Cricket 1902

CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A p r i l 17, 1902. his twenty-fourth birthday. As he went to the Colonies when he was only five years old, the credit of his cricket train­ ing, at all events, belongs exclusively to Australia. H is qualifications as a wicket-keeper have yet to be proved here. Opinions seem to differ considerably as to his real merits, though too much importance will not be attached to this by those who know how keen the feeling on most matters is between the different States at times. J. Worrall, who is a Victorian by the way, apparently does not think very highly of him. On the other hand, “ Mid On,” in the Sydney Referee, goes for him vigorously. His estimate is a flattering one, as the following will show:— That he is a marvellously clever wicket­ keeper may be accepted as a fact incapable of refutation. One of hia recent performances was standing up to Marsh on a bad wicket and dismissing four of the five batsmen who were disposed of—not at short-stop, but close to the stumps. Every experienced cricketer in Sydney declaresMm to be a wonder ; not only the whole of the active players, but men like the Bannermans, Garrett, A . Gregory, and others, whose long, practical experience constitutes them good judges. Cricketers who play every Saturday with Carter, and those who play against him, are equally unanimous as to his capability, and there is one authority whose opinion will perhaps have still greater weight with the cricket loving public of South Australia and Vic­ toria, and satisfy them that no mistake has been made in selecting Carter. C. H. Ross, late Honorary Treasurer of the Melbourne Cricket Club, captain of the M.C.C. team, and one of Victoria’s best and most experienced wickut-keepers, has for some time resided in Sydney, where he has watched the club cricket keenly, and his unreserved opinion is that Carter is the best wicket­ keeper in Australia. Without any reflection on sturdy Jim Kelly, Ross, on being asked his opinion, gave it to the effect that ‘ ‘ If Carter .goes home as second wicket-keeper he will come back as first! ” Carter is a fair bat and is full of zeal and energy. In the Test Matches this season Australia has missed the cricket of G. H. S. Trott, the batting of F. A. Iredale, and the bowling of Jfi. Jones ; besides the partial loss of Darling’s cricket. Maclaren’ s Team caught Australian cricket in an off season, or rather they caught some of Australia’s best players a bit out of form, and, by failing to win the rubber, they have missed a golden opportunity. Opinions will always differ widely on matters of this nature, yet I believe Stoddart’s 1897-8 team would have proved capable of taking “ the ashes ’ ’ from Australia this season. This is how the Sydney Referee summed up the case between Australian and English cricket as represented by Mr. Maclaren’s team last Australian season. A h is t o r y of Surrey cricket is to appear next month from the well-known publishing house of Longmans. The title is “ Surrey Cricket, its History and Asso­ ciations,” and as the editors are Lord Alverstone, the President, and Mr. C. W. Alcock, the secretary of the Surrey County Cricket Club, it will, at least, have the official impress. In addition tothe L. C.J. who has written an introductory article on County Cricket, and the Secretary, the contributors include the Rev. T. 0. Reay, who played for Surrey in the early days of the County Club, Messrs. J. Shuter, D. L. A. Jephson, E. B. V. Christian, and F. S. Ashley-Cooper. L. O. S. P oidevin , who, but for his accident in the middle of the seasonmight have been well in the running for a place in the Eleventh Australian Team, is on the “ Omrah ” with Major Wardill, and the Australian cricketers. He is coming to England to complete his medical course at one of the Universities, and as this will mean his remaining over here two or three, or perhaps four years, he may qualify for county cricket. His record for New South Wales has so far been brilliant. In representative cricket his scores have been: 151, not out; 82, 55, 54, 38, 47, 34, 30, 11, 9, 9, 4, and 1. He has thus in twelve complete innings made 655 runs for New South Wales averaging 54'58. Excluding one match each against Queensland, Tasmania, and New Zealand, Poidevin, in first-class cricket, has made 437 runs in seven com­ plete innings, averaging 62'42 per innings. A nother Australian cricketer, and one well-known in England as well as Scot­ land, is also accompanying the Australian team to England on the “ Omrah.” I am not referring to F. R. Spofforth, but to Dr. R. J. Pope. He played as a reserve on a few occasions for one of the earlier Australian teams, and was for some time a central figure in Edinburgh cricket. As far as I remember he completed his medical course or at least pursued his medical studies at Edinburgh University. T he announcement that R. E. Foster is engaged to the second daughter of Mr. C. Camwell, of the Hall, Hutton’s Ambo, York, will be read with interest by every class of cricketer. R. E. F. is too well- known in the world of athletes generally to require advertisement. His latest appearance in any conspicuous part was at Leeds last Saturday, when he received the Amateur Cup of the Football Associa­ tion as captain of the winning team, the Old Malvemians. A sister of his was married a fortnight ago, as the following notice will show:— GREENSTOGK—FOSTER.—On April 3rd, at the Priory Church, Great Malvern, by the Rev. S. R. James, Headmaster o f Malvern College, assisted by Cannon H . C. Foster, Vicar of All Saints’, Glou­ cester, and Canon R. P. Pelly, Vicar of Malvern, William Greenstock, of Malvern College, eldest son of Canon Greenstocb, to Jessie Muriel, second daugh!£r of the Rev. H. Foster, of Malvern College. The bridegroom must be the old Cantab who very nearly got his blue a few years ago. The Rev. H. Foster, father of the famous brotherhood Jof cricketers, foot­ ballers and racquet player, was an excellent cricketer himself in his time, as the Free Foresters and other opponents can attest. T h e Committee of the Marylebone C.C. have just issued a pamphlet, under the title of the “ Laws of Cricket, with decisions and interpretations, authorised by the M.C.C., rules of county cricket, instructions to umpires, county qualifica­ tions and minor county rules.” The aim of the publication, the preface which is signed by Lord Howe, the {President, and F. E. Lacey, the Secretary of M.C.C., is to remove difficulties which are known to exist, although they are not always apparent. Hundreds of cases are sent to the M.C.C. for decision every year. It is from this source that the chief difficulties have become manifest. Saturday and League matches are especially productive of disputes, and it is hoped that those who read these notes, may find an answer to any doubt which may arise as to the proper interpretation of the Laws of Cricket. T he want of an official interpretation of the many doubtful points to be found in the Laws of the Game has been not only long, but generally and severely felt, so that everyone will welcome the M.C.C.’s new departure. We hope to be able to refer to it in detail next week. T he eleventh Australian team, it may be perhaps of some use to remind Cricket readers, is constituted as follows:—J. Darling, C. Hill and E. Jones, Sonth Australia; M. A. Noble, V. Trumper, W. P. Howell, A. J. Hopkins, R. A. Duff, J. J. Kelly and H. Carter, New South Wales; S. E. Gregory, J. Saunders, W. Armstrong, H. Trumble and Major B. J. Wardill, manager. In addition to the above, L. O. S. Poidevin, R. J. Pope and F. R. Spofforth, are all on their way to England. T he “ Omrah,” which is due at Naples to-morrow night or Friday morning, is bringing Mrs. Wardill, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Gregory, and Major and Mrs. Morkham. Major Morkham is secretary for lands in Victoria, and is a trustee of the Melbourne Cricket Club. Bath is his native city, but he has been in Australia for forty years, and is making the trip to England partly for his health, having an affection in the eyes. Hugh Trumble, who was married on the 12th March, brings his wife with him in the P. and O. steamer, “ Oceana,” due a week after the “ Omrah.” T he performance of Wame in going in first and carrying his bat out for Victoria against Maclaren’s team, is, according to “ Not Out ” of the Sydney Referee the fourteenth occasion of its accomplishment by an Australian in first-class cricket. It was first done by A. C. Bannerman for the first Australian Eleven in 1878 against the Orleans Club. In all, Alick Banner­ man did it seven times. In 1879 W. L. Murdoch carried his bat through for 82 in the New South Wales match with Lord Harris’ team. Three years ago H. Donnan did it for New South Wales against South Australia at Adelaide, getting 160, and a month later W. Carlton went through against Tasmania at Hobart for 73. By the way, Warne played for Victoria against Stoddart’s first team seven years ago, in the match which Victoria won