Cricket 1905

62 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A p r il 13, 1905. the ground. Besides these Intercolonial matches, a number of Country and District Matches have been arranged by the V.C.A., for which the ground was given free. In almost every Annual Report of the Y.C. A. for a number of years, a paragraph similar to the following (in 1900-1) appears : ‘ ‘ The thanks of the V.C.A. are tendered to the M.C.C. for the generous use of their ground for Interstate matches. Members of all Associated Clubs have, as usual, been granted free admission to the M.C.C. ground on the occasion of Interstate matches.” It must not be forgotten that the M.C.C. incurs a very large expenditure in keeping its ground and buildings (costing about £60,000) in order and repair, for which the Association has had the free use whenever asked for. When the V.C.A. was formed in 1895-6, the M.C.C. granted the use of their rooms for the Association meetings. In the V.C.A. Report of 1896-7, a paragraph shows that “ a vote of thanks was accorded for the use of their office during the previous season.” It is now openly stated by the opponents of the M.C.C. that it is their intention to remove the Interstate matches from the M.C.C. ground to other grounds in the suburbs, not­ withstanding the hitherto friendly relations which have been shown, from the Annual Reports of the V.C.A., to exist between the V O.A. and the M.C.C. It is also openly stated by the opponents of the M.C.C. that they intend to deprive the Club of the present extra seat which they hold at the V.C.A. In 1895, when the New Association was formed, and a re­ distribution of the seats was made, the M.C.C. were accorded three seats, East Melbourne two seats, South Melbourne two, and other clubs one each. This, of course, was not a proper representation of the nu­ merical or financial strength of the clubs, for if East Melbourne was entitled to two seats for 250 members, M.C.C. should have had from twenty upwards ; but in order to show that the M.C.C. did not wish to rule the new body, the Club asked only for a small ac­ knowledgment of its preponderance in num­ bers. In April, 1901, a sub-committee of the As­ sociation, comprised of Messrs. J. Lipscombe, F. Laver, and P. Knuckey, were appointed by the Association to meet the Committee of the M.C.C. to discuss the position, and to ask upon what terms and conditions would the M.C.C. take over the functions of the Associa­ tion. When this sub-committee met the M.C.C. Committee, the three delegates had each a different idea on the matter, and the chairman requested them to put their proposals in writing. That was not done. The M.C.C. has not hitherto wished or attempted to control Cricket in Victoria, and has taken no steps in that direction. The only proposals in this matter came from the V.C.A. itself. During the season 1888-9, when the V.C.A. quarrelled with the N.S.W. Cricket Associa­ tion and decided to abandon the annual matches with that State, the Club felt that the cessation of those games would be a public calamity, and would result in great injury to the game, and accordingly entered into a five year’s agreement with the N.S.W. Cricket Association for the continuance of the usual home and home matches. After the two matches for the season mentioned had been played, and public interest aroused by the Club’sefforttne local Association begged to have the control of the matches re­ transferred to it. The club generously acctded to this request without stipulating in any way for the return of the amount lost by the Club, viz., £495 16s., and no refund has been made or asked for. In the V.C.A. Annual Report of 1900-1, this paragraph appears:—“ The visit to the Commonwealth next season of anEnglish XI., under the auspices of the M.C.C., is looked forward to with considerable interest by your Association . . . and that the M.C.C. will reap such benefit from the venture as their enterprise undoubtedly deserves.” And in the following year’s Report, 1901-2, the following occurs:—“ The M.C.C., with their usual well-known generosity, voted an amount of £900 to the V.C.A. from the receipts of the English matches . . . and it was resolved that the thanks of the Association be tendered to the M.C.C., and a record placed in the minutes as testimony of the V.C.A.’s appreciation of the Club’s liberality.” After reading the above it is difficult to understand the present attitude of a section of the Association in seeking to place in the hands of an irresponsible “ Board of Control ” the business of bringing out teams from England, so long in the hands of the M.C.C. THE M.C.C. FIXTURES, 1905. MAY. 3. Annual Meeting 3. M.C.O. and Ground v. Notts! 8. M.C.O. and Ground v. Sussex! 11. Middlesex v. Gloucestershire! 15. Middlesex v. Notts! 18. Gentlemen of England v. Australians! 22. M.C.C. and Ground v. Kent! 25. Middlesex v. Sussex! 29. M.C.C. and Ground v. Leicestershire! JUNE. 1. Middlesex v. Yorkshire! 5. M.C.C. and Ground v. Worcestershire! 8. M.C.C. and Ground v. Australians! 12. (Whit-Monday). Middlesex v. Somerset. (G. Burton’s Benefit)! 15. England v. Australia! 19. Middlesex v. Surrey! 22. Gentlemen of M.C.C. v. Royal Navy 23. M.C.C. and Ground v. Wiltshire* 26. M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridge University! 29. Authors v. Actors 30. Middlesex 2nd XI. v. Sussex 2nd XI.* JULY. 3. M.C.C. and Ground v. Oxford University! 6. Oxford v. Cambridgej 10. Gentlemen v. Playersy 14. Eton v. Harrow* 17.T.M.C.C. and Ground v. Derbyshire! 20. Middlesex v. Lancashire! 2/l. Gentlemen of M.C.C. v. Royal Artillery* 26. M.C.C. and Ground v. Royal Academy C.C. 27. Middlesex v. Essex! 31. Gentlemen of M.C.C. v. Household Brigade (Band)* AUGUST. 2. Rugby v. Marlborough* 4. Cheltenham v. Haileybury* 7. M.C.C. and Ground v. The Public Schools* 9. M.C.C. and Ground v. London Playing Fields 10. Middlesex v. Australians! 14. M.C.C. and Ground v. Buckinghamshire* 16. M.C.C. and Ground v. Dorsetshire* 18. M.C.C. and Ground v. Oxfordshire* 21. M.C,C. and Ground v. Cambridgeshire* 25. M.C.C. and Ground v, Hertfordshire* 28. Middlesex v. Kent! 31. Cricket Golfers v. Golf Cricketers SEPTEMBER. 8. W. H. Slatter’s Benefit Match* * Two-day Matches. ! Three-day Matches. THE LIVERPOOL C.C. There cannot be much doubt that the Liverpool C.C. has the best programme of all the provincial clubs. For the first time in the history of the club three county matches will be played on the pretty and excellent ground at Aigburth, viz., Lancashire v. Worcestershire, Lancashire v. Surrey, and Lancashire v. Australians. In addition, there will be the usual match betweeu Liver­ pool and District and Cambridge University. In June the club has a tour among the schools, playing Rugby, Eton, Marlborough, Clifton, and Cheltenham, while Rossall is played at Rossall onMay 31st. Mr. E. Roper is the energetic and very popular secretary of the club, which runs four teams—“ a first eleven,” “ an eleven,” “ a second eleven,” and “ an extra eleven.” The fixtures of the first eleven are as follows :— APRIL. 22. Away, v. Preston 24. Home, v. Formby 29. Away, v. Birkenhead Park MAY. 6. Home, v. Sefton 13. Home, v. Ormskirk 17. Home, v. Wigan 20. Away, v. New Brighton 22. Home, Lancashire v. Worcestershire! 24. Away, v. Western 27. Away, v. Sefton 31. Away, v. Rossall School JUNE. 3. Home, v. Leyland 9. Away, v. Rugby School 10. Away, v. Eton College 12. Away, v. Marlborough College* 14. Away, v. Clifton College* 16. Away, v. Cheltenham College* 19. Away, v. Manchester 24. Away, v. Formby 26. Away, v. Oxton 28. Away, v. Leyland JULY 1. Home, v. Huytcn 6. Home, Lancashire v. Surrey! 8. Away, v. Rock Ferry 10. Home, Liverpool and District v. Cambridge University! ' 15. Home, v. Birkenhead Park 19. Home, v. Old Rossallians* 22. Away, v. Huyton 29. Away, v. Bootle 31. Home, v. Fettessian Lorettonians* AUGUST 5. Home, v. Rock Ferry 7. Home, v. Marlboro’ Blues* 9. Home, v. Harrow Wanderers* 11 Away, v. Ormskirk 14. Home, v. Cambridge Crusaders* 16. Home, v. New Brighton 19. Home, v. Western 21. Home, Lancashire v. Australians! 26. Home, v. Oxton 30. Home, v. Hoi Pepneumenoi SEPTEMBER. 2. Home, v. Northern * Two-day Matches. ! Three-day Matches. COLDWELL LAW N M OW ER S . S UPERIOR in quality, finish and workmanship. Combining all the best features of English and American Lawn Mowers as never before attained. Mr. T hos . C oldwell , President of the Company (a native of Lancashire) was the maker of the first American Lawn Mower. 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