Cricket 1904

A p r il 28, 1904. CRICKET. A WEEKLY RtiCOfeb OE THE GAME. 87 tralian players, and Bosanquet’s skill in disguising his delivery evaded the most acute observation. Of all their batsmen Noble was the one who most frequently detected him, and shaped his play accordingly. That the M.C.C. was much the better side and that their success did not depend upon •extraneous influences was sadly granted by Australian leaders. One is surprised that the melancholy note in Noble’s brief speech ;at the conclusion of the fourth te;t passed practically unnoticed. Pater has written of the “ pathos of English kingship,” and the gifted cricketer who so greatly captained Australia felt the pathos of his leadership too. 4‘ Never—at any rate, since I have played in first-class cricket—has Australia been in her present position.” It was true. That with the material at his disposal so much was accomplished is sufficient tribute to Noble himself. In many a case it was but the dregs of the vintage that were left to him ; the vintage had been glorious, indeed, but the most skilful extraction could not give body and glow to the dregs. Australia had too many players who were past their prime, men who only now and again could show the dash and verve of their youth. An autumn sunset will sometimes provoke a flash from a far-off window. Such a flash was Gregory’s brilliant century at Adelaide. Howell, the most lovable and kindly of men, and one of the deadliest of bowlers, he, too, is passing. Now and again you would find his wonderful break-back, and return to the pavilion wondering how ever you succeeded in gulling the Marylebone people into the idea that you knew how to bat, but it came not so often as of old. Howell’s hands are as capacious, his fingers as supple' as of old, but just that little indefinable something which makes a man dangerous instead of useful is no longer his. Australia depended too much upon its geniuses, upon its incomparable quartette. Only a few of the others would find a place in an England eleven. What mental agony must Noble have suffered when Saunders threw his full tosses and long hops at Sydney, and over by over Australia’s star was setting. Of bowlers to replace these men, there was only possibly Cotter, young and strong and fast. Of batsmen, Australia has a better outlook. Gehrs and Jennings are of undoubted class, but it is undoubtedly true that, luckily for ourselves, we found Australian cricket at the ebb. SURREY COUNTY CRICKET CLUB. The follow ing is the report of the comm ittee:— The committee regret that the results of the matches played by the First Eleven during the season of 1903 were not more satisfactory, t ut the Eleven was severely crippled by the lobs of Mr. Jephson and Mr. Crawford, and by Abel’s illness, which prevented him from playing during practically the whole season. The committee are glad to be able to ■announce that Abel has recovered his health, and there is every reason to believe that his services will be available to the County dur­ ing this season. The members of the club will be highly gratified by the fine form •shown by Hayward and Strudwick as mem­ bers of the M.C.C. team in Australia. The Second Eleven were not so successful as in previous years, but there are some young players coming on likely to be of ser­ vice in the future. The hearty thanks of the club are due to Mr. L. Walker, who kindly undertook the captaincy of the C ounty Eleven at very short notice. It was a source of much concern to the club that the health of M r. A lcock com ­ pletely broke down early in the season. H e was ordered away for six m onths’ complete rest and change, and the comm ittee are happy to say he is now back at his post restored to health. D uring his absence, at the request o f the comm ittee, M r. C. A . Stein kindly acted as honorary secretary, givin g up his whole time to the w ork of the club in a man­ ner which entitles him to the hearty gratitude of the members. T he comm ittee cannot express in too high terms their appreciation of the services thus rendered to the club by Mr. Stein, N otw ithstanding the abnorm ally wet sea­ son, which dim inished the receipts to an exceptional extent, the accounts annexed show that there is a small profit on the year’s working, which result, under the circum ­ stances, the comm ittee think very satis­ factory. In recognition of his long and valuable services to the club during the many years that have elapsed since his benefit, which many m ay remember was a poor one, the comm ittee w ill invite the members to sub­ scribe to a testimonial to be presented to Robert A bel at the close o f the season, which they have decided to head with a donation of £50 from the club funds. T he South African Team will oppose Surrey at the Oval. The Gentlem en w ill meet the Players at the Oval on July 7,8 , and 9. T he match between the Champion County and England, which w ill this year extend over four days, w ill take place at the Oval on September 12, 13, 14, and 15, the whole proceeds being equally divided as last year between the Cricketers’ Fund and the London P laying Fields Committee. D uring the year 94 new members were elected. So far 3,241 members have paid their subscriptions for 1904. T he follow in g members of the committee retire b y rotation, and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election : D r. C. C. Blades, R ight H on. W . St. J. B rodrick, M .P ., J. Colman, L ieut.-C ol. G . L . M . Farmer, F . P. K n ox, G . H . Longm an, D . R. Onslow, L . A . Shuter. T h e annual geneial meeting w ill be held in the Pavilion on Thursday, M ay 5, at 5 p.m . MATCH EXPENSES. £ s. d. Derbyshire................................................... 136 7 7 E ssex.......................................................... 128 9 6 Gloucestershire............................................ if 9 6 0 Hampshire.................................................. 136 10 6 Kent .......................................................... 117 19 6 Lancashire................................................... 148 5 10 Leicestershire............................................ 157 17 7 Middlesex................................................... n o 6 9 Nottinghamshire ..................................... 165 12 11 Somersetshire............................................ 149 13 0 Sussex.......................................................... 148 14 9 Warwickshire............................................ 145 15 4 Worcestershire............................................ 146 5 0 Yorkshire................................................... 148 1 10 London County Cricket Club ............... 126 5 6 Gentlemen v. Players .............................. 179 4 0 Cambridge University.............................. 131 11 5 Oxford University..................................... 146 16 4 Champion County v. Rest of England ... 205 15 4 „ Cricketers’ Fund Friendly Society .............................. 118 17 3 „ London Playing Fields Society. 118 17 3 8urrey v. Philadelphians ............... ... 68 7 0 ,, Philadelphians’ Share of Gate... 102 11 9 P. F. Warner’s XI. v. Philadelphians ... 36 3 6 „ Philadelphians’ 8hare of Gate... 36 0 0 Second Eleven M.-tches............................. 498 11 11 The Twelve v. Next Fifteen...................... 51 15 0 Club and Ground and Colts Matches ... 287 10 6 Luncheons and Refreshments ............... 280 9 6 Balls, Gloves, and Caps............................. 64 18 2 Nets, Score Boards, Repairs, &c.............. 1 19 0 Cloak Room Attendants and Sundries ... 26 18 10 MATCH RECEIPTS. £ 8. d. Derbyshire..................................................... 113 9 10 E ssex........................ ............................... 148 19 10 Gloucestershire............................................. 105 10 0 Kent .............................. ........................ 171 4 8 170 7 10 Leicestershire ............................................. 201 2 10 Middlesex.................................................... 302 1 2 Nottinghamshire ....................................... 635 5 2 Somersetshire............................................. 182 J9 4 Sussex............................................................ 3?5 10 10 Warwickshire............................................. 55 3 2 Worcestershire............................................. 158 19 4 Yorkshire.................................................... 222 18 10 London County Cricket Club ................. 152 8 2 Gentlemen v. Players ................. .......... 498 16 0 Cambridge University............................... 28 14 6 Oxford University......... ... ................ 101 16 8 Champion Countv v. Rest of England (including Stands) ................. .......... 443 9 10 Surrey v. Philadelphians ........................ 206 1 6 P. F. Warner’s XI. v. Philadelphians ... 72 3 8 Second Eleven Matches.............................. 79 9 6 The Twelve v. Next Fifteen........................ 9 13 0 Club and Ground and Colts Matches 10 18 6 Stands... ........................ ........................ 748 14 0 Books of Tickets sold ............................... 1 5 0 £5,147 3 2 HUGH TRUMBLE’S RECORD. Now that Hugh Trumble may be definitely said to have retired from first-class cricket, the following details of his career in first-class matches may be of interest. They were compiled by R. H. Campbell, and appeared in the Melbourne Argus . BATTING. IN ENGLAND. Australia v. X L a-side teams ........................ Australia v. England ... IN AUSTRALIA.. Australia v. England ... Victoria v. England Victoria v. N.S.W........... Victoria v. 8.A ................ Combined X I. v. A. XI.. Aus. X I. v. Comb. X I. ... Aus. X I. v.G. F.Vernon’s X I .................................. IN AMERICA. Aus. v. Philadelphia Aus. v. Canada,................. IN AFRICA. Aus. v. South Africa ... s i 1 9 194 39 105 2,960 19 C9 16 30 10 64* 464 23 20 145 224 49 105 3,424 19 56 15 7 88 12 1 25 3 70 13 3 107 52 10 89 22 2 2 6 1 95 39 8 1 1 — 374 17 0D 186 186) i -23 19 59 524 26-vO 39 19 50 72 14-40 8 4‘00 94 1342 16 16-00 Total 1 2 1 13 13 13C0 .......... 220 357 70 107 5,573 19 41 BOWLING. £4.451 18 4 j A 3 QD <D •B * o cS S Balls '<a a 39 P3 15 § £ < IN ENGLAND. Aus. v. X I. a-side teams ................. 122 21,453 1,891 8,735 536 16'29 Aus. v. England ... 16 3,487 2-29 1,364 67 20*40 Total ......... 138 24,940 1,620 10.099 €03 1674 IN AUSTRALIA. Aus. v. England ... 15 4,402 219 1,581 74 21*33 Victoria v. England 7 1,370 69 664 18 31*33 Victoria v. N.S.W.. 2S 8,607 563 2,8>2 129 *2*10 Victoria v. S.A. ... IS 3,575 167 1,418 82 13-29 Australia v. G. F. Vernon’s XI. 1 16 0 20 __ _ Comtined X I. v. Australian XI.... 1 240 8 119 7 17-00 Australia X I. v. Combined X I. ... 4 798 47 288 ID 28 8 IN A wERIoA. Aus. v. Philadelphia 5 818 60 364 22 16-54 A up . v. Canada ... 1 40 2 18 1 18 00 IN AFRICA. Australia v.S. Africa 1 204 4 127 0 — Total .......... 75 20,070 1,129 7,351 343 21 43 Taking all first-class matches therefore Trumble’s record reads:— BATTING. Match(s. Innings.Notout. B. Score. Total. Av. 220 357 70 107 5,573 19 41 BOWLING. Matches. Balls.Maidens. Runs.Wicketu. Av. 213 45,010 2,749 17,450 916 18 44