Cricket 1900

4 7 0 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. t)£ C . 2 0 , 1S00. Cricket: A WEEKLY RECORD O f TEE GAME. 168, UPPER TH»MES STREET , LOHDOH, E.C. THURSDAY, DEC. 20 th , 1900. IMPORTANT NOTICE! Six numbers are issued during (he Winter, from October to March inclusive, as follows:— No. 557.—THURSDAY, OCT. 25. No. 558.—THURSDAY, NOV. 29. No. 559.—THURSDAY, DEC. 20. No. 560.—THURSDAY, JAN. 31. No. 561.—THURSDAY, FEB. 28. No. 662.—THURSDAY, MARCH 28. Subscription for the above srries, 1/3 post free. R e s u lts of the S eason and A v e r a g e s of the P r in c ip a l C lu k s can be inserted in Cricket at the rate of 3s. 6d. a column, with a minimum charge of 2s. 6d. To ensure insertion in the following number, particulars must be re­ ceived not later than the Saturday previous to the day ol publication at the Offices of Cricket, 168, Upper Thames Street, E.C. " C R IC K E T " is Ihe only paper in the world solely devoted to ihe game. T e r m s o f S u b sc rip tio n :—6 /-per annum. 7/- post free abroad. Payable in advance. All communications to be sent direct to the Offices of Cricket, 168, Upper Thames Street, London, E.C. $a\ulton Gossip* The abstract and brief chronicle o< the time.— BamU. T h e opening of the current Australian season on the Sydney cricket ground gave rise to a performance in the way of fast scoring not unworthy of G. L. Jessop. It was for the Sydney Club, and the gentle tapper in question was H. A. Evers, who, according to the Sydney Mail, is establishing himself as an inter­ colonial player. He made 102 in forty- two minutes, and his score included ninenteen boundary hits, among them five successive fours off A. Newell. “ P o i n t ,” of the Adelaide Observer, records a capital reply by a batsman who was dismissed by the first ball he received. On returning to the pavilion he said : “ I had a sort of feeling that I should find my pipe alight when I came back.” I t is sad to have to record the death of one of the most promising of the younger cricketers of Victoria. Val Thompson, who died of typhoid fever in the first week of last month, was only twenty-one years of age, and stood 6ft. 4in. in his stockings. His first innings in senior cricket m Melbourne realised a score of over 200 runs. C r i c k e t in St. Thomas (W .I.) seems to be more than holding its own, it is grati­ fying to learn. A correspondent has been good enough to send us particulars of a match played at Frederiksted, St. C roix, on October 25th, between All 8t. Thomas and All St. Croix. The latter were dismissed in twenty minutes for six runs, a small score due to the effective bowling of L. Roberts, who took seven wickets at a cost of only a single. In the final cup match at St. Thomas, between tbe Juvenile and the Acme Clubs, there was another noteworthy bowling per­ formance. Of this E. Bonelli, of the Juveniles, was the hero. In five overs he took six Acme wickets for a single. S y m p a t h e t ic reference was made at tbe annual meeting of the Somersetshire County C.C., held at Taunton recently, to the death of Colonel Hilyar, Com­ mander of the 7th Battalion of Imperial Yeomanry, a Vice-President of the club, and Lieut. H. T. Stanley, a regular member of the county eleven, both of whom were killed in the Transvaal War. The financial statement pressnted to tbe meeting showed a deficit of over £400, which will entail a call of £3 14s. on each of the guarantors. In consideration of the sum of 150 guineas being raised for subscriptions in Bath, it was decided to play two matches in that city next year. A new home and home match with Worcestershire was reported. Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Pane was re-elected president, Mr. G. Powlerhon. treasurer, Mr. Murray Anderson hon. sec., and Mr. S. M. J. Woods captain and assistant hon. sec. F r o m the Cape Times :— Cricketeis on the look out for bowling feats would probably notice in Monday’s issue the really remarkable record achieved by P. Nel, playing for Bishops’ second team. The recent alteration of the number of balls to six an over has opened the door to a new record, the “ double hat trick,” in one over, and so far as is known a South African schoolboy has achieved the record first. The tremendous fuss made over the schoolboy’s batting record in England two seasons ago will be remembered, and the fuss has some shadow of guarantee, for young Collins has continued to make pro­ gress, so that lie has apparently not been spoiled by over-admiration. We cannot be accused of making gods of our cricketers in South Africa, nor, it may be hoped, will onr appetites for notoriety ever bring it about. Still for the credit of South African cricket we make bold to claim the record of taking six wickets with successive balls to a South African cricketer. Bravo, young South Africa! L a s t season E. H. D. Sewell, who is qualifying for Essex, scored in all matches 1,648 runs and took 100 wickets for 14 runs each. I t is to be hoped that the death of the Maharajah of Patiala will not knock on the head the idea of a visit to England by a touring fearn from India. It is presum­ ably too late for a scheme for a tour this year, and moreover the South African team will be here. In 1902 the Austra­ lians may possibly be with us, but if not it would seem a most convenient time for a visit from India. T h e Secretary for War has appointed a committee to consider the future organi­ sation, training and equipment of the Yeomanry Force. The chairman is offici­ ally announced as Lieutenant-Culonel Lord Harris, G.C.S.I., Royal East Kent Yeomanry. M r . J. D. B e t h a m writes “ Add to Cricketers’ Obituary the R6V. Sir Frederick Larkins Currie, a member of the Cam­ bridge Eleven in 1845. He died at Ucktield, Sussex, on November 13th, aged 77 years.” A c c o r d i n g to the Sydney Mail a bowler in a junior match at Sydney, in October, took his first four wickets by knocking back the off stump, leaving the other two stumps intact with the bail upon them. W i t h reference to the new scheme which has been put in practice in Victoria for the regulation of club matches, Dr. Macdonald, the well-known Queensland cricketer, says: — I have learned of the two hours innovation with a good deal of regret. I saw the matter tested when I was livmg in Philadelphia iu 1891, when an effort was made there to render cricket more attractive. I was a member of the Belmont Cricket Club there. In our match with the Merion club, one of the chief fixtures of the season, this two hours plan so disgusted the players that, rather than con­ tinue the game under such conditions, these players left the field on a beautiful summer afternoon at 4.15, in absolute disgust. These men wers in the early part of the season in­ clined to look with favour on this ‘ ‘ baseball cricket,” but they were very soon convinced as to the error of such a step. It is a herculean task to attempt any improvement in the greatest of all games. They talk of widening wickets and narrowing bats in order to reduce the terrific scoring. Let the catches be held ; that is the solution of the long-scoring trouble. I don’t think it possible to improve cricket, and I can’t help looking on these " innovationists ” with a certain feeling of distrust. A c a p i t a l paper, entitled “ Cricket,” was read at Lord’s, on the 11th in-st., by Mr. W. H. Taylor. The author reviewed in a most interesting manner the great deeds of the famous players of the century, punctuating his remarks with many humorous anecdotes. The chair was taken by Mr. G. F. Hearne. To commemorate the inauguration of the Federation of the Australian colonies, it is proposed to arrange a match between New South Wales and the Rest of Aus­ tralia. New South Wales is the mother colony, and is also the holder of the Sheffield Shield; the other colonies could therefore hardly feel any jealousy in the matter. O n November 3rd a batsman named J. Miller, playing in a junior match at Mel­ bourne, had his le^ broken by a ball from a fast bowler. This is a most unusual occurrence. Q u i t e a sensation was caused on November 3rd at Sydney by the batting of J. Robson, for Leichhardt-Balmain v. North Sydney, in an electorate match. Robson scored 74 in twenty minutes, receiving only 31 balls, off only eleven of which he failed to score. His hits were as follows: —4, 2, 1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 5, o, 4, 5,