Cricket 1907

J an . 31, 1907. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 9 ALFKKD SHAW. (Photo by Messrs. Hawkins & Go ., Brighton). the Metropolitan Cricket Leigue. Dk. R. M acdonald , it is stated on good authority, is returning shortly to England aud may be seen again in the Leicestershire ranks during the summer. In a match played at Narracoorte, South Australia, on November 12th, between Narracoorte and Apsley, the borne side scored 192 for one wicket in an hour. S. H. Fleming carried out his bat for 100. IT is announced that the resolution passed at the meeting at Lord’s on December 19th by the Advisory County Committee, recommending that the quali­ fication of a player qualified by birth or Me. J. B. K ing has receive! an invitation from Mr. H. Eatage, of the West Indian Cricket Association, to take a team out this spring. Altogether, it seems that Phila­ delphian cricketers will be busy iu the near future. On November 24 th, Clem Hill played a chancele8S innings of 100 not out for Sturt v. Adelaide, the previous year’s Premiers, who had been dismissed for 96. The Siurt score at the end of the day read as follows : — S turt . H. Hay, c Summers, b McKenzie ... 3 W. A. Hewer, b G iffen.......................... 27 C. mil, not out.......................................100 I1'. J. Dickinson, b Travel's.................. 7 Leg-bye ............................... 1 Total ..................138 On the following Saturday Hill added 17 before being caught. the “ Plunkett Challenge Shield,” which has been presented by the Governor of New Zsaland. T. W a r n e , the well-known Victorian cricketer who was engaged last summer in Philadelphia by the Germantown Club, is back in Melbourne for the Aus­ tralian season, and with all his old success as a player. He does not pro­ pose, it has been subsequently stated, to return to America. I ced water, the favourite drink of cricketers in Philadelphia, seems to have come as a bit of surprise to Warue. It is brought out on the held in buckets, and the free and rapid wav in which the players polishe 1 it off surprised Warne at first, but he took to it himself as he grew acclimatised. He found the humid heat in the height of summer rather trying after a daily bout of bowl­ ing for three or four hours. His chief reviver after a d a y ’ s w ork was a “ schooner ” of lager, iced, always iced. At the start it took four tries to get through an iced “ schooner,” at the finish he could do it in “ one.” A t a special meeting of the New South Wales Cricket Association held on Novem­ ber 16th, the business was to consider a letter from M. A. Noble, suggesting that as inter-State matches were close at hand, the ditqualifi­ cation imposed upon several players from holding office under the Association might be removed without tnat body losing any of its dignity. A motion in favour of removal of the suspension imposed on the players was submitted, but, after dis­ cussion, was lost by 13 to 7. In London a f rtnight ago a paiuting by Richard Wil­ son, R.A., representing boys playing cricket in front of an old mansion, sold for sixty-five shillings. Wilson, I may add, was also respon­ sible for the well-known picture of Cricket at Moulsey Hurst. A TEAM of Philadelphian cricketers, I hear, intend playing a series of matches iu Hamilton, Bermuda, in the latter part of February. The last occasion upon which a Philadelphian eleven were seen in Bermuda was in 1891. P l a y in g in a match between theatricals on the Tasmanian Cricket Associa­ tion’s ground, in the middle of November, Tod Callaway took eight wickets for six runs, the last seven of which cost nothing. Iu batting, Callaway, in the second innings of the winning side, scored 65 not out, and hit a ball clean out of the ground. Mr. P. A. F r y e r , who has recently accepted the position of Headmaster of Wellingborough Grammar School, is a very keen player, and there can be no doubt that, from a cricket point of view, as, indeed, from every other, his selection will prove a very satisfactory one. His highest score is a matter of 306 for Wellingborough Masters v. Mr. E. Scriven’s X I., on the County Ground, at Northampton, in June, 1897. L utjt . H e n r y E dg ar G race , the eldest surviving son of the Champion, has been gazetted Commander iu His Majesty's Royal Navy. He was born in London in July, 1876. O n New Year’s D iv Mr. H. Luff, Secretary of the Cricketers’ Fund Friendly Society, received from the executors of the late Mr. V. B. Walker a chfque for £500, which the deceased gentleman by his will left to the Society. A n invitation, I understand, has been extended to the Kent Eleven by the Associated Clubs of Philadelphia to play a series of matches in America in the autumn. Tae programme would prob­ ably consist of three gunes in Phila­ delphia, and one in New York against residence should be approved and regis- tered by the M.C.C. immediately after he has played for the first time in a County Championship match, has been referred by the M.C.C. Committee to the Cricket 6ub-Committee, who will endeavour to draw up a practicable scheme in accordance with the wishes expressed by the majority of the Coun­ ties. I don’ t altogether envy the Cricket sub-Committee of the M.C.C. the respon­ sibility that has been thrust on them. TiiE M.C.C. Committee have also authorise 1 the convening of the meeting at Lord’s for the formulation of a scheme f<r the classification and promotion of Counties, as reommended by the resolu­ tion of the A Ivisory Board last month. This, at least, was the official announcement of the meeting to be held yesterday. Personally, I was of opinion that the decision of the Advisory Committee was not to formulate a scheme, but to consider that suggested by the Minor Counties Cricket Association in 1903, or indeed any other on the same lines that was advisable.