Cricket 1898

306 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J uly 28, 1898. more or less. Even the best English counties have had terribly unsuccessful seasons sometimes, and if they cannot find the necessary recruits from their countless nurseries, what can be expected of Scottish Clubs, when only a small percentage of the youth of the country play the game—for the simple reason that they have not the time nor the oppor­ tunity ? We are perfectly satisfied that all our leading clubs, save the one or two that have had the misfortunes, great or small, which come in the ordinary course, are well pleased with their work o f the season.” The latest Ranji bulletin is to the effect that the Prince has promised to play for the Maharajah of Patiala’s team during Christmas time. Several correspondents, among whom is Mr. W . Winter, who has a son in the Uppingham X L , have kindly pointed out that Mr. A. E. Hind is an old Uppinghamian, andnotanoldMarlburian. In last week’s “ Gossip ” it was stated that Alec Watson, while he was coaching at Marlborough, was struck b y the play of Mr. Hind, which was perfectly true. But I had not anticipated that my correspondents would conclude that W at­ son was actually coaching Mr. Hind. The old Uppinghamian was on a visit to play a match. Messrs. Boosey & Co., 295, Regent Street, S.W. have just published a cricket song, entitled “ Cricket.” It is dedicated to I Zingari, and the cover is in the colours of that famous Club. The music, which is very bright and pleasing, is b y Alfred Scott Gatty. On the subject of curling the ball in the air, a representative of the Sydney Referee interviewed M . A. Noble, whose replies are very interesting, although they are tantalisingly insufficient, because the famous bowler is unable, or unwilling, to give any explanation of “ how and why it is done.” The remarks made by Noble may be summed up as follow s:— “ Prior to this season I had no idea I could curve the hall. I used to do it without knowing that I did do so. It often occurred to me whilst howling on our perfect wickets that against the present class of batsmen it was necessary, in order to get them out, to make the ball do something beyond the ordinary break. Accordingly, at practice, I tried all sorts of dodges. Early this season, ■while bowling at the nets, two or three on­ lookers were standing behind. One of them spoke to me about my having curved the ball. Another, an American baseballer, told Mr. James Searle, of Redfern, about it, and the latter mentioned the matter to me. Up to that time I was not aware of my ability to turn the ball in the air. Since, however, by regular practice, I have developed the curl. It is not necessary that there should be a wind. It is most difficult when the wind is with you, but even then, with a strong wind blowing behind you, it is possible to turn the hall. When blowing side on from the right, the wind renders the greatest assistance. Ii is then much easier to curve the ball. I can only curl from the leg. But the beauty of it is that the action in getting this curl on also makes the ball break from the off. The ball curls one way, and after pitching, breaks back in the opposite direction.” A proposal by. Mr. Harry Luff to appeal to the public on bahalf of the Cricketers’ Benevolent Fund Society was supported by Lord Harris at the annual meeting. Lord Harris said that he felt that the public would be willing to help deserving men disabled in the course of their professional employment. Next year the Australians would ba here, and he thought an appeal might be made on behalf of the society, and that the M.C.C. Committee might be approached to further the appeal. The motion was carried. The payment for sickness was nearly £100 more than in the previous year. The Barbados ‘ ‘ Cricketers’ Annual ’ ’ for 1897-98 has just reached me. It is edited and compiled b y Mr. J. Wynfred Gibbons, and is a complete record of the game in the island. The match between Kent andMiddlesex, which was postponed from July 11, on account of the death of Mr. I. D . Walker, is to take place at Catford, on August 29, 30 and 31. I t is feared that Mr. Ellison’s death may have an unfortunate effect upon Yorkshire cricket, says the Daily Telegraph, the danger lying in local rivalries. There is a strong wish in some directions to shift the headquarters of the county club from Sheffield to Leeds, but whether desirable or not, such a change could not be brought about without a great deal of friction and heartburning. The Sheffield people in the middle of the sixties made the County Club, and it is not in the least degree likely that they will, without a struggle, forfeit the position they have held so long. It is to be hoped that, with Yorkshire doing such great things in the field, dissension will be avoided, but a very prominent member of the eleven confessed the other day that he felt a little uneasy as to the immediate future. It is not for people outside Yorkshire to decide between the claims of different towns, but it is permissible to point out that tradition counts for a great deal at cricket, and that, while the Headingley ground at Leeds is merely a thing of yesterday, Bramall Lane has been associated with numberless triumphs of the Yorkshire eleven. Throughout the long innings of Surrey against Hampshire at the Oval, Mr. R ob­ son at the wicket, did not make a mistake, and allowed not a single bye. Mr. C. W reford Brown, who played for Gloucestershire v. Notts last week and took two wickets for 26 runs, is the old International and Corinthian footballer. It was not his first appearance in county cricket. Mr. E. A. English, whose plucky bat­ ting at the crisis enabled Hampshire to make such a creditable finish at the Oval on Saturday, did not come as a revelation to the Surrey authorities. On the contrary, he has been long and actively known in connection with Surrey cricket. The Surrey Club elevens which visited Dork­ ing a few years back had particular reason to remember him, as he rarely failed to score heavily against them. Nor was this his debut in first-class cricket, as some seem to have thought. He represented Hants against Lancashire, at Manchester, on June 2, 3 and 4, but had little chance, as, indeed, only ten wickets fell in the match. Oddly, it was as much for his bow ling as it was his batting that he was played at the Oval last week, so at least, I am told. Whatever may be the all-round merits of this year’s Surrey eleven, their capaci­ ties for scoring on run-getting wickets are beyond question. In proof, the follow ing figures showing their doings at at the Oval this season up to date, will suffice :— May 26 ... v. Gloucestershire ... 500 ... 4 wickets June 20 ... v. Oxford University 424 ... 10 „ „ 23 ... v. Middlesex .......... 468 ... 10 ,,. ,, 30 ... v. Somersetshire ... 468 ... 11 „ July 14 ... v. Leicestershire........ . 409 ... 10 „ „ 21 ... v. Hampshire ... ... 437 ... 10 ,, This gives an aggregate of 2,706 runs for fifty-five wickets, an average of 49 20, the most practical testimony to the care Apted expends over Surrey’s pitch. O fficia l intimation has been received by Mr.C. W . Alcock, who has been again asked to arrange their programme that the Melbourne Cricket Club has decided to send the Australian team, which is to visit England next summer home, under its auspices. This will remove any doubts that may have existed as to the satisfactory arrangements on the other side. A ll the leading Australian batsmen had already signified their readiness to make the trip under the management of the Melbourne C.C. English cricketers who have visited Australia will one and all be glad to hear that Mr. B. J. Wardill the popular secretary of M .C.C. will come as manager. M r . H. T. S m ith , an active member of the Surrey executive in the seventies, went over to the great majority on Sunday last. A good business man, he was of material service to the adminis­ tration of Surrey cricket at a time when the County Club was a much less pre­ tentious concern than it is just now, and its affairs wanted very careful manage­ ment. One of his sons, W. Braxton Smith, the well-known singer, was considerably above the average of ordin­ ary amateurs as a fast bowler. A t one time there seemed just a chance that he might have been useful to his county. Mr. Smith died on his sixtieth birthday. I f the rumour that Brockwell and J. T. Hearne are both going out to India this winter, to Patiala, proves correct, the Maharajah’s cricket team will be a warmer side than ever. Hearne, as everyone knows, was not able to go last winter ow ing to his trip to Australia with Mr. Stoddart’s team, and Brockwell took his place. The Maharajah seems to