Cricket 1897

“ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron, s o . 452 . v o l . x-vi. THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1897. p r i c e ad. The manager of the Philadelphian team has an anxious and arduous task before him, but if he is not found to be one of the most popular managers who have ever been in charge of a touring team, it will be one of the surprises of the century. Owing to pro­ fessional engagements as an attorney allowing him very little time for amusements, he has had no opportunities of playing cricket for the last four or five years, but he has taken an active part in the committee work of the Asso­ ciated Cricket Clubs of Phila­ delphia since the organisation of that body, and formerly was a member of the Club Eecord Cup Committee. He has also written a great deal for the American papers under the nom de plume of “ Silly Point.” In former years he played for Belmont, and kept wicket for that club during its tour in Canada in 1887, when all the leading Canadian clubs were met and defeated. “ I remember,” ,he said, “ that at a small town in Ontario, we were greeted with the greatest enthusiasm b y the mayor, who in a little speech said that the town was charmed to have the pleasure of entertaining us. He then announced that as a special attraction it was intended that the fire brigade should go through their manoeuvres i for our benefit. Accordingly, with much solemnity, we watched the brigade pouring volumes of water on the walls of a house opposite to our hotel for about a quarter of an hour. I t was kindly meant, but, you know, we rather pride ourselves in Philadelphia on] the excellence of our Fire department, and believe it to be the best in the world.” “ What were some of your best scores?” “ To tell you the truth I really don’t remember; but I made two centuries, MB. M. C. WOBK. (From a Photo by H. Parker Rolfe, Philadelphia , Pa.) travelling in England. I was here last summer, and it was thought advisable that the manager should know something of the country.” In 1884, when the first team came over, the tour was merely experimental, and a very weak programme was arranged. But the results were much better than had been anticipated, and to the highest of which was somewhere in the vicinity of 130. Y ou may take it that if I have forgotten the scores, nobody else remembers them. I was not selected as manager with any idea that I might assist the team as a cricketer, for I haven’t had a bat in my hand for years. But I have had some considerable experi­ ence in the management of various cricketing schemes, and have done some some extent the men were able to gauge the strength of English cricketers, and to compare it with their own. “ The team of 1889 was, I should think,” said Mr. Work, “ twenty-five per cent, better than the first team ; but again only a mode­ rate programme was gone through, although much better clubs were played. The result of this tour, combined with the results of international matches against various teams—Eng­ lish and Australian—justified the committee of the Asso­ ciated Cricket Clubs of Phila­ delphia in asking for matches against some of the strongest counties. This was not done without due deliberation, and until after the approval of many English authorities had been given to the scheme ; the Australians also strongly ad­ vised us to meet the full strength of the counties if we could.” “ O f course, you don’t ex­ pect to beat the strongest counties F” “ No. We do not antici­ pate that, unless indeed we are favoured by more than our share of good fortune, but we shall at any rate gain experience. We felt that the step had to be taken sooner or later. Taking it allround, the present team ought to be nearly half as strong again as the last one. It is true that we have to regret losing the services of three or four very good men at the last moment, on account of busi­ ness engagements, but we are not going to give their absence as a reason if we are beaten. King,'our fast bowler, is unquestionably better than any of his predecessors, and our batting and fielding are better than before. We shall be, I hope, particularly strong round the ropes and behind the wickets. If anything should happen to Ralston, our wicket-keeper, we may find ourselves in a difficulty, for our other good wicket-keeper had to remain behind in Philadelphia. But we shall do our best.” CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. MR. M ILTON 0 . WORK .