Cricket 1908

28 o c r i c k e t : a W e e k l y r e c o r d o f t h e g a m e . J uly 16, igoS . ‘ ‘ O V A L B A . ” R E I D ’ S O V A L . W H I T E . The celebrated preparation for cleaning Cricket and all Buff Leather Goods, W arranted not to m b off or cake. A s used at K en­ nington Oval, and h ighly recom m ended b y K . 8 R anjitsinhji, Dr. W . G . Grace, 0 . B. F ry, Lord D alm eny, Australian X I., 1905, G . L . Jessop, Ac., &c P ack e d in z in c boxes, 6d. per box. J. J. REID, 378, Kennington Rd., London. T H O S . J . T A T E , All England Championship Racket Maker. C R IC K E T B A T S a n d B A L L S . 18 , P r in c e s S tre e t, C a v e n d is h S q u a r e , L O N D O N , W The Sportsman sa y s:—“ T he b ou n d volum e of Cricket for 1907 is now ready, and affords a valuable record o f the gam e not only in E ngland, bu t in Greater Britain. P rice 8s. 0d., post free 9s. W h e n one feels strongly one is apt to write with a heavy hand, but I am quite unable to see what justification for their action could be advanced by those who have so severely criticised the attitude of the M.C.C. in the matter. After cabling to the Board of Con­ trol that they did not consider their decision not to take part in the triangular contest next season should be a bar to them visiting us in the ordinary way in 1909, they were bound, in face of the resolution of the Advisory Com­ mittee, to assume a different attitude. It would have been folly not to have done so, for the cjunties, if not desirous of seeing the Australians next year, could easily have in­ volved the tour in financial disaster by refus­ ing to arrange fixtures with the team. M y own sympathies, I must candidly admit, are altogether with the Australians. Their opinions have been ignored, and it was surely the grossest discourtesy on the part of the Advisory Committee to pass a resolution to the effect that an invitation should be sent to them accompanied by an ultimatum. Such action was bound to create discord, although it was impossible to know the exact value to be attached to the resolution owing to the fact that details of the voting were not published. T h e last mail from Australia brought me a private letter from one whose name is very well known throughout the Commonwealth and also in England. In the course of his remarks he says :— “ I have been wondering how the South African bowlers would fare on our wickets. South Africa, by th“ way, seem­ ingly does not wish to sample our Australian wickets, but I fancy she will have to come here first.............................A cablegram to-day quotes C. B. Fry’s rough reference to the Boird of Control’s decision. Fry is judging Australian X I.’s of the past and Australian promoters of the past. But he does not quite understand that the Australian Board of Con­ trol now stands for Cricket , the Game , personal interests, financial and otherwise, and cricket ground interests no longer guiding the reins.” I t was quite reminiscent of old times to see such a strong team of Gentlemen opposing the Players at the Oval in the latter part of last week. At one time the Kennington fixture ranked in importance with the Lord’s match, but for several years the Surrey authorities experienced such difficulty in getting a good amateur side together that the reputation of the Oval game waned. I understand that Mr. Leveson-Gower was very largely responsible for the excellent team which did duty last week ; it was almost a representative one and experienced little difficulty in winning by six wickets. It was a great treat to see MacLaren in his best form as a batsman. He scored 77 and not out 38, hitting freely in each innings and in the first putting on 141 for the third wicket with Fry. B u t the feature of the match was the bowl­ ing of Knox, who had just returned from abroad and was making his first appearance of the season in a match of note. In taking seven wickets for 52 runs on Thursday he did splendid service, and combined a fine length with great pace. The fact that he is in form should prove very welcome to all supporters of Surrey cricket, for the County has the heaviest part of its programme still ahead, and Knox, unlike those bowlers who have been playing regularly since the opening of the season, is not yet suffering to any extent from wear and tear. I t is said that in future R. A . Young’s appearances for Sussex will be restricted to the latter part of the season. He has been appointed a master at Eton, where he should prove of great service both at cricket and football. M r . R . J. P . B r o u g h t o n , the old Harro­ vian, celebrated his ninety-second birthday on C r i c k e t : A WEEKL Y RECORD OF THE GAME. 168, UPPER THAM ES S TR EET, LONDON E.C . THURSDAY, JULY i 6 t h , 1908. Pavilion Gossip. The abstract and brief chronicle of the time. —Hamlet D u r in g the past week the letter which the Hon. F. S. Jackson sent to the Times has been the chief topic of conversation in the cricketing world. His remarks shoild do much to improve the situation which the regrettable resolution of the Advisory Com­ mittee was bound to crcate, for they will prov«i to the Australians that the sentiments expressed in that resolution do not meet with unanimous approval among cricketers and the public in this country. With the possible exception of Lord Harris, I know of no person whose opinion would be likely to carry so much weight with the Australians as that of Mr. Jackson. T h e correspondence to which his letter gave rise has already borne good fruit, inas­ much as it prompted the M .C.C. to make an important announcement on the situation. It was significant that the Club, evidently recog­ nising the unpopularity of the resolution referred to, should point out that a meeting of the Advisory Committee can b ; called upon the request of any five o f the counties. The hint, if hint it is, may serve to bring the pre­ sent unfortunate deadlock to an end. No one would think any the worse of the Advisory Committee if they withdrew their resolu ion and candidly admitted that they made a mistake in endeavouring to force the hand of the Board of Control. H. GRADIDOE And SO N S , Manufacturers o f a ll R eq u is ite s for C r ick e t , L aw n T enn is , R a c q u e t s , H o ck e y , F oo tba ll, a n d all British Sports. P A TEN TEE S AND SOLE M AK E R S , OF THE Used by all the m Leading: L* Players. ^ Made in Men's, Small Men’s, or College, 6, 5, 4, & 3 sizes. P r i c e L i s t s F r e e 0 1 1 A p p l i c a t i o n . O f all First=Class Outfitters and Dealers. Reblading a S p e c i a l i t y . Factory; A rtillery P lace , WOOLWICH.