Cricket 1899

to CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A pril 20, 1899 JUNE. 1. M.C.C. and Ground v. Kent (three days) 5. M.C.C. and Ground v. Australians (three days) 8. Middlesex v. Sussex (three days) 12. Middlesex v. Kent (three days) 15. England v. Australia (three days) 19. M idd'esex v. Leicestershire (three days) 22. Middlesex v. Notts (three days) 26. M.C.r;. and Ground v. Cambridge University (three days) 29. M.C.C. and Ground v. Oxford University (two 3. Oxford v. Cambridge (three days) 8. M.C.C. and Ground v. Notts (ihree days) 10. Gentlemen v. Players (three days) 14. Eton v. Harrow (two days) 17. M.C.C. and Ground v. "Worcestershire (three days) 20. M.C.C. »nd Ground v. M inor Counties (threeday*) 24. Gentlemen of M.C.C. v. Royal Artillery (Bands) (two days) 26. Gentlemen of M.C.C. v. Household Brigade (one day). 27. Middlesex v. Surrey (three days) 31. M.C.C. and Ground v. Australians (three days) AUGUST. 3. RugVy v. Marlborough (two days) 5. M.C.C. and Ground v. London Playing Fields (one day) 7. M.C.C. and Uround v. Notts’ Castle (two days) 9. M.C.C. and Ground v. Hertfordshire (two days) 11. M.C.C. and Ground v. Northamptonshire (two days) 14. M.C.C. and Ground v. Wiltshire (two days) 17. Middlesex v. Laicasblre (three days) 21. Middlesex v. Australians (thiee days) 24. M.C.C. and Ground v. Staffordshire (two days) 28. M.C.C. and Ground v. Oxfordshire (two days) 30. M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridgeshire (t*o days) E SSE X COUNTY CRICKET CLUB. The most important items in the annual report of the Committee are as fo llow s:— It is with very deep and sincere regret that they have to record the death during the past year of their valued friend and colleague, Mr. C. M. Tebbut, who, for some years past, had acted as Honorary Treasurer to the Club, and who, by his untiring zeal and personal energy, assisted in so great a measure towards bringing the County Club to the prominent position which it now occupies. Y our Com­ mittee would also record the fact that it was mainly owing to his generosity and liberality that the Club was enabled to tide over the great financial difficulties against which they had to contend for so long a period. Your Committee are glad to announce that all the present and regular members of the team will again be available for the coming season; and as there are several very promising young players now in the county, a more successful season may be looked forward to. It is with great pleasure that the Committee are able to announce that Mr. H. G. Owen will again captain the team, and they are glad to have this opportunity of congratu­ lating him upon his uniform and consistently good batting during the past season ; and they again tender to him the sincere and hearty thanks of the county for his regular and loyal support, and for the untiring energy which he has always displayed on behalf of Eseex cricket, and for his able management of the team. Home and home matches will be played during the coming season against Middlesex 2nd Eleven, Hampshire 2nd Eleven, and Heitfordshire 1st Eleven. These matches will doubtless prove attractive, and should be the means of enabling the Committee to more accurately test the merits of many of their young and promising players. Your Committee have to report that since the close of last season, the following impor­ tant alterations, etc., have been made, which they trust will be appreciated by members of the club, and by other visitors to the ground, viz.:—Extensive additions and improvements to the grand stand, increase of the area of the practice ground, removal of old sheds at the further end of the ground, erection of large entrance gate with a new turnstile, in addition to all of which, increased accommodation for seeing the play has been given to the public by making a banked terrace at the south end. The roll of members on the 31st December last stood at 2,127 gentlemen and 156 ladies, and your Committee are pleased to state that 775 new members were enrolled during 1898. Your Committee are glad to again announce that the Great Eastern Railway Company will run a special express train to Leyton on all county match days, leaving Liverpool Street at 2 o’clock, and arriving at Leyton at 2.12, in addition to which, the 3.35 train will stop at Leyton at 3-48. The Midland Railway Company will try the experiment of running a special train from Moorgate Street on Thurs­ days and Fridays when there is a county match on ; and the Midland, London, Tilbury and Southend Railway will run a special from Fenchurch Street to Leyton (Midland). These trains do not run on 2nd Eleven match days. The amount of £300, mentioned in the annual report of last year, which was owing to the late Mr. Tebbut, has since been paid out of the club funds, but your Committee regret to state that several gentlemen who had given their guarantee for various amounts towards this debt, have not up to the present carried out their obligations ; and the Com­ mittee will be greatly obliged if these gentle­ men will send their remittances without further delay, so that this special item may be finally removed from the club’s accounts forthwith. With reference to the accounts, your Com­ mittee are again pleased to state that the revenue has very materially exceeded the expenditure. This is chiefly due to a continued increase in the roll of members, and to the improvements in the gate receipts for cricket. Your Committee have much pleasure in stating that Mr. C. R. Higgins, who has for many years past been closely identified with, and who has taken such an active part in the management of the club, has kindly consented to act as Hon. Treasurer in the place of the late Mr. C. M. Tebbut. They are also pleased to announce that Mr. H. S. Haynes has agreed to act for the club as Hon. Solicitor. The ground will be opened to members on Saturday, May 6th, when the ground bowlers will be in atteLdance at the nets at 2 p.m. The following bowlers have been engaged for the season, viz. : G. Ayres, Inns, Reeves, Tremlin, Buckenham and E. Russell. Signed by order of the Committee, O. R. B o r r a d a il e , Secretary . REMINISCENCES. They were seated around the large table at the club house, each in his favorite lounging chair, and were in a reminiscent mood. The magazines had been devoured, several drinks had been consumed, when the ex-college man who was noted for his enthusiasm about everything that touched on cricket, and who never wearied of talking his favourite game, which couldn’t be said of his often-time luke­ warm listener, said : “ Say, fellows, talking of a man having a particular aversion to a certain bowler, do you know Newbold Etting never could stand Archie Miffin’s bowling? ” The loungers—they were all cricket enthu­ siasts longing for the season to open—dropped their books and looked up at the speaker, as if encouraging him to go on and explain. “ Yes, I know that Etting had that par­ ticular feeling towards the young Haver- fordian that perhaps you all have experienced of being ‘ under tbe influence ’ of a certain bowler. I remember one instance in par­ ticular. Merion was playing Wayne, and Etting was getting along nicelyr and running up a good score against the attack of Harry Hunter, George Brooke, et. al., when the form of the long-haired Miffin, with chest thrown out and peculiar gait, was seen slowly wending his way towards the club house. Instantly Etting remarked, ‘ I see my finish,’ or something to that effect, and commenced to gather runs more quickly. Two or three overs later, Archie appeared dressed for the fray, and Hunter threw him the ball and told him to ‘ go on.’ The very first ball pitched a little over half way down the crease, hit Etting on the elbow and fell on his wicket. The batsman’s remarks were more expressive than elegant. 'Y ou see it wasn’t anyrnew experience for Newbold, and each time he got more tired.” The listeners laughed, and he of the curly locks, who is noted for his bowling and debating qualities, said : “ That reminds me of an experience J had with an umpire once.” The last speaker had said nothing about the white-coated individual who holds our fate in his hands, and we could not see why he should be “ reminded.” But we were in a listening mood and gave him attention. “ We were playing against one of the minor clubs, Albion, K .I.B.A., or Falls of Schuylkill, I don’t remember which, and they had an old Britisher as umpire. Per­ haps you have met him. Every time before the ball is delivered he holds up his hand and cries, ‘ Ball’ or ‘ Play.’ Well, I was batting, and had a few runs, when a ball pitched a foot to leg. I made a lunge at it and it struck me on the pads. There was no appeal, but the old man said, *Chuck ’erup.’ Being a sticker for upholding the traditions of the dear old game, I said nothing, though feeling pretty mad, and walked to the club-house. We could see the fielders hastily get together, and after a short consultation, the umpire critd out, ‘ Come ye back ; yu’re not oot.’ 1 certainly wasn’t ; so back 1 strolled. A few overs later, the same ball came along, and again I missed it. ‘ Chuck ’er up,’ said the umpire, and once more I returned to my club mates, pondering on the ‘ uncertainties ’ of cricket. The same hasty confab was held, and the same north country voice rang out over the green sward, ‘ Come ye back ; yu’re not oot.” But I did’nt go this time ; 1 had had enough, and gome unkindly fellow remarked that perhaps it was just as well to put a man in who could play the ball with his bat.” And then the tall international blonde, who had been growling about being forty pounds overweight just because cricket couldn’t be played all the year round, told the crowd of an incident which occurred during the trip to England in 1897. “ It was at Maidstone, I think,” he said, “ and we were the guests of the town and council at a fine dinner, at which the very digni6ed Mayor presided. Did you ever see an English Mayor? Well, he’s an imposing spectacle, I can tell you, all decked out in the paraphernalia of his office, with massive chain around his neck and gavel at his hand. Well, its the custom to pass the loving cup around, and as it reaches you, you turn first to your neigh­ bour on the left and then to the right, take a draught and pass it along. For some reason there were several absentees, and Crawford Coates found himself isolated, four or five empty chairs being on either