Cricket 1899

414 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF TIIE GAME. S e p t . 14, 1899. Champain and G. L Jessop. In +bis connection it may be of interest to note that Messrs. C. B. Fry and P. H . Latham, at present colleagues in the Sussex Eleven, were the respective Oxford and Cambridge captains in 1894. Anglo- Canadian’s team of Novi Homines con­ tains two who appeared in first-class cricket last year— Young and Vine. E. R. Wilson and Blythe might prove very good substitutes. The amended eleven would read as follows: Llewellyn (Hants), Bernard (Somerset), W . M . Turner (Essex). Arnold (Worcester) Knox (Sur­ rey), Pretty (Surrey), Miller (Surrey), Moon (Middlesex), Sharp (Lancashire), E . It. Wilson (Yorkshire). Blythe (Kent). Other Novi Homines to be reckoned with are: H . B. Richardson (Surrey). Du Boulay (Kent) Spooner, Ainsworth, A. H .Hornby (Lancashire), Groves (Notts), Stedman (Surrey), Pollitt (Yorkshire). The following are some of the latest hundreds:— SEPTEMBER. 9. G . L . J fsso p , K kht of E n g lan d v . H omk C ounties ...................................................................... IOC* 9. H .B . Bayman, Bampstead v. Malden Wan­ derers ...................................... ..................190 9. T. A. D. Bevington, Southgate v. Mr. E. White’s X I....................................................... 10' * Signifies not out. ANSWERS t o c o r r e s p o n d e n t s . "W. L.—Have forwarded your letter to Mr. Ashley- Cooper, who is at present away. C h a r le s B ush (Sydney. N 8.W.) —Most certainly not. You are proba’bly thinking of the scene in Syd­ ney during tbe tour of Lord Harris’ team in 3878 79, when the spectators rushed rn the field after Mr. Murdoch had leen given run out >y the umpire. The game was postponed until the next day. CRICKETER AND FOOTBALLER TOO. I ’d reckoned his height at five feet eight, And his weight at twelve store two. With an athlete’s form—his shoulders square, His head well set, and close cropped hair— He looks like a man, who his part can hear At cricket and foothall too. At the winter game he has earned his fame, With the good old claret and hlue ; There’s no greater pet ’mong the sporting set, No “ forward” more certain a goal to get, No harder trier on a side, you may het, Than the Villa captain true. Try! Jack tries for all he’s worth. He’s a worker the whole game through. Whether leading his famous Villan hand, Or stopping a rot in Eoster-land, None can deny he’s a champion grand At cricket and football too. Jack, here’s a health to all sporting men ! A sportsman sound are you— Not one of the “ finnicking,” nervous hand, Waiting for others to make a stand, But leading the way with a master-hand At cricket and foothall too. E. B ond in the Stamford Post. THE INCOGN ITI CLUB IN 1899. By “ R. T.” This well-known wandering club, after a heavy and bustling season, commencing the first week in May, finished up at the beginning of September— and that too with a win— at Eastbourne. When I relate that they have during this period got through a list of over fifty fixtures— most of them two-day matches— that had been capitally arranged by their courteous hon. sec. (Sir William Russell), it will be seen that though the “ Incogs ” have done much grass treading during this “ I ’ll warm yer ” summer, they have not been sufficiently stationary to let it grow under their feet. They have in their roamings, as usual, had contests with many of the leading clubs, and had matches also at the military centres of Sandhurst, Woolwich, Aldershot, Col­ chester, Shoeburyness, and Portsmouth; with tours to Oxford, the Public Schools, tbe Midlands, Channel Islands, Eastern Counties, and the far West and South of England, besides paying special visits to the charming residences of Sir Henry Gooch, at Clewer Park; Baron de Worms, at Egham ; Sydney Platt, at War­ grave ; and W . H . Laverton, at Westbury, where they were warmly welcomed, and after doing battle with their “ Elevens” most hospitably entertained; as they were also at Bury St. Edmunds by their old friend and member E . W . Lake— the “ Funnel ” being as energetic as ever, and long may he be so. As the tours were handled by managers of known geniality — such as Sir William Russell, L. E. G. Abney, W . P. Carpmael, J. E . Raven, Capt. P. C. W . Trevor, E. E . Feltham, and Capt. F . Fleming— all was serene, although their serenity was at times sorely tried by what is known as ‘ ‘ chuck­ ing,” when comforted and thinking they had got their best teams together. Cricket has weekly given an account of the matches as they proceeded, and it may now be stated, in summing-up, that the “ Incogs” have had a most satisfactory season— that is to say, that the wins are far in front of the losses, which means a lot when taken into consideration that wandering clubs have mostly to meet strongly organised local teams, with a “ pro.” or two occasionally secured for the occasion. This success will again be glad­ some news to Sir Augustus Hemming— their late hon. sec., who built up this club — now resident in Jamaica as Governor-Gen eral, and where His Excellency has shown during the past season that he still retains some of his wonted form. I well recollect when giving a Bketch— for “ Pavilion Gossip” — of the “ send-off” that the “ Incogs ” and friends gave him at Waterloo Station when he sped forth to try his diplomatic hand in the neighbourhood of Venezuela, as a Governor-General, “ that I expressed my humble opinion that he would en­ deavour in his new home to foster and spread ‘ Our National Game,’ well know­ ing that cricket has done, and is doing , more to cement the friendship and attach­ ment of the Colonials to the mother country, than any other factor or event of which we can boast.” And I fancy that I may now add with confidence that in the untold years to come, when look­ ing round for a “ Colonial Governor,” thatno more suitable or welcomeone could be appointed than a gentleman, who, by his talents, has made his mark as a diplo­ matist, and been known in his early days as a skilful cricketer. Anyhow, the enthusiasm shown to our Colonial visitors leads me to this way of thinking. I will now resume and succintly give those who have spanked the leather about and got the coveted century, and more, namely— R. O. Schwarz, 201, 140 and 128 not out; C. O. Sewell, 137; H . C. L . Tindall, 137 ; A . B. Voutes, 124 and 107; J. Chapman, 120 not ou t; H . S. Bark- worth, 116; Delme-Radcliffe, 105 and 105 not out; W . E . Harrison, 104; P. F. Hadow, 107 ; N. O. Tagart, 101 ; Major C. E . Orman, 100; H . T . Stanley, 100; and F . G. J. Ford, 101 not out. Whilst amongst those also that have knocked up over fifty runs, and in some instances been aggravatingly near to the century when dismissed, are Major C. E . Orman, A . Conan Doyle, H . F. Fox, P. F. Hadow, Capt. F. Fleming, E. H. Berridge, Delme-Radcliffe, C. J. Richards, G. E . Winter, F . H . Latham, and A . G. Archer. As regards the bowling depart­ ment, the most prominent operators have been L. E. G. Abney, C. S. Cobbold (the Incog, doctor), Cipt. Fleming, R. O. Schwarz, A. G. Femie, L. C. R. Thring, W . F. Brown, A . Conan Doyle, J. A. Berners (also a brilliant field), Sir W . Russell, and Capt. P. C. Trevor, whose insinuating slows worked with marked effect at the Public Schools. Some of the finishes were most exciting—notably at Chiswick, Egham, and Eastbourne, where wins were brought off by brilliant fielding and bowling, Capt. Fleming, Dr. Cobbold, and L. E. G. Abney proving what length and straight trundling will effect in the way of shattering wickets. A . B. Voules and C. G. Winter were most reliable as wicket-keepers, the former showing great form in many matches, and the excellent all-round cricket of Messrs. R. O. Sohwarz, A . Conan Doyle, H . C. L . Tindall, H . T. Stanley, and Capt. Fleming calls for special commendation. And 1 must notify what may be styled a cricket record, in the annals of the Incog­ niti, for at Eastbourne were to be seen Mr. W . Winter with his two sons, G. E. and C. G., playing in the same match— he keeping wicket— and that, too, in a masterly manner. And when it is borne iu mind that he has since 1863—when he first joined the “ Incogs,” and is one of its oldest members— been behind the sticks, acting as a “ snapper” , season after season, for close on forty years, it will at once be allowed that he has set a go that will take some beating, and I am much gratified to know that I have watched him throughout this long spin. In bidding adieu to the season of 1899, it is most pleasing to remember that this famous wandering club will enter into 1900 numerically strong in membership; and as the energetic hon. treasurer (Colonel Ambrose Bircham) looks after the pieces, it is very certain that the ever- cheery and ubiquitous “ Woodcock ” will not make his flights to barren pockets, and will thus land it sound, too; and with this conclusion, my earnest hope and best wishes that the end of the next century will still find the Incogniti Club making its roamings, and with the sauie popularity as it has done for the past thirty-eight years; and that Cricket then, as now, will be recording also its doings.