Cricket 1898

A p r il 14, 1868 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 61 28. Hampton Wick, v. St. Margaret’s* 30. Hampton Wick, v. Barnes 80. Worcester Park, v. Cuddington* 31. Hampton Wick, v. M.C.C. JUNE. 2. Hampton Wick, v. Boston Park 4. Hampton Wick, v. Oriel 4. Addlestone, v. St. George’s College* 8. Cranleigh, v. Cranleigh Hchool (H.L.’s XI.) 11. East Molesey, v. East Molesey 11. Hampton Wick, v. East Molesey* 14. Hampton Wick, v. Erratics 15. Hampton Wick, y . Norbury 18. Hampton Wick, v. Heathfield 18. Richmond, v. G.P.O.* 22. Hampton Wick, v. Pallingswick 25. Hampton Wick, v. St. Margaret’s 25. Wimbledon, v. King’s College School* 29. Hampton Wick, v. University College School* JULY. 2. Hampton Wick, v. Oriel 2. Malden, v. Malden Wanderers (2)* 5. Acton, v. Pallingswick 7. Addiscombe, v. Addiscorabe 9. Hampton Wick, v. Walton 9. Mitcham, v. Mitcham* 13. Cranleigh, v. Cranleigh School 16. Addlestone, v. Addlestone 16. Hampton Wick, v. Sutton* 20. Hampton Wick, v. South Hampstead 23. Hampton Wick, v. London County Council 23. Strawberry Hill, v. Waldegrave Park* 58. Croydon, v. Croydon 30. pampton Wick, v. Heathfield 30. St. Margaret’s, v. St. Margaret’s* AUGUST. 1. Hampton Wick, v. Grecians 1. Worcester Park, v. Cuddington* 2. Hampton Wick, v. Waldegrave Park 3. Hampstead, v. Hampstead 6. Hampton Wick, v. Sutton 6. Sutton, v. Sutton* 13. Hampton Wick, v. G.P.O. 13. Norbury, v. Norbury* 20. Hampton Wick. v. Barnes 20. Strawberry Hill, v. Waldegrave Park* 24. Hampton Wick, v. Hampstead 27. Norbury, v. Norbury 27. Hampton Wick, v. Kingston Hill SEPTEMBER, 3. St. Margaret’s, v. St Magarefs 3. Hampton iVick, v. Barnes* 10. Hampton Wick, v. Thames Ditton 10. Thames Ditton, v. Thames Ditton* 17. Hampton Wick, Club Match (1st XI. v. Next XV III.) * These are “ A ” fixtures. An excellent list of matches has been arranged by Mr. Llewellyn Hutchinson, the honorary secretary of the N o n d e ­ s c r ip t s , who go on tour at the end of July, when they play five tw o-day and two whole-day matches against very strong Devonshire clubs. APRIL. 30. Norwood Green, v. Norwood Green MAY. 2. Richmond, v. Richmond 7. East Acton, v. Pallingswick 14. Broxboume, v. Bioxlourne 21. Ealing, v. Ealing 28. Keigate, v. lleigate Hill 30. Ewell, v. Ewell JUNE. 4. Southgate, v. Southeate 11. Woodford, v. Woodford Wells 18. Chelmsford, v. Chelmsford 25. Uxbridge, v. Uxbridge JULY. 2. Hampstead, v. Hampstead 9. East Acton, v. Pdllingswick 16. Elstree, v. Elstree Masters 23. Eltham, v. Eltham 27. Wellington, v. Wellington 28. Taunton, v. Taunton 29 and 30. South Molton, v. J. B. Challen’s XI.* AUGUST. 1 and 2. Instow, v. North Devon* 3 and 4. Barnstaple, v. F. Townsend’s XI.* 5 and 6. Bideford, v. Bideford* 8 and 9. Instow, v. North Devon* •Two day matches. Like Hampton Wick, T h a m e s D i t t o n h*s a programme of matches extending from April 23 to September 17 inclusive. But in point of work the latter will have a much easier time of it. All told, Thames Ditton’s list only includes 26 fixtures, and, in fact, outside Saturdays and the two Bank Holidays, the only engagements are with Surrey Club and Ground on June 21, and with Epsom on July 27. Most of the principal Surrey clubs are to be found on the card. Thames Ditton is one of the oldest clubs in outer London. It dates, in fact, from 1834. 1 st XI.—APRIL. 23. Giggs Hill, v. Stoics 30. Giggs Hill, v. Malden Wanderers MAY. 7. Esher, v. Esher 14. Giggs Hill, v. Old Scholars 21. St. Margarets, v. St. Ma garets 28. Giggs Hill, v. Oriel 30. Giggs Hill, v. Bellevue JUNE. 4. Cobham, v. Cobham 11. Addlestone, v. Addlestone 18. Molesey. v. Molesey 21. Giegs Bill, v. Surrey Club & Ground 25. Giggs Hill, v. Oriel JULY. 2. Giggs Hill, v. Addltstone 9. Giggs Hill, v. Park Wanderers 16. Giggs Hill, v. Molesey 23. Giggs Hill, v. Heathfield 27. Epsom, v. Epsom 30. Malden, v. Malden Wanderers AUGUST. 1. Giggs Hill, v. London & Westminster Bank 6. Giggs Hill, v. Rochester 13. Giggs Hill, v. Kingston 20. Giggs Hill. v. Bellevue 27. Giggs Hill, v. St. Margarets SEPTEMBER. 3. Giggs Hill, v. Ctbham 10. Bushey Park, v. Hampton Wick 17. Kingston, v. Kingston 2 nd X I.—APRIL. 30. Malden, v. Malden Wandtrers MAY. 21. Giggs Hill, v. Mitcham Wanderers JUNE. 11. Giggs Hil|, v. Weston Green 18. Giggs Hill, v. Molesry 25. Mitcham, v. Mitcham Wanderers JULY. 16. Molesey, v. Molesey 30. Giggs JtLiil, y . Malden Wanderers SEPTEMBER. 3. Weston Green v. Weston Green 10. Giggs Hill, v. Hampton Wick TH E G E N E R A L IN T E R E S T IN C R IC K E T . IS IT REASONABLE AND JUST I­ F IAB LE ? (B y tub R ev . G eorge W alters .) {Continuedfrom page 45.) The game is played in the open air, under the gaze (frequently) of thousands, most of whom follow the incidents and developments of the play with eager interest, with keen discrimination, and with a sp’ ei did impartiality in the giving of applause. A splendid cut by Iredale calls forth a cheer, and when, a second later, it is discovered that Ranji has cleverly stopped the ball and is already returning it to the wicket-keeper, the applause is greater still. Eleven men will make desperate efforts to put out an opponent who defies them and rattles up more thin a hundred runs, but when at last he is caught out, they will join in the applause which greets him as he retires to the pavilion. T|iere may be uncertainty in the gam e; there may be unaccountable failures and lucky suc­ cesses ; there may be lightning changes— as when six for 54 is transformed into seven for 200; the better side may some­ times lose, and the weaker side obtain a fluky v ictory ; there may be doubtful decisions given b y the umpires, and even a suspicion that Jones sometimes bowls a “ no-ball ” ; but—when all has been said that can be said in such direction—it re­ mains a fact that cricket is a healthy, beautiful, interesting, and (almost in­ variably) a straight and honourable game. I have no desire to run down other sports, but, for one moment, compare horse-racing; and can we imagine that such sport would retain more than a mere fraction of its popularity if it were dissociated from betting and gambling p Now, I do not say that there is no betting in regard to cricket; but I do say that there is no comparison between it and horse-racing. The thousands who go to the Association Ground go there to see the game played, and they would speedily resent any suspicion of unfair play. Ti e occasional sounds of disapproval with regard to the umpires’ decisions may— within limits—be useful, as proving that any unfair decision will be brought under the lash of public criticism and condem­ nation. Few people in Australia will say that Phillips did wrong in “ no­ balling ” Jones at Adelaide; what they have felt a disposition to resent is the singling out of that one man when so many English bowlers also “ throw if Jones throws. A ll these disputes, while they need not raise any ill-feeling, serve to keep the general interest not only alive, but very lively ! That general interest, fo r .those who understand the game, is both reasonable and justifiable. For rnjself—if it were possible— I would watch evety important match from start to finish. I would rather sacrifice my annual holiday and see the contests with the English team than miss the cricket and have my holiday. In a general way, I am not a particularly excitable individual; but I must plead guilty to losing my phlegmatic self-con- trol when Gregory back-cuts Richardson for four, when Ranji stops a lightning cut at point, when Jones stops a terrific drive from MacLiren, or when Johnny Briggs whips off the bails with one of his twisters. To me, the interest or beauty o f cricket does not depend merely upon big hits or heavy scores. The bow liug and the fielding have just as much of science and skill as the batting. For one who understands and like3 ttie game, I bodly assert that lack of interest would be unreasonable and lidiculous. Cricket is the English game, and it is gaining favour in America, in India, and in other placer. It is to the credit of Australians that they have chosen this for one of their most favoured forms of recreation. It is no exaggeration to say that the intercolonial cricket matches do more to bind the sympathies of the people of the various colonies than all bickering and snarling of statesmen or politicians. The occasional visits of English teams to Australia, and of Aus­ tralian teams to England, do much to