Cricket 1897

F eb . 25, 1897. CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 27 may be j udged from the fact that he sent the ball to the ropes 28 times. T h e last number of the Uppingham School Magazine gives a portrait of the late H. H. Stephenson, and such an excellent likeness that one would like to see it reproduced, if possible, for the benefit of a wider circle. Mr. W. S. P a t t e r s o n , who, it is interesting to recall, was the first boy to whom H. H. bowled the day after he arrived at Uppingham in May, 1872, points out that fifteen of his pupils have taken part in Intet-University matches, and four at least in Gentlemen and Players at Lord’s, a record he does not think can be produced by any other school of the same size as Uppingham. The School Magazine gives the following as the members of the Oxford and Cambridge elevens trained by Stephenson: W. S. Patterson, D. Q Steel, A. P. Lucas, S. S. Schultz,H. T. Luddington, J. H. M. Hare, J. A. Turner, L. Martineau, L. A. Orford, G. MacGregor, G. E. Bardswell, C. E. M. Wilson, W. McG. Hemingway. The following Blues were also for a short time trained by H. H., but afterwards went to other schools: A. M. Sutthery, Oundle; C. P . Wilson, Marlborough; F. D . Gad- dum, Bugby. A f t e r the golden opinions won by the last Australian team from all manners and conditions of men, it would have been the basest ingratitude had the members of the party failed to recognise with some souvenir the exceptional tact, judgment and business ability, Mr. H. Musgrove, the Manager, had sho » n in conduct of the tour. Advantage was taken of the presence of the South Australian members of the team in Melbourne on their way from Sydney to Adelaide after the Inter­ colonial between Sydney and New South Wales to make the presentation. M r . M u sg r o v e wai just off to America to make arrangements for the visit of an Australian baseball team he is to per­ sonally conduct through the States, so that the occasion was well timed. Hugh Trumble, who was entrusted with the presentation, gave Mr. Musgrova, on behalf of the Australian team, a hand­ some travelling bag with silver mounted fittings, and Mrs. Musgrove, who also accompanied the team through England, America and New Zealand, was made the recipient of a bracelet suitably inscribed. Mr. Trumble said that the team owed a great deal of its success to Musgrove’s judgment and tact. The duties of manager could not possibly have fallen into more capable hands. This opinion was warmly endorsed by Messrs. G. Giffen and H. Trott. Mr. Musgrove said that, as he was off on his travels again im­ mediately, it would be a constant pleasure to him to have as a compagnon de voyage the handsome gift which would be a daily reminder of the good friends with whom he had made his recent happy and successful tour round the world. T he following verses, which ap p eared j in an Australian paper, though “ rote sarcastical,” are still, in themselves, a tribute to the influence Mr. Musgrove exercised with such happy results on the morale of the team:— Let the pious parlour organ raise its elevating strain. For we sing a sacred solo—not a secular refrain— Very solemly, my brethren, lente, pianissimo, Till we reach the name of Musgrove — then my brethren, let it go. Shout for Mr. Harry Musgrove not in alcoholic drinks— But proclaim with voice exalted what the population thinks Of the man with pious principles who organised a scheme To revolutionise us with a moral cricket team. In the morning he would dress them in their little suits of clothes, He’d apply a pockethandkerchief to every little nose ; He would wash their shining faces, and he’d comb their pretty hair, And set each one down to breakfast in his own exclusive chair, Then he’d slice thebread_and butter, and he’d help the ample jug, Of diluted milk and water into every fellow’s mug— How their hearts would heat with rapture, how their bright blue eyes would gleam— They were very hearty eaters, Mr. Musgrove’s moral team. Then, the cheerful meal completed, to the cricket-ground they’d go. Hand in hand, all linked together, for they laved each other so. There was not a single one of them would see another stuck, And if one had got'a lolly, all the rest would get a suck. It was beautiful to see them as they passed along their way, Like a Sunday-school excursion, bound to Hampstead for the day, So ecstatic were their faces, and:sojoyous did they seem, For they all were young and innocent in Musgrove’s moral team. Then, the quiet happy evenings, when the hard fought match was done, And the team at home assembled for a quiet bit of fun ; While on comfortablej sofas I they reclined their weary limbs, Mr. Musgrove sang them solos out of Sankey’s sacred hymns. Till, when 9 o’ clock was striking, and the long, long day had sped, He would come with kind anxiety and tuck them into bed. And he’d leave them, confidently, 1sleeping ’neath the moon’s pale beam, For he knew the angels watched^them—Mr. Musgrove’s moral team. I n the first blush of the performance, it was thought by many that McKibbin’s performance in taking fifteen out of twenty wickets for New South Wales against South Australia, was a best for the Adelaide Oval. A little reflection showed that George Giffen had gone one better in 1891, and two better in 1886. In the earlier year he took seventeen Victorian wickets for 201, and in 1891, sixteen, also of Victoria, for 165 runs. When there are records in question in Australian ciioket George G.fftjii is generally there or thereabouts. I t will be the hardest of hard luck if Albert Trott is obliged to be a looker-on throughout the Australian season, or at least, the greater part of it. This was not at all unlikely at the commencement of the year. He was then still suffering considerable pain from the strain he received, and his medical adviser had strongly urged him not to attempt to play again during the present season. (ffoiTt.Sjpontience. RETURN MATCHES. To the Editor of C ricket . S ir , —Everyone must have read with interest the contribution which appeared in the January issue of Cneket under the head­ ing “ Between the Innings,” particularly that portion of it which had reference to the county matches of the forthcoming season. There are few who will not share the writer’s regret that circumstances preclude a complete series of games from being arranged. Under existing conditions such a consummation is palpably impossible, but the question 1 would like to ask is whether some of our counties might not increase the list of their opponents by jcducing the number of return matches ? If this could be done, several new and most interesting games would be witnessed, and we should be a step nearer the millennium of county cricket than we are at present. In the following scheme I have only added two games to Leicestershire’s card, the matches of the other thirteen counties remaining the same in point of number, as have actually been arranged for 1897 :— Surrey, Yorkshire and Lancashire to play the other thirteen counties twice. Middlesex, Somerset, Notts, Essex, Derby and Leicester to each play Surrey, Yorkshire and Lancashire twice , and the other ten counties once . Sussex to play Surrey, Yorkshire, Lanca­ shire, Kent, Hants, Warwick and Gloucester twice, and the other six counties once. Kent to play Surrey, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Sussex and Gloucester twice , and the other eight counties once. Gloucestershire to play Surrey, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Kent and Sussex twice, and the other eight counties once. Hants to play Surrey, Yorkshire, Lanca­ shire, Sussex and Warwick twice, and the other eight counties once. Warwick to play Surrey, Yorkshire, Lanca­ shire, Hants and Sussex twice, and the other eight counties once. Surely the new fixtures would more than condensate for the abandoned ‘ ‘ return ’ ’ matches, and the impetus given to the recently promoted shires would be very great. Where two counties meet but once in a season each would alternately receive the fixture as a “ home” game ; thus Middlesex v. Derby­ shire might be played at Lord’s in 1898 and at Derby in 1899. There would be a constant and interesting variety in the “ home” fixtures, and last but not least, every county would be able toplay all the others. Thanking you in anticipation,—Your obedient servant, J. B. PAYNE. Great George St., Harrogate, February 20th, 1897. N E X T ISSUE, THU R SD A Y , MARCH 25.