Cricket 1910

4o C R IC K E T A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME M a r c h 3 1 , 1 9 1 0 . H. GRADIDGE C r i c k e t : A WEEKL V RECORD OF THE GAME. 168, UPPER THAMES STREET, LONDON, E.C. TH U R SD AY , MARCH 31 st , 1910. I J a t t U f l i t ( S n s s t p . The abstract and brief chronicle of the time. — Hamlet. T h e present issue of Cricket is the last of the winter series. The first summer number will be published the week after next—on April 14th. S in c e the publication of the last issue of Cricket three Test matches have been played in South Africa by the English team, whose tour ended at Cape Town on March 14th. Of the games mentioned the visitors were successful in two—at Johannesburg by three wickets, and at Newlands by nine— but the rubber was gained by South Africa, who won three matches out of five. In the last game of the series Hobbs (187) and Rhodes (77) made 221 for the fix-st wicket, and thereby set up a new record in Test- match cricket, exceeding the 185 made by Hayward and the Hon, F. S. Jackson for England against Australia at the Oval in 1899. A t Johannesburg, in the match which commenced on February 26th, Denton scored 104 in his first innings and Hobbs 93 not out— a masterly effort—in his second. The spectators so appreciated their skill, that a collection for the former, whose third consecutive hundred it was, realised over .£85, and for the latter over ,£70. Such generosity puts the cheering of the ranks of Tuscany altogether in the shade. E n g lis h m e n , whilst regretting that the rubber was lost, can hardly be surprised, for the team which was sent out, though strong in bowling, was not sufficiently powerful in batting to undertake a series of Test matches with much prospect of success. These facts were recognised, and stated, before the tour opened, and it only remains to be added that the team always played a plucky game, and, with a little good fortune in the fourth match, would have won the rubber. B l y t h e , Buckenham, Denton, Hobbs, Rhodes, Strudwick, Thompson, N. C. Tufnell, Woolley, and E. G. Wynyard, sailed from Cape Town in the Armadale Castle on the 16th inst. and are expected in England on Saturday. The other members of the team went to Rhodesia, where a side under the leadership of Mr. Leveson-Gower had arranged to play a couple o f matches at Bulawayo on the 22nd and at Gwelo on the 28th. T h e following short table will show at a glance the results of Test matches played between England and South A frica :— Matches Won by Won by Team and Date, played. England. S. Africa.Drawn Major Wharton’s 1888-1889 Mr. W. W. Read’s 1891-1892 Lord Hawke’s 1st 1895-1896 Lord Hawke’s 2nd 1898-1899 M.C.C.’s 1st Team 1905-1900 Mr. T. W. Slier- well’s 1907 M.C.C.’s 2nd Team 1909-1910 5 .... 2 ... 3 0 In S. Africa .. 38 ., 11 ... 7 0 Tn England ... 3 . 1 ... 0 Total . 21 .. 12 ... 7 . 2 A t a special meeting of the Carslialton Urban District Council on March 9th, Mr. H . V. Piers attended for the purpose of presenting to the Council the cricket bowl which has been secured for the parish by public subscription. For the following report I am indebted to the Wallington R eco rd :— Mr. H. V. Peirs then stepped forward, and said he had a very pleasant duty to perform, and he was grateful to the Council for giving him the oppor­ tunity. In 1796 a Mr. John Durand, who lived at Woodcote House, Wallington, presented to the Cricket Club of Carshalton a Wedgewood bowl, which had an interesting picture of a cricket match inside. It was kept at the “ Greyhound,” the headquarters of the club, where dinners, &c , were held, and, presumably for the reason that the club did not pay their bills, the landlady seized the bowl. Finding it hard to sell, she kept it, and upon her death it passed to her son. In 1860 it passed into the possession of Dr. Barrett, who kept the Convent School at Carshalton. When he died it became the property of his son, who had written a book on Surrey, in which appeared a history and description of the bowl. He (Mr. Piers) knew of the bowl, but thought it was lost, but hearing Mr. Barrett was leaving his house, called, and was told that the bowl was still in existence, and was to be put up at Sotheby’s for sale. He attended, and bought the bowl, and afterwards issued an appeal, and many people came forward and subscribed, and he had the authority of the subscribers to ask the Council to take charge of the bowl for Carshalton. (Applause.) He suggested that a statement giving the history of the bowl and the catalogue of the sale be kept with the bowl. In conclusion, he hoped it might form a nucleus of a museum of such interest­ ing souvenirs of Carshalton. (Applause.) Mr. Piers then handed the bowl, a china punch bowl, to the Chairman. By the courtesy of Major Lovelock, I have been enabled to examine the bowl, which is about twelve inches in diameter and four in depth. In the picture, which is of a match in progress, each umpire is depicted carrying a bat, as was the custom in early times. B y far the most interesting matter dealt with by the Advisory Committee at Lord’s last.week was in respect to the method of calculating the points in the County Championship contest. Lanca­ shire proposed that the lost and drawn games be ignored and that only matches won count in the percentage o f matches played —not finished, and this was carried. The idea is, of course, to offer an induce­ ment to teams to finish their matches, and to discourage the draw, and from that point of view it is a most laudable one, but it is difficult to imagine how the suggestion can appeal to anyone possess­ ing any knowledge of arithmetic. It would be an easy matter to show that it might so happen that the system would enable one of the least successful or deserving sides to gain first place, and it is very likely that, if the suggestion is given a trial, a single season will prove to be the extent of its “ run.” All the resolu­ tions carried at the meeting of the Advisory Committee must, of course, go before the M.C.C. Committee. T h o s e who advocate Divisional reform are not disappointed at the matter being dropped for the present. I f the Advisory Committee had acted in the present humour of it's members, it could only have been to condemn the scheme. As it is, with support being steadily gained, it is hoped that Lord Hawke will be resolute enough to renew his charge in tbe autumn with quite a reasonable prospect of success. T h e Manchester District Cricket Asso­ ciation, which is composed of representa­ And SONS, Manufacturers o f all Requisites for Cricket, Lawn Tennis, Racquets, Hockey, Football, and all British Sports. PATENTEES AND SOLE MAKERS Used by all the Leading1 Players. Made In Men's, 8m*11 Mea’i, er CsUege, 6, 5, 4, * I sizes. P r i c e 1 . 1 st* F r e e o n A p p l i c a t i o n OF THE Of all First>Class Outfitters ^ a n d Dealers. \JV • Reblading a Speciality. Factory; A r t iller y P l a c e , WOOLWICH.