Cricket 1898

46 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OE THE GAME. M a r c h 31, 1898. PROMOTERS AN D P LAYER S . From the Australasian. The great question of expenses is being very keenly discussed in Adelaide. They take the far-seeing view that if Australian amateurs are to be held down to expenses, or anything like it—and that contention has been advanced by some of the pro­ moters—the fate of Australia is to become simply a nursery for English county cricket. All our professionals have gone or are going, Trott, Roche, and O’Hallo- ran—every man whose success justifies the step, and who has found out that professionals are paid by the pound in England and by the crown in Australia. Sydney can offer Kelly, the wicket­ keeper they have wanted for years, nothing much better than pick and shovel work at labourer’s wages ; and with two English counties offering him an engage­ ment I don’t see how Sydney can expect to keep him much longer—unless they are willing to do something for cricketers as well as cricket. Jones fully realises his folly in not having stayed in England, where the rule as regards payment of amateurs is relaxed every fime it is con­ venient to do so. Jones himself was to have played as an amateur with Sussex, Perris played as an amateur with Glou­ cester, and as keen a sportsman as the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton has publicly justi­ fied such a step. Will the rising amateurs to-day—the men who have to work for their living—stay with us while there is such temptation of a pleasant life else­ where ? That is the question many lovers of cricket are asking, and which will become more urgent every year as new fields for cricket open up in South Africa and India. During a chat, a leading Australian pointed out to me that Aus­ tralian Eleven tours are the one induce­ ment to representative Australians to stick to their own country, and they are independent enterprises, for the success of which the players thank no one but themselves. Even then only two men have really saved money from Australian tours in England. Thus, while our leading grounds are being enlarged and made more magnificent every year, little is being done for the cricketers, who are the first impulse in all progress of this kind. It is an open secret that Jim Phillips has come commissioned on this trip to look out for promising recruits, and that he has his eye on two men at least. This is the big question of the near future, and one or two Australians who will command more attention than George Giffen will have a word to say on it when this tournament is over. Two points of interest I have learned in Ade­ laide on this much-discussed question of terms—(1) That the Australians offered at the outset to take a percentage of the takings, and so succeed or fail with the promoters. (2) That it was not with the consent of the promoters, but very much to their regret, that their terms with .the Australians were made public. CUR IOS IT IES OF 1897. ADDITIONS. May 13. In a two-day’s match between Ootacumund and Madras, the captain of the former closed his innings twice in one day. May 21. H. C. Stewart made his first century in first-class cricket, viz., 142. May 24. Playing for Sussex against Cam­ bridge University Bland took 14 wickets for 72 runs. May 27. In the first innings of Yorkshire v. Cambridge University Jackson and Tunnicliffe made 85 out of a total of 100. June 17. For Philadelphians v. Sussex J. B. King took 7 wickets for 13 runs, the whole side being out for 49. June 28. Roberts took six wickets for 21 runs for Gloucestershire v. Somerset. July 24. In the match, Old Citizens v. Bexley, the Old boys won the match by disposing of the last of their opponents with the last ball of the last over, as a clock in an adjacent church tower was striking seven, the hour of drawing stumps. Aug. 13. W. G. Grace made 131 and took 8 wickets for 58 for Gloucestershire v. Notts. Aug. 14. Against Surrey and Warwickshire all the Hants team had to bowl. Surrey made 579 and Warwickshire 475. Aug. 15. Bland took 100 wickets in his first season in first-class cricket. 6d. The Times calls the W IN D S O R M A G A Z IN E “A Miracle of Cheapness.” THE APRIL 6 d . WINDSOR MAGAZINE CONTAINS A BRILLIANT ARTICLE ON “ THE WAR OFFICE” JENNIE BAXTER, Journalist. A T h r illin g In sta lm en t o f “ K R O N S T The Fine Serial by MAX PEMBERTON. SEVEN SPLENDID STORIES. Illustrated by A . F orestier , R obert S auber , & c . And many other attractive features. THE WINDSOR MAGAZINE HAS ECLIPSED EVERY OTHER S IX P E N N Y M A G A Z IN E BY BEING B I G G E R , B R I G H T E R , B E T T E R . TRY i Z Z G Z J G t REVOLUTION IN jCigarette Paper j Books ] EACH LEAF READY TO HAND FOR USE. A T A L L TOBACCO N ISTS. ^ | H. GRADIDGE, PATENTEE AND SOLE MAKER OF THE CELEBRATED “ IMPERIAL DRIVER BAT.” Patent No. 27,536. Patent No. 27,536. Used by Prince Ranjitsinhji, A. C. MacLaren, Esq., N. F. Druce, Esq., F. S. Jackson, Esq., A. J. Webbe, Esq., and all the leading Players in the Kingdom. Factory : ARTILLERY PLACE, WOOLWICH, S .E.