Cricket 1896

A pril 9, 1896. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 53 SOUTH AFRICAN BATTING AVERAGES. No. of Not Highst inns, outs, Runs. Aver, score. A. Richards (W.P.) ... 3 ... 0 ... 64 ... 21'33 ... 58 E.A.Halliwell(S.A.R.) 6 ... 0 ... 104 ... 17'38 ... 41 J. Sinclair (S.A.R.) ... 6 ... 0 ... 104 ... 17-33 ... 40 R. M. Poore (Natal) ... 6 ... 0 ... 76 ... 12 66 ... 20 F. Hearne (W.P.) ... 7 ... 0 ... 80 ... 1142 ... 30 T. Routledge (S.A.R.) 6 ... 0 ... 66 ... ll'OO ... 24 It seems not unlikely that we shall have both a South African and a Philadelphian team touring in England in 1897. Well, so be it. Such visits do a good deal to­ wards tightening the bonds of fraternity between us and our kinsfolk over seas. I hope, however, that our legislators will not be discourteous enough this time to rank the matches played by our visitors as second-rate. A. programme could be arranged for each team which should be distinctly first class—that is to say, entire­ ly against first-class sides—and yet which should not interfere with our own County matches too much. Something in this wise: each to play one game against each of the first-class Counties, the two Uni­ versities, and the M.C.C.—seventeen each. Two or three encounters between ihe two teams—say three, one at Lord’s, one at Nottingham, or the Oval, and one at Manchester—twenty games each. Then each might meet the Gentlemen or Zin- gari; and each might play—-but such a game should come late in the tour, or its moral effect might be disheartening—■ England once. If more matches than these were needed, Dublin University might be played, and games against good scratch elevens be arranged at, say, Glas­ gow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Scarborough, Liverpool, Swansea, Hastings, Northamp­ ton, or some two or threeof theseplaces, all of which have good grounds and should b8 able to supply fair gates. I take it that gate-money would not enter largely into the consideration of either team; each would probably be quite satisfied if it covered its expenses. Neither would be likely to want more than twenty-five matches; and such programmes as I have sketched could scarcely interfere to any great extent with County cricket. I don’t suppose that either team would win more than a bare majority of its matches; but it is scarcely flattering to ourselves to wait until any side can fairly “ chaw us up ”—to use an expressive Americanism —before we admit its claims to first-class rank. Both sides will undoubtedly include a majority of really first class men. Mr. Mitchell and his comrades can testify to the ability of Messrs. G. S. Patterson, W. W. Noble, C. Coates, P. W. Ralston, J- B. King, and E. W. Clarke; while Lord Hawke and his merry men can speak as to Routledge, Middleton, Rowe, Halli­ well (all of whom proved their ability here in ’94), Sinclair, Richards, Hime and others. A. B. Tancred, who is spoken of as likely to captain the Afrikander’s team, was three or four years ago the best bats­ man in South Africa; but we on this side have heard little of him lately. Without auch doubt, Mr. Patterson will be the Philadelphian skipper. What think you of a ten days’ festival at Lords, with England v. the United states, South Africa v. the United States, England v. South Africa as the matches ? But perhaps I grow too enthusiastic. I feel strongly what Lord Harris has so well and so often expressed in his speeches that it is a great thing that wherever the Englishman goes he should take the dear old English game with him ; and the chance of such a festival, rivalling in importance the Olympic games of old- time Greece, may not occur again for many years. What Mr. W. E. Henley has said in his splendid “ In Praise of England ” is true of cricket, though it was written in a wider and loftier sense:— For the Sire Jives in his sons, and they pay their father’s debt, For the lion has left a whelp wherever his claw was set; And the lion in his whelps—his whelps that none shall brave— Is but less strong than time and the all-devouring grave. Be you sure that the New Zealander of whom Macaulay wrote—the New Zealander who is to find food for thought in the ruins of London Bridge—will feel a keen and living interest in what may be left of Lord’s and the Oval. But this is “ taking long views,” indeed. Come we to matters of more immediate interest than that somewhat nebulous New Zealander. It is indeed a pity that no date can be found for a match between the Cantabs and the Australians. Of what interest is a scratch game at Wembley Park or the Crystal Palace compared with the interest which attaches to this old and honoured fixtures—bar the game with Oxford, always the great match of the Light Blue’s season in Australian years ? Nearly every match played between the Colonists and the Cantabs has been replete with incident. Remember ’78, when the undefeated Light Blue team beat the doughty Australians in an innings, when P. H. Morton took twelve wickets for 90 with his fast bowling, and those two great batsmen, Allan Steel and Alfred Lyttelton put on over a hund­ red runs while together. Remember ’82— there was no match in ’80—when the Studd brotherhood played with such signal effect: C. T., 118 and 17, not out, eight wickets for 170; G. B., 42 and 48 ; J. E. K., 6 and 66. The Colonists were beaten again, this time by six wickets. Then in ’84, when Cambridge had a com­ paratively weak team, they won in an innings. Captain Murdoch playing a chanceless 132, Palmer scoring 68 and taking 11 wickets for 133. In ’86 the match was drawn, but it was memorable as being the first in the tour in which the Australians showed their real batting strength. Jarvis and J. W. Trumble (96 and 56, both not out respectively) played their highest innings in England; and Giffen had eight of the ten Cambridge wickets for 56. In ’88 a draw again, the end coming with the Australians wanting 194 to win and having eight wickets to fall. A fine match this, both sides playing up in splendid form, though the Australians one and all were full of natural concern as to poor Sammy J ones, then waging a stem fight with death in his hotel at Nottingham. Another draw in ’90—I remember every detail of that game as though it were but yesterday— the long stand of Murdoch and Stonewall Barrett, the fine hitting of Streatfeild and the steadier play of A. J. L. Hill, the ball that “ Long H u gh ” Trumble sent among the spectators at the Nursery End when batting. The ’93 game is just as clear in my mental vision. The long stand of Jackson and upstanding little Jimmy Douglas at the beginning of the first day’s play, the leg-placing of Ranjitsinhji, the two atrocious mows by which C. M. Wells put Giffen to the leg- boundary, Perkins’s slamming, the partnership of Bannerman and Lyons in each innings, Turner’s bowling at the close of the game and the splendid win of the Australians after a stem chase—they had had to follow on in a minority of 94— by 117 runs. It will be long ere I forget these. Some of my happiest moments have been spent on dear old Fenners’, and those two matches stand out prominently among the many I have seen there. ETON RAMBLERS CLUB. MAY. 23. Haileybury, v. Haileybury College. 29. Woolwich, v. Royal Artillery.* JUNE. 8. Oxford, v. Christ Church.* 10. Trowbridge, v. A Wiltshire XI.* 11. Eton, v. Eton. 11. Windsor, v. Home Park. 18. Oxford, v. New College. 20. Vincent Square, v. Westminster School. 22. Winchester, v. Greenjackets.* 24. Leighton, v. Leighton.* 26. Leighton, v. Wilts Wanderers.* 27. Basingstoke, v. Hackwood Park. 29. Pyt House, V. J. Benett-Stanford’s X I. JULY. 1. Chislehurst, v. West Kent. 7. Ludgrove, New Barnet, v. Oxford Authentics. 9. West Kensington, v. Queen’s Club. 14. Burton Court, v. Household Brigade. 18. Sunninghill, v. Silwood Park. 25. Esher, v. Esher. . 28. Ripon, v. Ripon and District.* 30. Said Hutton, v. Cherry Burton.* AUGUST. 1. Hardwick, Pangboume, v. C. D. Rose’s XI. 6. Beckenham, v. Beckenham. 7. Bawdsey, Woodbridge, v. Mr. Quilter s XI. 10. Bury St. Edmunds, v. Bury.* 14. Aldershot, v. Aldershot Division.* 17. Maidstone, v. Mote Park.* 19. Sevenoaks, v. The Vine. 20. Wildernesse, v. C. W . Mills XI. 21. Chatham, v. Royal Engineers.* 28. Bourton, v. Bourton Yale. * Two-day matches. GREENJACKET CLUB. MAY. 14. College, v. Winchester College. 22. St. Cross, v. Royal Engineers. 27. St. Cross, v. Old Wykehamists.* JUNE. 6. Staff College, v. Staff College. 8. Aldershot, v. Aldershot Division.* 12. Burton’s Court, v. Household Brigade. * 22* St. Cross, v. Eton Ramblers.* 24. St. Cross, v. United Services.* JULY. 9 St. Cross, v. Winchester College. 13! St. Cross, v. I Zingari.* 15. SC. Cross, v. Free Foresters.* 17. St. Cross, Past v. Present.* 22. St. Cross, v. Royal Artillery. 24. St. Cross, 60th Rifles v. Rifle Brigade. AUGUST. 5. St. Cross, v. Hampshire Hogs.* 7. St. Cross, v. Oxford University Authentics.* * Two-day matches. T ENTS.—Tents, second-hand Government Bell Tents, 40ft. in circumference, with lines, pegs, &c 17/6 each. Dozen quantities cheaper. Cash with order - W ood & S ons , Government Contractors, Brandon Street, Walworth, London.