Cricket 1900

CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 89 A p r i l 2 6 , 11)00. C r i c k e t : A W hlKLY RECORD OF TBS GAME. 168, UPPER THAMES STREET. LOJOOI, E.C. THURSDAY, APRIL 26 t h , 1900. $ a \ n l t o n G o s s i p . The abstract and brief chronicle of the time.— Rami* . S trenuous efforts are being made by many cricket clubs in Canada this season to increase the great interest already taken in cricket in outlying districts iu the country. We are by no meaus con­ vinced that, these efforts are in the right direction, for they seem to take the form of introducing League games, which have not proved an altogether unmitigated blessiDg at home. At the same time, it is difficult to see how clubs, which can only play a few matches, can create much enthusiasm among their members unless they institute some sort of a championship —for cricket is hardly played on the same lines that it used to be in times when the pleasure of winning a match was all that a cricketer required to make him take a interest in the game. We wonder how much of the responsibility for the altered state of things belongs to the present system of declaring an innings in one-day or half-day matches. A CORRESPONDENT w rites:— “ The account published in the last issue of Cricket of a team declaring its innings closed without having scored a run reminds me of a curious day’s cricket which took place on September 1st, 1884, between P. L. Kaye’s X I. and H. Y. Green’s X I., when, owing to raiu, only one over was bowled, no runs were scored, and after waiting till two o’clock, it was decided to draw stumps. The over that was bowled was played by C. D. Hamilton, of that year’s University College Hospital X I. Score: Mr. H. Y. Green’s X I.—C. D. Hamilton, not out, 0 ; A. E. Lucas, not out, 0 ; extras, 0 ; total (uo wicke'),0. A somewhat similar day’s play took place at Lord’s on July 23rd, 1877, in the match between M.C.C. and Essex, when, owing to rain, the day’s play was restricted to a maiden over, bowled by R. Clayton.” In the Sportsman, on Monday, “ Dux” writes: “ Dear old gentlemen who notched good scores in braces and t p hats have their value as raconteurs, but they are not necessarily the best judges of a colt.” Without disputing this state­ ment in any way, we may perhaps be forgiven for asking whether, if “ Dux ” is a good judge of horseflesh, he would necessarily select as his victim, “ a dear old gentleman, etc.,” if he wished to make a particularly good bargain in the matter of a four-legged colt. H a r r y T r o t t continues to improve in health and strength, and is apparently shewing much of his old intelligence. “ Felix” says of him in the Australasian : “ For Kew Asylum against Hawthorn, Harry Trott bowled almost up to his old form. One ball pitched a foot outside a batsman’s leg stump, and the batsman did not attempt to play the ball, thinking it would pass. It did pass, right across his legs, and took his off stump. Hawthorn scored 53; Kew Asylum, 216 for three wickets. A. Duncan batted in his host form for 120 (not out). He hit five consecutive 4’s. My informant states that Harry Trott is improving wonderfully. He talks on every point of the game. He had probably played against A. Fenton only once or twice about two or three years ago, yet he knew Fenton, and asked him if he had left St. Kilda. Harry Trott made a grand catch at point.” O n Saturday last Alfred Shaw and Ptel began their engagement at Leyton to coach the Essex county cricketers. The county club is indebted to Mr. C. E. Green for this engagement, which cannot but have good effects. It is greatly hoped that Mr. C. J. Kortright will be himself again this summer. B r ig g s made his reappearance in the cricket field last Saturday and, as far as can be judged from all reports, he seems to be in good form. He played for Mold’s teim against Levenshulme and District, and bowled throughout the innings with success. O n another page will be found a letter of considerable interest to cricketers from a Canadian correspondent. T h e experiment of turning the Forest Hill Cricket Club into a limited liability company seems likely to be a success. In their first report the directors recommend a dividend of three per cent, which is very good for a first season. The report states among other things that It will be noticed that the total expenditure for purchasing and laying out the ground, building the pavilion, and expenses of for­ mation, amouot to £2,854 17s. 6d.—this is £354 17s. 6d. in excess of the estimate in the prospectus, chiefly owing to the fact that your directors considered that the company’s interests would he furthered by the erection,