Cricket 1906

A p r i l 26, 1906. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 83 of the first-class counties, Mr. Wilson says, “ There is no doubt that five annual Test matches with alternate visiting teams from Australia and South Africa will be an immense monetary help to all foremost cricketing counties, for in most of them it is more than hard to make both ends meet. Matters in Derbyshire are looking up a little, thanks to a ‘ Deus ex machina,’ not ' a god out of a bathing machine,’ as the Eton boy had it, but a Derbyshire god fresh from a noble seven years rule in India—Lord Carzon, of Kedleston. He, knowing our woes, has set himself to work for our money famine in Derbyshire cricket funds in the same self-denying, kindly manner that he dealt with that awful visitation in the Indian Empire. Last Friday he accepted the presidential chair of our county cricket club, and with his Derbyshire friends has augmented our annual income by some £350. We are all working the county, towns and villages by an active canvass, and by the end of tbis year we hope to be in smooth water.” Mr. Wilson has some decided opinions on the subject of bowling. “ I think no team, from a Test team to a fourth eleven at a school house, should ever go into the field without someone who can bowl underhand lobs at a pinch,” he said. “ I mean bowl them well, make a stu ly of them. Think what V. E. and I. D. Walker did for Middlesex, A. W. Ridley for Hants, T. C. Goodrich and T. Ratliff for Free Foresters, Humphreys for Sussex, and many others. Australia seems to ignore lobs. Their last team could have done with any of the above. I am also of opinion that the lack of good or even moderate amateur bowl< rs is owing to the fact that they won’t practise bowling. How often do you see an amateur really working at it at the nets at Lord’s or anywhere else ? All league clubs, most town clubs, and many village clubs help to discourage amateur bowling by engaging profes­ sionals simply to bowl at one end, and perhaps at the other as well.” W. A. B e t t e sw o r t h . DERBYSH IRE COUNTY CRICKET. LORD CURZON’S APPEAL. After the annual meeting of the Derby­ shire County C.C., Lord Curzon, who was then elected its president, sent the following letter to the Derbyshire press. As the letter is of universal interest its full text is appended. Sir,—At the annual meeting of the Derby­ shire County Cricket Club, which was held this afternoon at Derby, I was honoured by being elected president for the ensuing year. County cricket is a subject in which I have always taken the warmest interest from boy­ hood, and the continued existence and success of the Derbyshire team, which, though it has passed through many vicissitudes, has yet performed many notable feats and contained some very famous names, are matters in which the credit of the county appears to me to be involved. It is as a loyal son of the county that I have accepted the honour which has now been conferred upon me: and though I regret that I can point to no technical qualifications for the office, I hope that I may be able to render some service by stimulating public interest in what ought to be one of the most popular, just as it is one of the manliest and most deserving, of county institutions. It is with this object in view that I venture to solicit the kind assist­ ance of the press and the public. For many years past county cricket has had to contend with difficulties, accentuated in the case of Derbyshire by conditions which are more or less peculiar to this county. The capital town, where are the headquarters of the club and the principal cricket ground, is in the southern part of the county, and is somewhat difficult of access to those who live in the north, and can see a good cricket match, if they desire, by going to Sheffield or Manchester. This difficulty has to some extent been met by the practice of playing some matches at Chesterfield and Glossop, but in the case of the Derby matches it can only be successfully surmounted by increased interest on the part of the public. I am informed that the conditions and hours of labour in Derby, and notably on the Midland Railway, are not very favourable to the attendance of large numbers of the artisan population. I do not know if it is open to me to suggest that it might be an excellent thing if, on the occasion of some first-class match, opportunities could be given to the railway men to attend without sacrificing their day’s work. Another difficulty lies in the fact that, though Derbyshire has been served by some very brilliant amateurs, it has not been lucky enough to produce a steady stream of public school and university cricketers able and willing to devote their energy to county cricket over a long term of years. This is an accident due to no special causes, but it may be mentioned as a ground of renewed appeal to the amaleur element, in which Derbyshire was at one time extremely rich, and which is needed to steer the strongest professional combination to a steady course of victory. Another weak spot has been the annual subscription list, which is less than half of that enjoyed by somemore fortunate counties. A weak or wavering subscription list finds its natural sequel in an adverse balance-sheet. These are among the drawbacks from which Derbyshire cricket would appear to have suffered in recent years, and to them may be added the disappearance of many liberal and devoted patrons of the game, such as the late Mr. Walter Boden, Mr. George Strutt, Mr. E. M. Wass, Mr. Worthington and Sir Henry Wilmot. A few, however, of the veterans are still among us and others, I am confident, are ready lo carry on the work. The replies that I have received to the personal appeals which I have already addressed to many leading gentlemen assure me that there is not wanting either the spirit or the generosity to inaugurate a period of renewed activity in the interests of county cricket. , At the meeting this afternoon there was read out a list of names, including the Duke of Devonshire and Mr. Herbert Strutt, who have .promised me the munificent sub­ scriptions of £50 per annum for a term of years. The Duke of Portland, the Duke of Rutland, Lord Burton, sir Peter Walker, Mr.; Victor Cavendish, Mrs. Walter Evans, Rev. C. Prodgersr, and many others have promised very handsome sums, and I am thus able to initiate this appeal by pointing to an already seoured addition to the revenues of the County Club of more than £350 a yeir. This is exclusive of additional annual sub­ scriptions amounting to over £81 18s. Gd., which have also been obtained in response to an appeal that has been issued by the executive of the club, and of special donations amounting to £88 10s. But the very scale of some of these contri­ butions, so far from being a cause for sus­ pending our exertions, is quite the reverse. In the first place, the larger subscriptions are not promised indefinitely. They are given for a short term of years, principally in order to enable the club to liquidate its liabilities, which now stand at £700, and to start afresh. Secondly, county cricket will never be in a healthy condition financially so long as it rests upon the exceptional liberality of a limited number of patrons. It may be galva­ nised into fresh life by their benefactions. But as soon as they have ceased, and the sport has died away, the old conditions will reassert themselves, and a state of progressive im­ poverishment will reappear. The only manner in which to escape this danger is by securing the support of a large number of moderate subscribers in all p iris of the county—it is the £1 Is. and £2 2s. and the £5 annual subscribers, even more than the donors of £10, or ±20, or £50, who must be the real backbone of county cricket— and the genuine and sustained interest of the public. I have been to’d in some quarters that Derbyshire, which prides itself on its sporting proclivities, and is famous for its football teams, is only half-hearted about cricket; and the thin attendance, even at important matches, is quoted in support of the charge. If it be so, then the effort for which I ampleading will fall short of success; for a county whoso population does not take a sufficient interest in first-class cricket either to support its eleven or to attend their matches, is really not qualified to maintain a county team at all. But I am most reluctant to believe that this is really the case. If the club can be freed from debt, if the committee can obtain the services of a high class of players, amateur and professional, as they have done in previous years, if the county team plays bright and attractive cricket, and acquits itself with credit in important matches—then I believe that not only will the gentry be willing to give to the club continuous and adequate support, but the public will come to witness the performances of the county eleven, and will add those gate - money receipts without which no county club can long remain solvent. It is for this three-fold support, therefore, that I appeal to the Derbyshire public in this letter. Firstly, the support of annual sub­ scriptions from all parts and all classes; secondly, the active co-operation of capable cricketers, willing to devote their abilities to the service of their county ; and, thirdly, the practical sympathy of the Derbyshire people, as evinced by their attendance at thematches. The Derbyshire County Club has now existed for thirty-five years. On one occasion we ceased for a time to be a first-class county ; but, owing to the brilliant efforts of bur representatives, were readmitted. It would surely be a great disgrace if we were ever to fall out again. By a combined and hearty effort now it should be in our power, not only to avert any such disaster, but to ensure a prosperous and, let us hope, a glorious future. I am, sir, yours obediently, CURZON. Kedleston, April 20th, 1906.