Cricket 1903

118 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. M a y 7, 1903. ‘ clinker,’ old Clarke just managing to keep it out of his wicket, and savagely exclaiming, ‘ Is it such a thing as that you bowled them with ? ’ Arnold had the satisfaction of bowling the veteran in his succeeding over.” It may be added that when four wickets of the All England X I. were down, it was Clarke’s turn to go in. “ But this grand old cricketer,” says the author, “ was nowhere to be found. As a matter of fact he had strolled towards the ancient city (Here­ ford), feeling assured that his men would remain at the wickets far longer than his absence. A messenger on horseback was despatched after him, but it was not until after an hour’s delay that the return of the missing veteran allowed the game to be resumed.” We wonder what a modem crowd would do if there were an hour’s delay owiDg to the absence of a player ! In an account of a match between Hereford and Boss in 1848 there occurs the following delightful description of a “ break,” given by a contemporary historian. “ The ball is pitched a fair length, but by a peculiarity in the delivery turns after it has touched the ground obliquely into the wicket.” The book seems to have been well edited, but we notice a reference on page 112 to the “ Incognito,” who paid their first visit to Hereford in 1876. It is a pity that there is no index to such a good book, bristling with names as it does, for to search through a couple of hundred pages for a name or a score is a laborious task. No doubt if there is a second edition this defect will be remedied. • “ Herefordshire Cricket.” By Edwyn Anthony- Published by Anthony Bros., Ltd., Hereford. 3s. 6 d- CTonregpontience, The Editor does not hold himselj responsible lor the opinions of his correspondents. A NEW SUGGESTION. To the Editor o f C k ic k e t . D e a r Sie,—In reference to the high scoring in matches, and the habit of batsmen not attempting to play off balls, I would suggest the following scheme, which is very simple, as it practically goes back to the original wicket when the game started. It is simply to have the bails projecting beyond the wicket, say an inch or two. I think this would put the batsmen on his guard and make him play many a ball (perhaps into the slip’s hands) which he would otherwise have left alone. It would not be a very radical change, and while there would be some beautiful biilera, I do not think it would mean much slaughter amongst the teams in club matches. I would not trouble you with this idea of mine, except for this reason, that I have waited for several years to see it suggested, but have waited in vain. Perhaps it is too ridicu­ lous. I remain, Yours very truly, Quebec Cricket Club, W. M . M a ssey . Quebec, 24th April, 1903. THE METROPOLITAN CLUBS IN 1903. An excellent list of matches has been arranged for C h isw ic k P a r k by R. L. Finnis, 8, Barrowgate Boad, Chiswick, W., the honorary secretary. The managers of matches are W. H. L. Horton, H. E. F. Sich, W. I. Hampton, A. C. Finnis, F. W . Tuke, R. L. Finnis, H. R. Loraine, C. O. Sich, and J. T. L. Sheppard—a long list, which shows that there is plenty of esprit de corps in the club. All the principal clubs in the neighbourhood are encountered, and also M.C.C., Incogniti, Hampstead and Old Cranleighans. In the home week the club meets a series of powerful opponents. The ground is within three minutes’ walk of Chiswick and Grove Park Station s on the S.W .R., and ten minutes’ walk of Gunnesbury and Chiswick Park and Acton Green Stations on the District, South Western, Metropolitan, North London and Midland Railways. MAY. 9. Richmond, v. Richmond 16. Ealing, v. Ealing 23. Chiswick Park, v. 8 t. Thomas’s Hospital 3). Chiswick Park, v. Streatham JUNE. I. Wimbledon, v. Wimbledon 2. Chiswick Park, v. Southern Nomads 6 . St. Quintin’s Park, v. Kensington Park 13. Chiswick Fark, v. St. Thomas’s Hospital 20. Chiswick Park, v. Old Cranleighans 27. Surbiton, v. Surbiton JULY. 4. Uxbridge, v. Uxbridge 11. Chiswick Park, v. Barnes 18. Chiswick Park, v. Surbiton 25. Chiswick House, v. Chiswick House 27. y. Ealing 28. v. St. Mary’s Hospital, P. & P. 29. v. Hampstead 30. v. M.C.C. 31. v. Incogniti AUGUST. 1. v. Kensington Paik 3. St. Quintin’s Park, v. Kensington Park 8 . Chiswick Park, v. Turnham Green 15. Wimbledon, v. Wimbledon Home Week. SEPTEMBER. 12. Psllingswick, v. Pallingswick As usual K ensington P a r k has a long list of matches, including many against clubs from a distance. Among these may be mentioned Hampstead, R. N. C., Bedford County School, Stanmore Park, Arkley, Chelmsford, Dunstable Grammar School, and Uxbridge. The M.C.C., Incogniti and Marlborough Blues are also encountered. These are whole day matches, but the card contains a varied and full list of half - day matches. W. Graham Thompson, 8, Campden Hill Gardens, Kensington, W., is the honorary secretary. The ground is situated on St. Quintin’s Park, Notting Hill, and E. Smart is the ground man. m a y . 2. Ealiug, v. Ealing 6 . Home, v. Hampstead 9. Windsor, v. Windsor Home Park 16. Vanbrugh Field, v. R.N.C. 23. Bedford, v. Bedford County School 30. Home, v. Wimbledon JUNE. 1. Home, v. M.C.C. 6 . Uxbridge, v. Uxbridge 10. Stanmore, v. Stanmore Park 13. Home, v. Upper Tooting 20. Wimbledon, v. Wimbledon 22. Arkley, v. Arkley 27. Chelmsford v. Chelmsford JULY. 4. Dunstable, v. Dunstable G.S. 11. Home, v. Marlboro’ Blues 18 Home, v. Incogniti 23. Kenley, v. Kenley 25. Home, v. Uxbridge 29. Bansteid, v. Banstead C.C. AUGUST. 1. Chiswick Park, v. Chiswick F^rk 3. Home v. Chiswick Park 8 . Balham, v. Upper Tooting 22. Hampsteid, v. Hampstead 29. Home, v. Ealing The honorary secretary of the L o n d on J o in t S to ck B a n k , which if in its thirty-second season, is H. Whitby, Russell Square, W.C., while the captain is G. Eliott-Lockhart. The club uses the “ Three Banks Athletic Ground” at Beckenham. Throughout the season a match is arranged for two or three even- ingB during the week, in addition to Saturday afternoons. MAY. 2 Beckenham, v. Newlands Park 9. Home, v. National Bank 12 . Home, v. London and County Bank* 16. Home, v. National Provincial Bank 19. Home, v. London and South Western Bank* 23. Home, v. Barclay’s Bank 26. Home, v. London and Westminster Bank* 30. Home, v. Forest Hill 2nd XI. JUNE. 3. Herne Hill, v. London, City & Midland Bank* 6 . Home, v. Albemarle 9. Catford, v. Barclay’s Bankt 13. Home, v. Parr’s Bank 15. Home, v. Union and Smith’s Bank* 25. Catford, v. London and Provincial B^nk-f JULY. 7. Beckenham, v. Union and Smith’s Bank* 13. Norbury, v. London and Westminster Bank* 18. Lee, v. Parr’s Bank 21. Norwood, v. London and South Western Bank* 26. Beckenham, v. National Provincial B*nk 29. Home, v. London and Provincial Bankt AUGUST. 1. Home, v. Kent House Park 5. Denmark Hill, v. London and County Bank* 8 . Kent House, v. Kent House Park 12. Catford, Joint Stock Banks v. Private Banks 15. Perry Hdl, v. Forest Hill 2nd XI. 22 . Home, v. London, City and Midland Bankt 29. Home, v. Camber Athle'ic • Three-day matches. + Two-day matches. Evening matches, to last for two and sometimes three evenings, are arranged iu mid-week by the N a t io n a l P r o ­ v in c ia l B a n k C.C., as well as Saturday afternoon matches. Most of them are against other banks. The joint honorary secretaries are S. H. Lodder and H. L. Stephenson, while J . W. Richards is the captain of the first eleven. The ground is at Lower Sydenha’ii. MAY. 2. Home, v. Capital and Counties Bank 7. Home, v. Coutts’ Bank* 9. Herne Hill, v. London City and Midland Bank 12 . Norbury, v. London and Westminster Bank* 16. Lower Sydenham, v. London Joint Stock Bank 19. Home, v. London and Provincial Bank* 23. Perry Hill, v. Forest Hill “ A *' 26. Lower Sydenham, v. Union and Smith’s Bank+ JUNE. 3. Home, v. London and County Bank+ 9. Norwood, v. London and South Western Bank* 13. Home, v. Newland* Park 16. Denmark Hill, v. London and County Bank* 25. Home, v. Lloyd’s Bank* 1 27. Hitchin, v. Hitchin