Cricket 1899

446 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. O ct. 26, 1899. H.H. t h e G a b k w a r of B a r o d a has, says a Rajpootana paper, set apart a sum of 7,000 rs. for presenting to Prince Ranjitsinhji, in recognition of the fame he has won in the world of cricketers. “ W e are enjoying Ranji’s visit im­ mensely,” writes a correspondent from New York. “ I am sorry to say that at present he is ill with a sore throat, but, I believe, intends to play to-day (October 14th) against New York. We are all delighted with the personnel of the English team. They are the finest lot of fellows we ever met. We absolutely love Robson, MacLaren, Stoddart, the Prince, Priestley, Jessop, Woods, and Brann, and they in return seem to like this country of ours.” O n e of the chief features of the Battle of Glencoe on Friday last was the mag­ nificent charge of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, a regiment which numbers among its ranks many fine cricketers. Two of its officers—Captain Mainwaring and Captain Maurice Lowndes—hold the record for the first wicket in South African cricket. Thematch in which the record was made was played at Pieter­ maritzburg, on February 2, 1898, between the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and a Civilian Eleven. The latter went in first and declared with the score 300 for four wickets, in response to which the Fusiliers made 337 for three, Captain Mainwaring (193) and Captain Lowndes (117) putting on 303 before the first wicket fell. It is with regret that I have to add that the name of Captain Lowndes appears in the list of those who were wounded in the gallant charge on Friday last. A t the annual meeting of the Mel­ bourne Cricket Club, on September 9th, the report showed that the number of members was 3,372, and that the revenue for 1898-99 was £8,396. It was stated during the meeting that £101,700 had been spent in making the cricket ground what it is. T h e annual report of the East Mel­ bourne C.C., which won the Victoria Premiership in Pennant matches this spring for the second year in succession, shows that in the matter of finance the club has had a most trying and harassing time, owing to the pressure of bank and trade creditors. Many schemes havebeen devised, and the assistance of the mem­ bers, bank guarantors and others sought to relieve the critical situation. All pro­ jects failed, however, and had it not been for forbearance on the part of the credi­ tors, a crisis would have been inevitable. As it is, hopes are entertained that things may right themselves. It may be pointed out that nearlyall the present outstanding liability was incurred some years ago. Expenses are now eut down to the lowest possible margin, and only actual require­ ments provided for. The record of the first eleven for the last twelve years is, 387 matches played, 193 won, 150 drawn, and only 44 lost. W h e n the East Melbourne C.C. was in its direst straits, Mr. E. B. Manning, the paid secretary, offered in the most sports­ manlike manner to do his work in an honorary capacity. The committee felt obliged to accept his generous offer, but with a view to express their appreciation of his services during the last ten and a half years, they set about raising a fund to present him with a testimonial, which was presented at the annual meeting of the club on September 7th. Mr. Manning is an old Cheltonian. J. T. H e a r n e and Brockwell should by this time be nearing their winter quarters, which have for the last few years been in India. Whether the engagement of these two popular cricketers is the more satisfactory to the Maharajah of Patiala or to the men themselves will be a matter for question. It is certain on the one hand that the Maharajah could certainly not have chosen two better sportsmen from the ranks of cricketers. On the other, no one could wish for a better time of it all round than Brockwell and Hearne unquestionably have at Patiala. As they left London some weeks ago, they should be in India by this time. T h e requirements of military service have taken several of our best cricketers out to fight for the Empire in South Africa. Among thosemost widely known are H.H. Prince Christian Victor, Major Poore, the hero of so many hundreds last summer, A. J. Turner, of Essex, and R. O’H. Livesay, of Kent. There will be plenty of others well to the front in this campaign, and, indeed, there are several prominent cricketers among the defenders of some of the districts at present invested by the Boers. T h e announcement in the last number of Cricket that the English cricket public would have the opportunity of seeing two teams from outlying dependencies of the Empire was, it seems, fully justified. South Africa is to send one, and the West Indies the other, and their presence is so far certain that fixtures are already being arranged for them. But what has become of the projected tour of the Parsees, who postponed the visit they had intended this last summerpresumably until 1900 ? The Indian Press has for the last few months observed a strict silence on the subject. T h e excellent all round cricket shown by the Worcestershire eleven last sum­ mer more than justified the County’s election to the rank of first-class. Though the absence of an Australian team will, in all probability, again raise the number of matches to qualify, Worcestershire should be quite sure of the requisite number. Anyhow, it is stated on the best authority that the committee have promises of two additions to the list for 1900. The programme will for the first time include home andhome fixtureswith |Gloucestershire and Surrey. C r i c k e t e r s not only in England, but in Australia, India, and South Africa as well, will be interested in the announce­ ment that the Surrey Committee have given William Brockwell the choice of any match at the Oval next summer, barring that with Notts on the August Bank Holiday, for his benefit. Brockwell has urged the flying ball with success in many different parts of the Empire, and, what is more, has always in his own person upheld the very best traditions of cricket. No English cricketer has done more to raise the standard of professional cricket. That his benefit may produce a record will be the universal wish of Cricket readers. T a l k i n g of benefit matches reminds me that Richardson’s at the Oval last summer proved fairly successful. The nett result, so it is said, will be an addition of about £1,000 to the banking account of a deserving cricketer. S u r r e y cricket is losing a player who, a few years ago, bade fair to become one of the most useful all-round members of the county. Until his knee went wrong, A. E. Street, a son of the Surrey fast bowler of the seventies, gave every promise of developing into a really fine bat. As it was, his free cricket was of great use to Surrey on many a critical occasion. His acceptance of a permanent engagement with Lord Eglinton in Scot­ land necessitates his retirement from Surrey cricket. He undertakes his new position, it deserves to be stated, with the approval, as well as the best wishes, of the Surrey management. C o m m e n t in g on the victories of Ran­ jitsinhji’s team in the second match against the Gentlemen of Philadelphia, the Public Ledger says :— Had the Britishers’ fielding been anything like their usual work in this department, it is doubtful if the total would have passed the century mark. The whole team, with the possible exception of MacLaren, Jessop, and Llewellyn, went about their work m a list­ less, don’t-care sort of fashion, and they can hardly he blamed, for as one of themput it to the writer, “ We’d have enjoyed the matches muchmore if you chaps had pushed us abit.” In fact, there was little or no in­ terest left in the game, it being merely a question of howmany or few runs the Phila­ delphians would make, and nobody expected the innings’ defeat could by any possibility beaverted. Themistakesmadeby thefielders were almost laughable, Brann and Bosanquet missing catches fromthe bats of Brown and Clark that were ridiculously easy,. Woods completely misjuding a high drive by Clark that could have been captured by almostany­ one, and Bosanquet dropping King at mid- off, although in the last-mentioned casethe ball was travelling very fast. F. E. S m i t h , the left-handed cricketer, who did good service for Surrey for a few years, is, or ought to be, by this time at the Cape to fulfil an engagement there. He left London a few weeks ago in companywith J. Richards, of Warwick­ shire, who is also engaged in South