Cricket 1898

16 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J a n . 27, 1898. I wish members to give some points which I have left out, the last point which 1 may say is this, that you may go to play another country and if you can conquer those of that place you will have great fame and I will even be writ­ ten on newspapers that members of such and such a place have defeated members of such and such a place in playing cricket, you will then be very much glad of having such a great famous. You all know that fame is one of the great and nice things. I have no more points to say myself as I don’t know much of cricket. I always see it when it is played by gentlemen. Before I conclude my paper I may explain the word cricket to some of our members, it means ball. The remarks of the worthy opener of the debate are certainly deserving of more than passing notice when we think of the vexed quesiion existing at the present time respecting the pay of professionals, and the expenses of the amateur cricketer. It will be observed that the first reason which he adduces on behalf of the pursuit of cricket is the distinctly sordid and, of course (to all English players, at any rate) incorrect one of money-making. I hardly fancy, however, that any money thus earned now comes from “ those you have defeated,” though in the days of our grandfathers, matches at cricket for high stakes were quite the usual thing. I certainly agree with the proposer that it is “ nice to play the game ” ; but his remarks anent the “ jeopardy ” of cricket are scarcely so correct, for per­ sonally I hold with George Lohmann, that “ cricket is the safest game” of our many and various English sports. What he says concerning the “ momentous and advantageous ” benefits accruing from the exercise of the game, I also agree with; but I fail to distinguish between the ‘ ‘ in­ geniousness ” and “ ingenuity ” of its practice, and what he means by “ standing in the inter-columniation ” quite passetn my knowledge. His next words, however, are worthy special note, and show that the wonderiul influence exerted by the press is duly appreciated by the native mind ; and that the notion of fame as achieved by news­ paper reports of one’s doings, is very much the same among “ all sorts and conditions of men.” His naive confession that his knowledge of the game is almost entirely confined to seeing it played, I would respectfully commend to the notice of many a cricket critic and scribe, while his definition of the word itself is epigram­ matic in briefness, if not very clear in its import. 1 now pass on from Mr. Uianile’s view’s on the subject to those of his opposer in the debate :— “ Mr. Chairman, ladies, and gentlemen, the subject for to­ night is a debate between Mr. Ulanile and myself. The question stands in this way : Is it right to play cricket or no ? I have claimed the side of its not being right. Now, Mr. Chairman and gentle­ men, this subject is rather too much beyond what 1 can think of, nevertheless, I’il try to plead for the side I have taken. Well, I say that playing cricket is not right —why? because it is disadvan­ tageous to man because even when he has a job he will not be able to do it through the playing of cricket. It has many dangers with which you meet during the game. These are the dangers : the bowler in trying to bowl right into the wickets, he misses his mark, and heads the player on his head or any other dangerous place of the body, and that would let him perhaps faint or get sick suddenly. That is seldom, when the cricketers are not well trained. Generally when the game is at its highest degree, two, or at least a company, begin to quarrel about the runs, and so begin to fight, and it may happen that one or two will get very much hurt, and also lay down in bed for two or three days. These are the exceptions or points I can give or plead with on my side. Remain­ ing yours truly, H. A. Mgijima.” It will be observed that Mr. Mgijima bases his objections mainly upon two points. Firstly, with regard to the neglect which is occasioned to the cricketer’s usual occupation by too great indulgence in the pastime ; and, secondly, with regard to the dangers incurred either in the practice of the game itself, or from the quarrels which may arise through too eager partianship in the same. With regard to the former objection he certainly hi's the right nail on the head, for it is a most important argument in favour of the higher payment of the professional cricketer, that in the pursuit of the game he must necessarily neglect his ordinary and probably more certain means of livelihood. With reference to the dangers incurred in playing cricket, I cinnot but think that the opposer is arguing from a fallacy when he gravely states that “ it is seldom accidents occur when the players are not well trained.” His views as to the players and spectators quarelliug about the runs would once upon a time not have been very far-fetched; but I trust that in these days of the higher education of the masses, even our village clubs are becoming more civilized than to have recourse to the "v i et armia” method of settling a dispute, which was not un­ known when Dingley Dell used to play All Muggleton. * This article originally appeared in the Colston’s Endowed School (Stapleton, near Bristol) Magazine, of which Mr. Hodges is editor. SURREY COUNTY C.C. The following are the revised fixtures for 1898:— MAY. 16 - Leyton, v. Essex. 19—Oval. v. Derbyshire. ‘23—Birmingham, v. Warwickshire. 26—Oval, v. Gloucestershire. 30—Nottingham, v Notts. 30—Oval, Surrey (2) v. Lancashire (2). JUNE. 2—Leicester, v. Leicestershire. 2—Oval, Surrey (2) v. Northumberland. 6—Bradford, v. Yorkshire. 6—Oval, Surrey (2) v. Glamorganshire. 9—Cambridge, v. Cambridge University. 9—Oval, Surrey (2) v. Northants. 13—Oval, Gentlemen v. Players. 16—Manchester, v. Lancashire. 20—Oval, v. Oxford University. 23-Oval, v. Middlesex. 27—Oval, v. Somersetshire. JULY. 7—Portsmouth, v. Hants. 11—Brighton, v. Sussex. 11—Oval, Surrey (2) v. Wiltshire. 14—Oval, v. Leicestershire. 15—Northampton, Surrey (2) v. Northants. 21—Oval, v. Hants. 25—Blackheath, v. Kent. 28—Oval, v. Essex. AUGUST. 1—Oval, v. Notts. 1 -Manchester, Surrey (2) v. Lancashire (2). 3—Sunderland, Surrey (2) v. Durham. 4—Oval, v. Yorkshire. 5—Newcastle, Surrey (2) v. Northumberland. 8—Lord’s, v. Middlesex. 8—Oval, Surrey (2) v. Durham. 10—Worcester, Surrey (2) v. Worcestershire. 11—Oval, v. Sussex. 12— Cardiff, Surrey (2) v. Glamorganshire. 15—Oval, v. Kent. 18 - Oval, v. Lancashire. 22—Clifton, v. Gloucestershire. 22—Oval, Surrey (2) v. Worcestershire. 25—Taunton, v. Somersetshire. 26—Swindon, Surrey (2) v. Wiltshire. 29—Derby, v. Derbyshire. SEPTEMBER. 1—Oval, v. Warwickshire. h o t e l s F R E Q U E N T E D BY C R IC K E T E R S . . Announcements are inserted in this column at a charge of 21s. per annum. Half-inch space, 50*. per annum. Each Hotel inserting an Advertisement trill receive a copy of the paper, by post , free o f charge. BIRMINGHAM. THE GRAND HOTEL. Centrally situated. 300 rooms. All modem luxuries. Equal to best London Hotels. P ress N o tice s.— Best Hotel outside London. Ranks amongst the best Hotels in the country. Joseph Adams, Manager. SOUTHAMPTON. DAVIS’S HOTEL Facing Station. F. B e n n e tt, Proprietor. Now Ready. 1/= ; post free, 1/3. Cloth, 2 / = ; post free, 2 /3 . JOHN W ISDE IM ’S Cricketers’ Almanack FOR 1898. Edited by SYDNEY H. PARDON. Contains Full Scores and Bowling Analy­ sis of all FIRST CLASS Cricket played in 1897. Special Photographs of J. E. Mason, N. F. Druce, G. L. Je?sop, W. R. Cuttell and F. G. Bull, and all useful information. 21, Cranbourn Street, LONDON, W .C. A LL CRICKETERS should possess a copy of “ Cricket’s Year Book.” Price sixpence. Con­ taining portraits of all the celebrities for the year in addition to a mass of useful information. Copies can be had of all the railway bookstalls, newsagents, or (sevenpence by post) from Cricket Office, 168, Upper Thames Street, E.C. Printed for the Proprietor by M essrs. M e b b itt & H a tch e s , L td ., 167, 168, and 169, Upper Thames Street, London, E.C., January 27th, 1898.