Cricket 1897

138 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M at 13, 1897. far eclipses the previous best in a first- class match on the University ground. T h e previous highest innings played by Mr. Druce was 199 not out for Cambridge University v. M.C.C., at Cambridge, on June 6 and 7, 1895. He reached this total when there was three more wickets to go down, but fate was so cruel to him that he did not receive another ball, for W. W. Lowe, who had made 33, was caught, and E . B. Shine and J. P. Candler were promptly bowled. A n y idea of George Lohmann’s return to resume his place in the Surrey eleven seems now to have been given up by those who ought to know. Presumably he has made up his mind to settle per­ manently in South Africa, and there seems to be little chance that he will be seen again on English ground, at least in first-class cricket. By the way, mention of South Africa recalls the fact that A. B. Tancred, acknowledged to be the best batsman South African cricket has pro­ duced, is over in England at the present lime. M a n y lovers of cricket curiosities and recordsmust have been sadly disappointed when yesterday’s morning papers ap­ peared. On the Tuesday night one of the evening papers gave the latest score made by Mr. Bromley Martin’s side in the Oxford Seniors’ match as 180 for 9. Another evening paper gave it as 382 for 9; so that visions of all previous records for the last wicket going entirely to the wall rose up before the excited imagination. Alas ! the figure 3 of the 382, in the necessary hurry of printing, had been substituted for the figure 1. In a two-day match (twelve a side) between Ootacumund and Madras the captain of the former club closed his innings twice in one day. Rain con­ siderably interrupted play on the first day, but Ootacumund made 205 for 8 wickets, the last two men carrying their bats, after putting on 98 during their partner­ ship. One of them, Col. Piercey, made 86. On the following morning the innings was at once declared. Madras were 73 runs behind, and at 92 for 4 wickets Ootacumund again declared, but Madras managed to play out time easily. A fte r all J. Darling was not able to increase his score of 235, to which reference was made in “ Gossip” last week, as he was called away up country by the illness of one of his children. T h e New South Wales selection com­ mittee chose the following team to meet Queensland at Brisbane during Easter: -— Messrs. T . W. Garrett (University), L. Pye (Central Cumberland), F. Iredale (Central Cumberland), W. Howell (Cen­ tral Cumberland), L. O. S. Poidevin (University), A. Newell (Glebe), A. Con- iD g h a m (Glebe), H . Evers (South Sydney), E. L . Waddy (Maitland), Y . Trumper (Paddington), T. Connell (Leichhardt), A. Atkins (Eedfern). It will be observed that some names prominent in the local cricket world have been omitted. The reason of this is that many otherwise eligiblecandidatescouldnot sparethetime. L. Pye, H . Evers, E. L . Waddy, and T. Connell have not previously played in international matches. L. O. S. Poidevin was one of the last team which went on tour to New Zealand. T h e English climate has surpassed itself during the first three days of this week, and ,it will not be surprising if half-a-dozen well-known cricketers are laid up with influenza, and liver com­ plaints. The blizzards were all very well for batsmen who managed to get well set without being half frozen, but to the field and bowlers they were everything that is objectionable. T h e following paragraph in the Nilgiri News, by “ King Willow,” is very interesting in these days of blizzards :— “ The truth of the saying that it is not in mortals to command success, we know, but it is gratifying to be able to announce that a promient member of each of the visiting teams now up here did all that was possible to deserve it, as immediately on arrival he seized the situation meteorologically at once, and with great presence of mind went and purchased a gamp. Up to the time of writing, however, the effect of his action on the clerk of the weather has not been alto­ gether satisfactory. Still, t'was nobly done.” I t is a notable coincidence that Mr. N. F. Druce and Mr. J. A. Dixon, who each scored over 200, not out, in their first match of the season, were both captains of their side, and both declared their innings closed, with the pleasing result of winning the match. T h e “ Athletic News Cricket Annual ” for 1897, published at 68, Fleet Street, at threepence, contains, as usual, a great variety of interesting matter, ranging from averages to biographies. Among them are articles on “ Cricket as a pro­ fession,” and the “ Australian tour of 1896,” and each of the first-class counties. Needless to say that the annual contains all the statistics that are necessary, and many which could hardly have been hoped for in a small annual. In the Badminton Magazine for May there is an interesting article on “ Soldier Cricket,” by Captain Philip C. W. Trevor. Of the anecdotes, which are numerous and amusing, the following is a specimen:— “ Yet another case. The General who commanded the troops in another large station also knew a hit about cricket. Now, it happened that this cricket ground had only one defect. There were five large trees in one comer which cast their shadow right across^the pitch about half-past five to half­ past six in the evenings of July and August, so that the side batting during that hour was under a great disadvantage. We therefore petitioned the General for their removal, and were particularly glad when he said he would come and see for himself. 1Bring him up about 6.15 p.m.,’ we said to the A.D.C. But the A.D.C murmured something about the importance of the General's time, that we must take our chance, &c., and rode off, the pattern of an up-to-date mystical A.D.C. “ The General actually arrived on the ground at 12 noon with his staff to meet the Cricket Committee and decide the point. The General did the talking. ‘ Which, gentlemen, are the trees ? ’ They were pointed out. The Genpral surveyed them critically for a few minutes, as if to discover that they were standing correctly to attention, ami then remarked, ‘ Well, gentlemen, I can see no shadow.’ And he looked sternly at the Cricket Committee.” What the committee did must be looked for in the magazine. M e . Jerom e F la n n e r y has once more edited the “ American Cricket Annual,” which has just made its appearance for 1897. The annual contains the averages of all the principal clubs in the United States and Canada, articles on the Australian tour in America, the tour of the Haverford College team in England, Cricket in Washington, Cricket in New England, &c., together with much useful information. The following are some of the latest hundreds:— May 8— G. Turner, CrystaljPalacev. Streatham 168* May 8.— R. B. Porch, Trinity v. Christchurch (Oxford) ................................. 120* May 8.—B. D. Bannon, Oriel v. Keble (Oxford) 158* May 8.— J. H. Stogdon, Cambridge Seniors’ Match ....................................... 100 May 3.— G. I.. Jessop, Christ’s College v. Mag­ dalene (Cambridge) .. - ............... 102 May 3.—W. M. Gordon, Christ's College v. Magdalene (Cambridge)............... 108* May 4.— E. A. Ellis. Perse School v. St. Catherine’s (Cambridge)............... 114* May 4.— R. 8. Mason, Perse School v. St. Catherine’s (Cambridge).............. 105* May 5.— F. L. Fane, University v. Magdalen (Oxford) ................................. 116* May 8.— S. Colman, wanderers v. Holmesdale 101 May 4.—G. Newport, Corpusv. Sidney (Cambs) 147* Mar. 28.— I).Noonan, Fitzroyv. St.Kilda(Melb) 225 Mar. 28.—Alec Bannerman, Paddingtonv. East Sydney....................................... 118* Mar. 31.—J. McBlackham, Melbourne v. Pra- hamTrades (15)..................... ... 133* May 11. — W a r d , L a n c a s h ir e v. D e rb y s h ire ... 162 May 12.—N. F. D ru c e , C am brid ge U n iv e r s it y v. M r. T h o rn to n 's X I................ 227* May 12.— J. A. D ix o n , N o t t s v . S d p s e x ........ 268* May 12. — P. F. W a rn e r, M.C.C. v. Y o rk fh ib e 108* May 10. — A. Eccles, Oxford Seniors'Match ... 101 * Signifies not out. RICHMOND v. CRYSTAL PALACE.— Played at Richmond onMay 5. R ich m o n d . R. F. G. Chaldicott, o Thompson, bBishop 21 G. W. Beldam, c Turner, bBarchard.. 29 F.C. Francis,bThomp­ son .................... 15 F.W. James, not out.. 76 A. Worsley, cThomp­ son, b Barchard ... 7 R. N. Hincks, not out Extras ... ... 6 Total (4 wkts.)*160 H. Furze, H. B. Denham, L. H. Gunnery, W. Williams, and D. A. J. Bacon did not bat. *Innings declared closed. C r y s t a l P a l a c e . A. B. Cipriani, out ............. Extras .. not S. Colman, not out ... 28 E. Guy Turner, b Williams.............. 8 E. H. Lulham, c Den­ ham, b Beldam ... 0 Adair Thompson, lbw, b Williams ........ 7 F. C. Barchard, A. F. Wombell, R. H. Dilion, W. Furze, H. Cadell, and Bishop did not bat. Total (3 wkts.)...101