Cricket 1910

45 § CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. Nov. 24, 1910. remarked that what Essex needed was an all-rounder or two of the stamp o f George Hirst. A tall order, gentlemen ! M a jo r - G e n e r a l C o l in M a c k e n z ie , who has recently taken up his appoint­ ment at Ottawa as Chief of the Canadian Staff, was one of the finest batsmen in the Army in the eighties. At Simla in 1885, when Lieutenant in the Seaforth H igh­ landers, he made 259 for the Simla C .C . v. the 2nd Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, and four years later, when Captain, scored 210 for Murree v. Rawal­ pindi on the Murree ground. (Only Lieut.-Col. L. A. H . Hamilton had pre­ viously exceeded the second hundred twice in India.) General Mackenzie, by-the-way, has seen much active service. He gained the D.S.O. for his conduct during a night assault during tlie Nile Forts Expedition, was at the battle of Khartoum and served with distinction in South Africa. For many years he had the reputation of being the best-looking man in the British Army. L ie u t . H a r o l d S. K a y e , who has played on a few occasions for Yorkshire, has been promoted to a captaincy in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, a regiment in which he has served over nine years. T h e H o n . J oh n W il l ia m M a n s f ie l d , the old Winchester and Cambridge cricketer, has been appointed Chancery Visitor o f Lunatics, in place of Mr. Ralph Palmer, retired. In 1833 only C. T. Studd beat him in the University batting averages. M r . J a m e s G a r d in e r , Chairman of the Western Australian Cricket Associa­ tion, recently returned from a stay of some months in England and, in the course of an interview, stated that interest in the game in this country was at a low ebb. The largest attendance at any match last season was 10,000. Referring to the South African team, he said the general opinion of leading cricketers in England was that the South Africans had no chance against Australia. P. F. Warner and others were o f opinion that the googly bowling would not trouble the Australian batsmen on their hard wickets. M r. G a r d in e r , if he has been reported correctly, is altogether wrong in stating that the largest attendance at any match last season was 10,000, for on more than one occasion double that number were present on a single day. O w in g to the visit of the South Africans tlie proposed tour of the West Australian team in the Eastern States has been abandoned. Next season tlie trip will probably be postponed again on account o f the presence of the English team, so 1912-13 appears to be the earliest date that the tour can be undertaken. W r it in g in the Australasian, ‘ F elix’ says:— “ B. Kortlang has just come back from Western Australia after a stay which lasted about two months. The climate of the golden West seems to agree with him, for he has put on more than a stone in weight. He saw the old express bowler, E. Jones, on the “ fields,” and found him fit and well. The old “ Barrier ” cham­ pion has a son coming along, and he bids fair to become a first-rate fast bowler. He is only a lad, and Kortlang was sur­ prised at his pace. That fine batsman, young Parker, of Perth, has a most ardent admirer in Kortlang, who reckons him a genuine Test-match cricketer. He has, latterly, been wearing glasses, but will soon, I trust, be able to discard them. Apart from his brilliant batting his ability in the field is marked. Kortlang tells me that, when you are fielding cover to Parker, his cuts simply “ flash ” past you.” T h e Victorian Cricket Association have decided to grant T. Warne, o f Carlton, a benefit match during the present season. It is suggested that the match should be Australia v. Rest of Australia, at Mel­ bourne. T h e annual election of members of the committee of the Melbourne Cricket Club was held on September 15th, at the Melbourne Athenaeum. There were seven vacancies and nine candidates, one of whom (Dr. W . C. M ‘Clelland), stood in the interests of the football team. The result, as declared by Mr. Alexander Gillespie, w a s:— *H. TRUMBLE .................. ... 1,237 *E. F. MITCHELL .......... ... 1,233 *1) r . R. M A IL E R .................. ... 1,213 *A. A. AITKEN .................. ... 1,190 *W. M 'B E A N ........................... ... 1,081 *W. B. PLEASENTS .......... 994 W. C. M'CLELLAND.......... 840 *G. B. Gordon........................... 732 D. M ‘Ilw raith........................... 546 ^Signifies a retiring member. The first seven were elected. H u g h T r u m b l e has been appointed sole selector to the Victorian Cricket Asso­ ciation in succession to P. A. McAlister, who occupied the position last season but has been beaten by the old Australian bowler. T h e annual balance-sheet of the V ic­ torian Cricket Association shows that after paying a dividend of ,£50 to each district club and .£25 to each sub-district club, absorbing ,£900, there is a credit balance of .£278 17s. lid . The hon. treasurer, Mr. H . R. Rush, says that if the South African tour is the success they anticipate the dividend next year will be at least ±150 per club. The affairs of the Association have never been so prosperous as they are now, but the secretary’s salary remains at £75, the amount to which it was reduced about eight years ago, when the Association was not in the strong financial position it is at present. In last month’s Gossip I mentioned the fact that G. J. Bonnor, the Australian hitter of other days, had contributed some reminiscences of cricket to the Orange Leader. The announcement caused so many readers to suggest that the article should be reprinted that their request has been acceded to. The reminiscences will be found on page 454. O n September 23rd and 24th a two-days’ match was played between Trumper’s X I. and XV . of Marrickville in order to mark the opening of the Marrickville Oval. The visitors, who scored 223 to 79, won easily. E. L . Waddy made 107 in 115 minutes, hitting a 6 and ten 4's, but R. A. Duff was bowled by a shooter before he could get going, Trumper fell to the second ball he received and Bardsley to the second. Macartney, Hopkins and Carter did not put in an appearance, the first-named owing to an attack of mumps. T he barracker still makes himself heard on Australian grounds. In last month’s match in Sydney between Glebe and Redfern Albert Cotter, when he bowled one or two wide of the wicket, was advised “ not to aim at the pub., as the ball wasn’t thirty! ” A t the annual meeting of the Tasmanian Cricket Association in the Town Hall, Hobart, on September 22nd, the President (Sir John Dodds) presented Mr. K. E . Burn with the trophy which he won for making the highest individual score, and in the course of his remarks indulged in some chaff at the famous cricketer’s expense and incidentally paid him some very high compliments. Sir John referred to the fact that the last time he had had an opportunity of making a presentation to Mr. Burn he did so with great regret, as it was at a time when he announced his intention of retiring from the game. Since then the attractions of the game had proved too strong, and Mr. Burn had again taken to the field. When he retired they were told something about the veteran being unable to stoop, and a lot of other things. That proved all wrong, as he both stooped and conquered, and they were just as proud of his successes as Mr. Burn was himself. He congratulated Mr. Burn on his great performances, and hoped to see him still pointing the way to younger players. Sir John’s remarks were received with great applause, and the reception which the veteran got when he rose to his feet must have reminded him of the applause which has so often greeted him on the field. F r o m the Tasmanian Mail “ The dates arranged by the New South Wales Association -December 31, January 2, 3 and 4—for the match at Sydney against Tasmania are unsuitable for this State, and the Tasmanian Cricket Association is corres­ ponding with the neighbouring Association, askiDg that dates in March be set apart for the visit of the Tasmanians. It is pointel out that, should tbe N.S.W.C.A. decline to make tbe alteration suggested, it will be diffi­ cult for the Tasmanian players to get the necessary leave of absence, and furthermore it will mean that our cricketers will have to be playing continually from December 26 up till the end of Januaiy, the matches listed