Cricket 1896

38 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M arch 26, 1896. 34 matches so far arranged may be thus classed:— 11 representative games. 18 matches with counties. 2 ,,„ the Universities. 3 ,,,, scratch teams. The match with Past and Present Teams of the Universities, which almost invariably gave the Australians a chance of materially improving their batting averages, have dropped out. From Australia comes a budget of news. Ferris has settled in Adelaide; will play for the Norwood Club (of which Lyons is a member) and the Colony. Let us hope he will get back his old bowling form. Eady has been batting and bowl­ ing in fine style. It was proposed by some enthusiasts, after Garrett had scored well for his colony in the matches at Melbourne and Adelaide, that the veteran should come to England with and captain the present team. Horan in the Australasian spoke out vigorously against such a suggestion, not out of disregard of his old comrade’s feelings, but because, as he said, it would be an insult to the many fine young players Australia has at the present day to include a man whose lasting throughout the tour was, to say the least, problematical. “ Kenny ” Bum of Tasmania, a member of the ’90 team, played his highest innings in first- class cricket v. Victoria at Melbourne recently, in a match in which Eady did great things with the ball. The Sydney barrackers were very rough on Johns in the return between N.S.W. and Victoria at Sydney. Boyle was delighted to hear of Jack Harry’s inclusion. What will he think of his omission? Bruce does not think gate-money should be considered in the choice of the team. The score in the match Carlton v. University referred to last month was 922, not 924: and Worrall’s total was 417, not 415, I see that “ Point,” of the Adelaide Observer, shares my doubts of the Ulster v. Mac­ quarie match. Very glad am I to see that sufficient funds have been raised to send Shilton to South Africa, whose “ pale dry healing blue” (as Kipling hath it) put “ our George ” to rights, and will, we all trust, soon restore the Warwickshire bowler to health and strength. Walter Sugg and Henderson are to have benefits in 1897. Both have de­ served well of their respective counties ; and it is rather hard on Henderson that the fact of Surrey’s having so many good men has relegated him to the second eleven of late. There are few counties which would not gladly include him in their team. But, as far as Surrey is con­ cerned, it cannot be helped; and, after all, “ Framjee” is not doing so badly with a regular place in the reserves. Walter Sugg is one of the few men play­ ing first-class cricket who have gained their places by their fielding. He bats well now, of course; but there was a time when [he very seldom made runs, and had he not been quite an exceptional field would certainly have been shelved. If Hayward and Lohmann can main­ tain the form they have been showing in South Africa, Surrey should be stronger than ever in ’96. Both had a good deal to do with the winning by so heavy a mar­ gin of the second game with South Africa, at Johannesburg. The Afri­ kanders batted somewhat better this time, but their bowling seemed to have no difficulty for the Englishmen. The selection of the home team appears to have caused considerable dissatisfaction. Lord Hawke expressed himself strongly against Lieut. Poore’s playing; but it was not among the Englismen that the complaints were made. Possibly it was owing to these complaints that the match which was begun at Cape Town a few days ago was v. X I. of the Western Province instead of v. X I. of South Africa, as it appeared in the official pro­ gramme, though of course it is also possible that the more important game is only postponed, and not abandoned. KENSINGTON P A R K CLUB. By kind permission of the Committee of the Sports Club the 38th Annual General Meeting of the above well-known London Club was held at 8, St Janies’ Square on Friday evening, Feb. 28th. There was a capital attendance of members who dined together before the meeting in a room set at their disposal by the courtesy of the Sports Club Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. H. W. Price. After dinner, the Annual Report was presented by the secretaries, and the balance sheet by the Hon. Treasurer (Mr H. W. Kiallmark), the latter showed the Clubs finances to be in a satisfactory con­ dition and after comments and suggest- tions from various members, both were unanimously passed. The Chairman then alluded in feeling terms to the loss the club was about to experience owing to the acceptance of the high post of Governor of British Guiana by Sir Aug. Hemming, who had taken for so long a period a most valuable interest in the welfare of the club. At one time secretary and for some years serving on the committee, said the chairman, Sir Augustus Hemming had been ever ready both in times of prosperity and in times when circum­ stances had been less favourable to render valuable assistance, and in bidding him a temporary farewell he was sure that members would join with him in wishing him “ God speed, and a happy return.” N eedless to say the chairman’s remarks were received with enthusiasm and the secretaries were directed to communicate the good wishes of the club to Sir Augustus Hemming. A further resolu­ tion, thanking Miss Prescott for her great kindness and valuable help conducing so largely to the great success of the club dance held at Westminster Town Hall on November 25th, was carried with great acclamation. The usual votes of thanks to the officers of the club and the chair­ man closed a most successful meeting. K E NT COUNTY CLUB . The annual general meeting of the Kent County Cricket Club was held at the Golden Cross Hotel, Charing Cross, on the 31st inst. The Committee considered in their annual report that special thanks were due to Mr. Marchant for his un­ tiring services to the County, recognising that his captaincy was carried on under extremely depressing and trying circum­ stances. The accounts showed a balance of £878 Is. 5d. against £264 15s. Id. carried forward from 1894. The club has also nearly £1,300 invested in Consols. The following shows the expenses and receipts for matches:— Receipts. Expenses. £. s. d. £. s. d. Canterbury weelc: Kent y. Warwickshire ... 326 1 0 Kent v. Yorkshire.......... 537 18 0 Other Sources ........................ 167 3 6 1030 17 6385143 Kent v. "Warwickshire (away) ----- 35 0 O Kent v. Yorkshire (away) . . . ----- 35 0 0 Kent v. Gloucestershire (Gravesend) ................. 178 8 6 127 4 10 Kent v. Gloucestershire ( a w a y ) ------ 29 0 0 Kent v. Middlesex (Tonbridge) 142 16 6 108 19 0 Kent v. Middlesex (away) ... ----- 25 0 0 Kent v. Lancashire (Tonbridge) 222 15 6 125 7 3 Kent v. Lancashire (away) ... ----- 35 0 0 Kent v. Oxford University (Maidstone)........................ Kent v. Oxford University (away) ............................... Kent v. Sussex fCatford) Kent v. Sussex (away) .......... Kent v. Notts (Maidstone) ... Kent v. Notts (away) .......... Kent v. Surrey (Catford).......... Kent v. Surrey (away) .......... ....... 25 0 Kent v. Somerset (Blackheath) 89 4 0 93 18 Kent v. Somerset (away)....................... 35 0 2nd X I. v. Middlesex (Hythe) 16 4 4 24 3 2nd X I v. Middlesex (away) ... ------ 16 0 62 18 0 95 18 6 33 0 0 135 14 5 25 0 0 120 71 0 6 108 4 11 29 0 0 193 5 6 134 3 5 0 0 0 6 0 Mr. G. L. Jessop, the Gloucestershire cricketer, goes into residence at Christ’s College, Cambridge, next month. 2127 18 4 1659 8 1 Major Spens, Earl Sondes, Rev. C. E. B. Nepean, and Messrs. R. Mc- Alpine and W. B. Pattison, were re­ elected, and on the Committee Captain Mackeson appointed to take the place of Captain Lambert who had resigned. The chairman then introduced a series of resolutions dealing with the purchase of the St. Lawrence Ground at Canter­ bury. They had the chance of securing the unencumbered freehold at the fair price of £4,500, and Earl Sondes had given them till May 9, 1896, in which to complete the purchase. A provincial agreement had already been entered into by the committee. Lord Harris seconded the motion which was carried unanimously Major-Gen. Denne proposed, and Mr. Patterson seconded, “ That the purchase money be raised as far as possible by subscription, and that collectors be appointed for the various districts in the county. Carried, nem con. It was decided that the property be vested in the four following trustees, viz., Lord Harris, Messrs. Akers-Douglas, F. Marchant, and W. H. Patterson. The match between Victoria and New South Wales, began at Sydney on Jan. 25th, was attended by 44,000 persons in the five days, and receipts amounted to £1,670.