Cricket 1904

18 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. F eb . 25, 1904. the first with 40, when he went in again he practically won the match for his side. W ith 122 to get, Sussex had lost seven of their best batsmen for 72. H istory repeated itself, as it was Tate who came in again to partner Keif and turned the scale. Keif hit in his very best form for his 55 while Tate stayed, with the result that the fifty wanted were got b y the two batsmen. Relf was the highest scorer in each innings, and his spirited cricket at the close gave Sussex a credit­ able victory with three wickets to spare. Were any proof wanted of the high estimation in which Keif’s all-round cricket is held, it would be found in his selection as one of the M.C.C. team to visit Australia under the captaincy of Mr. P . F . Warner. A general utility man, he has quite justified his choice on several occasions, although he has not been one of the chosen eleven in any of the four test matches so far played. That he has yet to be seen at his best as a cricketer is not an unreasonable assump­ tion. There is, at any rate, plenty of time for his cricket to still further develop as he is now only twenty-nine. As a bow ler he is over medium pace. Standing over five feet ten inches and making the best use of his inches, the ball comes from his full height. It gets up very quickly, too, from the pitch, and this is the chief sccret of his tuccess. Occa­ sionally it nips back from the off, but as a rule he tries to make it go the other way with his arm, and as at times he is able to get on a sweive in the air, his bow ling wants a lot of watching at all times. Though he has a fair defence, he is naturally a free hitting bat, and when a forcing game is required, is often suc­ cessful when others fail. He has, too, a safe pair of hands, and may be fairly classed as a useful and reliable field. THE INDIAN CRICKET TEAM FOR ENGLAND. Though not altogether unforeseen by those who followed tte course of events, as chronicled in seme of the principal Indian papers, the brief announcement which appeared in the English press a fortnight or so ago that the proposed visit of a native Indian team to England next summer had teen abandoned, came to the bulk of the cricket public on this side as a distinct surprise. As a matter of fact up to a very recent date it was authoritatively stated that the tour was certain to come off. This even was the opinion of Mr. E. H . D . Sewell, who was responsible for the excellent programme arranged for the Indian cricketers, an opinion held by him up to a very short time ago. That events should have trans­ pired to prevent the fulfilment of the engagements made with so many of the principal English clubs is, of course, to be regretted, and for more than one reason. A good deal of pains had been taken over heie to give the Indians a hearty welcome, of which they were indeed assured. In certain cases the with­ drawal of the fixtures arranged may not, perhaps, have caused serious incon­ venience. On the other hand, in several instances, the removal of a match of such importance as that with the Indian cricketers would have been, in some English programmes, cannot fail to create considerable disappointment. In any case, the abandonment of a scheme which had been allowed to develop so far as to be generally regarded as practically certain of accomplishment, ij bound to operate prejudicially on Indian cricket in the future. In face of the failure of the representative committee, who had worked so hard and with a considerable amount of success to provide the neces­ sary means for carrying out the tour, it will in all likelihood be a long time before any responsible body will be found in India to undertake such a task again. That there was a considerable difference of opinion among the committee them­ selves as to the advisability of giving up the trip when matters had reached such an advanced stage is shown by the voting on the resolution proposing its abandon­ ment. Whether the lack of sufficient funds to meet the full expenses of the trip was solely responsible for the final breakdown seems to be open to doubt. As a matter of fact the committee, apparently, had done fairly well in meet­ ing the financial requirements. No less than 32,000 of the 45,000 rupees estimated as necessary to cover the cost of the tour had been subjcribed or guarantee]. Exception was taken by a section of those interested at the same time to the passible constitution of the team as not likely to be thoroughly representative of the native cricket of India. A player of the class of K . M . Mistri would naturally have been greatly missed had he been unable to make the trip. Otherwise, as far as one can judge, there was a reasonable ass urai. C9 of at least a fairly representative side. Apparently there were differences of opinion on the Committee with regard to the constitution of the team which certainly tended rather to prejudice than to assist the fulfilment of the scheme. About the possible chances of even the best native team in a long and trying programme under conditi.ns to which they were complete strangers there would possibly be little difference of opinion over here. Still, the quality of Indian cricket, if not as well-known to English clubs when the card was drawn up as to the committee who had the arrangement of matters in India, was at least fairly well understood on this side. Whether the abandonment of the tour at the eleventh hour was justified, on either or both of the grounds named, may fairly be open to debate. Obviously, and for many reasons, it would ha 7 e been better if the scheme could havebeencarried out. Indian cricket has shown a considerable develop­ ment since the last Parsee team was here. The charaoter of the programme arranged for them, too, was sufficient proof that the team would have had a hearty reception on English grounds. That circumstances should have ruined a scheme which would have done a good deal of good to the game in more ways than one, is much to be regretted. At the same time, although at present there would seem to be little possibility in the near future, one may fairly hope to see an Indian team over here before very long, THE TOUR ABANDONED. The meeting of the Committee at which it was decided to abandon the scheme was held iu the Parsee Gymkhana Pavilion on Tuesday, Jan 26 th. The Hon. Mr. Justice Russell presided, and as the result of a lengthy discussion; the follow ing resolution was passed : “ That the finances being in the condition disclosed hy the honorary treasurers, it was not expedient in the opinion of the committee that the scheme for sending an Indian team to England should he further considered, and that therefore, it should he abandoned.” The Hon. Mr. Justice Russell, Mr. Rumboll, Mr. Patell, Mr. Diveha, Mr. Jardine, Mr. Yelinker, Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Pavri voted for the resolution, while the H on. Mr. Ibrahim Rahimtula, Mr. Telang, Mr, Milne, Mr. Tyebji, and Mr. Shepherd voted against it. It was further resolved: ‘ ' That the collected subscriptions be applied pro rata to meet all the expenses already incurred and such further expenses as may be necessary in winding up the scheme. That the balance of subscription should be refunded to the subscribers with the statements of accounts, and that honorary secretaries and treasurers be appointed to carry out this resolution.” THE M.C.C. AND THE COUNTIES. The follow ing circular letter, sent by Mr. F. E. Lacey, secretary on behalf of the M .C.C. to the first-class counties will speak for itself. The collapse of the Cricket Council left the Counties without any representative body to which M.C.C. could appeal. The captains of the first-class counties, too, were certainly not vested with any authority to under­ take legislative functions, and their decisions on more than one occasion were not endorsed by the county executives. Under such circumstances an Advisory Committee constituted in the manner suggested, representative, that is, of all the Counties, cannot fail to assist the Marylebone Club in its decisions relative to county cricket, and in the apparent apathy as to the revival of the Cricket Council, one can only welcome it as the best alternative. The M.C.C. Committee suggest that an Advisory County Cricket Committee be formed to consider cases arising out of county and other cricket. Such committee to consist of one represen­ tative of each first-class county, to be specially appointed by his committee, and the chairman, who shall be the president, or some other member of the committee of the M.C.C. Each county to notify the choice of its representative to the M.C.C. before each meeting. All resolutions passed by such committee to be submitted to the M.C.O. Committee for consideration. Notice of any meeting of such committee, with the agenda, to be given, either by five or more counties convening the meeting or by the M.C.C., to all the parties interested, at least fourteen days before the suggested date of the meeting. All meetings of such committee to be held at Lord’s, and the secretary of the M.C.C. to be present to take the minutes. R ICii AliO DAFT’S •*N jttiagham*hire Mari’' — Particulars apply, Ridc.iffe ua-Traut, Notts. [A dvt .'