893 . Lord’s .......... 1896 . Lord’s .......... 1896 . Manchester ... 1896 .. Manchester ... 1896 out. I t will be seen from the above that Ranjitsinhji’s 154 has been beaten three times only, once by Murdoch, and once each by W. G. Grace and Shrewsbury. I n estimating the great success of K. S. Ranjitsinhji and the Australians this season, it must not be forgotten that the very trying weather has been greatly in their favour. Upon English cricketers, especially those who have to play day after day, it has exercised a disquieting influence, whereas the Australians and the Prince have simply revelled in it, because it is just what they are accustomed to. It may be said that Englishmen do very well in Australia, but when there they have frequently a long rest; otherwise they could not stand the strain.