Cricket 1898

“ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.” — Byron, w o . 4 8 9 . voi. xvn. THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1898. f b i c e a d . CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. MR. P. F. WARNER . When Mr. Warner first began to play for Middlesex he was known to be a sound and painstaking batsman, but few people guessed that he would develop into one of the best men ever turned out by the county. He improves every year; and there is no man in England who is more likely to keep up his end, especially when the wicket is in favour of the bowler. He was born in the West Indies, but cam? to England at a very early age, and in course of time went to Rugby, where he was in the school eleven in 1889, 1890, 1891, arid was captain in 1892. During his last term at Rugby he was unfortunate enough to get the influenza., which again attacked him during his first year at Oxford, so that he had no chance of getting into the eleven. In 1894 he only just missed his “ blue” ; but in the follow ing two years he was in the eleven. For three years he was captain of the Oriel X L , and during that time his team did not lose a single match. He first began to play for Middlesex in August, 1894, making his debut at Taunton; he had previously played for the second X I . Colts against Kent second, and made a fine score. Iu first-class cricket his highest score was 176 for Middlesex against Notts ; he would probably have reached the second hundred if he had not, in his haste, tried to mow Guttridge to square leg. Mr. Warner has done a great deal to encourage cricket in the West Indies, where his brother, who has just come to England on a visit, is one of the maiu- stays of the game. In reply to a question asto the possibilities of aWest Indian team coming to England, Mr. Warner said:— “ There is some talk of their com ing over if a team comes it ought to play against the first-class counties, for various reasons. People of fen seem to think that all West Indian cricketers are colourel, but is many matches we only played against white men. When the niggers plav, they play as professionals. The West Indians would be too strong for the minor counties; it would be of very little use if here in 1900. I am quite convinced that MB. P» F. W ABKER. ( From a Photo by Hawkins & Co., Brighton.) they beat them easily, and as for playing against ordinary clubs (as some teams which have visited England have done), it would be, I think, a vast mistake. If, on the other hand, they play against first-class counties, I believe that they will give a very good account of themselves, and even if they don’t, they will gain a very great deal of experience which will be useful to them in every way. They ought not to attempt to try an extended tour; they should play matches in July and August. And it would be distinctly advisable for the team to arrive in England a fortnight or so before the matches begin, in order to give plenty of time for practice, and also, which I consider of the utmost importance, to have an opportunity of seeing a first-class match or two before the tour begins.” “ Y ou think, then, that the team will be strong p” “ Yes. I should say that they are as strongasthePhila- delphians, more especially in bow ling—the Philadelphians have much better batting — this is providing that they biin g the ‘ blacks.’ I f they do not, they had far better remain at home. But as the colour question in the West Indies is non-existent, the blacks would be certain to come. They are renlly black — in fact, niggers. But they are as keen about cricket as it is possible to be, and they can bow l exceedingly well, not to say fast. It is a pity that some of them cannot bow l slow, for this is the weak point in West Indian cricket, and beyond a doubt slow bowlers ought to be en­ couraged over there in every possible way. There was one little man that we met—he did not play in the matches— who might have studied Mead for weeks, so exactly does he follow him in style. He can make the ball break either way a lot, and he certainly ought to train on. W icket- keeping is not studied as much as it ought to be. Men will take Cumberbatch and Wood on any wicket, standing about four yards back, and never miss a ball or a catch, but they cannot stand up to take them. But allowing for these drawbacks, I still think that if a team comes it should only play first-c?ass cricket. It is one of the objects o f first-class cricketers to en­ courage cricket in the Colonies, and even