Cricket 1903

O c t . 2 9 , 1903. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 4 4 3 matter of fact tliere is every reason to believe that the takings in 1903 will reach, if they do not exceed, those of 1902, which it may be pointed out, was an abnormal year, owing to the presence of the Australian team, and the con­ sequent large special income arising from their visit. T h e Melbourne Club, to judge by the state of its finarcss as disclosed at the Annual General Meeting last month, had not cause to deplore the same ill-luck which befel most of our principal English clubs as the outcome of its last season. Instead of a balince on the wrong side, indeed, its funds received a nett addition of £1,270 19s. lid . for the year, after devoting £675 and £756 is. lOd. to interest and sinking fund of the grand­ stand debenture account. The amount now at credit of the sinking fund of the Club is £5,303 2s. 3d., and the invest­ ment in Metropolitan Board of Works debentures and New Zealand Govern­ ment debentures tots up a total of £9,000. The receipts for the season amounted to £12,402 0s. 83. The number of members on the roll is 3,376, and there are 521 senior, 148 junior, and 61 country nominees iu the proposal books awaiting election. A f e a t u r e in the Melbourne Club’s repoit which will interest Cricket readers is the reference of the visit of the English team now nearing Australia under the captaincy of Mr. P. P. Warner. I n connection with the coming English team, the report says the Melbourne Club has no responsibility at all, and is only pecuniarily interested in the matches to be played by them on the Melbourne ground. The committee, however, have, at the request of the Marylebone club, prepared the programme of matches iu Australia, and “ will welcome with great pleasure the advent of a team under the management and prestige of the highest cricketing institution in the world, and having for its captain our late visitor, Mr. P. P. Warner.” T h e match between the Champion Ccunty and England at the Oval last month it is very satisfactory to hear was as great a success financially as it was from a cricket standpoint. The result was a nett sum of nearly £240—the precise balance was £237 14s. 6d.—for division between the Cricketers Fund and the London Playing Fields Committee. As a mere matter of detail it may be remarked that the Surrey Committee, through Mr. C. A. Stein, who has been acting as Hon. Sec., during Mr. Alcock’s illness, had taken precautions to insure the match in the interest of the bene- Jiciares. As a consequence of this year’s suc33ss, there is every reason to believe that a very attrac'ive feature will be perma­ nently added to the cricket programme. Arrangements have already been made for it to be played next season at the Oval, commencing on September 12th. The counties generally have taken very kindly to the idea, and a happy sugges­ tion of Lord Hawke’s that four days should be allotted for the fixture so as to ensure a definite result will be cirried out. A four days’ match is a novelty in English cricket, and one which should give additional interest to an interesting contest for many and important reasons. A l l being well, the third South African team to visit England should be with us early in May. The fact that Lord Hawke has undertaken to arrange the fixtures is of itself an assurance that the programme will be of a thoroughly sporting character. Arrangements have already been made for the team to play the principal first-class counties, as well as the Marylebone Club and Ground and the two Universities. Scotland and Ire­ land are also to be played, and it is not improbable that Whit week will be devoted to the Irish portion of the tour. At one time, I believe, there was an idea of going in for a trial against the full strength of England. This has been not unwisely given up, and instead a match will be arranged against the Gentlemen at Lord’s. Frank Mitchell, Lord Hawke’s trusty lieutenant in Yorkshire cricket for several years, I need hardly add, will captain the side. The programme will consist entirely of first-class matches. M e n t io n of the South African visit meets the rumour that we were also going to have a team composed of Hindus, Parsees, and Mohammedans from India with us next summer. Communications were undoubtedly received from India by certain of the principal county clubs some time ago with a view to the recep­ tion of the team. Though favourable replies were sent, as far as one can hear, no definite steps have as yet been taken in the way of arranging a programme. Assuming that there is still an intention to come, the delay is regrettable, as by this time, I should say, most of the county clubs have pretty well made their arrangements for next season. W . B r u c e , the graceful left-handedbats­ man whose style was so much appreciated when he was over here with some of the earlier Australian teams, is still able to more than hold his own against his younger rivals in club cricket in Victoria. Last season he again qualified for a place on the merit board of the Melbourne C.C., taking the first place on the batting table of the senior eleven with a fine average of 81-57 for nine innings, twice not out. The most successful bowler for the M.C.C. in first-class matches was G. S. Gordon, who obtained fifteen wickets at a cost of 11 runs apiece. A b a z a a r is to be held at Brighton in the spring, with the object of assisting the funds of the Sussex County Cricket Club. H a r r o w will be well represented in the management of the Cambridge University C.C. next season, with P. B. Wilson, Captain, aud E. W. Mann, Hon. Sec. The Assistant Hon. Treasurer, E. P. Keigwin is the Old Cliftonian who has done good service at times for the second eleven of Essex. S ome time ago the Victorian Cricket Association forwarded to Mr. F. E. Lacy, the Secretary of the M.C.C., an objection to Phillips accompanjiua; the English team as umpire, and enclosed a copy of the letter alleged to have been forwarded by Phillips. At the last meeting of the V.C.A. the following cimmunication was received from Mr. Lacey :— ‘ ‘ I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of June 30lh and enclosures, which I will place before my committee when they meet in November. Phillips is not in London at present. I will interview him on the subject when he returns. The sentence to which your association objects is part of a letter which is apparently written to vindicate a wrong which the writer rightly or wrongly, thinks has been done to him inmisrepresenting his conduct and attitude towards the deliveries of certain Australian bowlers. As such, I presume, my committee will consider the facts as a whole on their merits. English umpires are required to report on the deliveries of bowlers about which they are not satisfied but which they have not felt -justified in ‘ calling.’ A report was received last year, in which some of Saunders’ s deliveries were criticised. It is possible that in the circumstances Philips felt justified in making his views known to your association. I will, however, undertake that the matter shall be duly considered by my committee.” It was decided to hold over considera­ tion until the receipt of an official letter from Mr. Lacey. H. C a r p e n t e r proved so successful last winter in his capacity of “ coach ” to the Melbourne Club that it is not a surprise to find him re-engaged for the current Australian season. According to its annual report, the engagement of a coach last winter cost the Melbourne Club a little matter of £220. As last season, the Gentlemen and Players match at the Oval next summer will immediately follow the same fixture at Lord’s, which is as much as to say that it will take place on July 7th and two following days. If it should last out the full time, therefore, the finishing stages will be on while Eton and Harrow are engaged “ in another place.” E. L. M a r s de n , of the Hampstead Club, playing for The Wilderness v. Swifts at Baldock on the 9th ult., scored 184 out of 233, the next highest score in the campleted innings being 8. M e mb er s of Lord Hawke’s team to New Zealand last winter will be grieved to learn that the Kev. J. M. Marshall, whom Warner described as the best all­ round man they met in the colony, and who scored a century against the side in a minor match, has mysteriously dis­ appeared. For some time his friends had known that his health and spirits were not so good as usual. Search parties