Cricket 1911

A p r i l 29, 1 9 1 1 . CRICKET : A W EEK LY RECORD OF THE GAME. 107 promising. It seems fairly safe to prophesy that in August the Reptonians will have every reason to be satisfied with their season’s work. W EL L IN G TON . Last season was not a success from the Wellington point of view ; in fact in not one of their eleven matches did victory crown their efforts. There seems a chance, however, that this year the result of the season may be a distinct improvement. Five old colours remain, with W. F. London in charge. The averages of these for last summer do not help us much, for not one of them had a batting average of fifteen and London appears to be the only one that bowled at all regularly and his average works out at over 21 runs a wicket. But, as already remarked, the side was probably one of the weakest the School has ever had, and one must not be too critical as to the doings of players who, in match after match, went into the field with little or no hope of success. J. M. Milton, J. K. Manger and .T. W. Hardy are all expected to make runs ; the latter, in addition, is the wicket-keeper of the side. The captain, W. F. London, is quite a good swerve bowler, though some­ what apt to be erratic. Of those who are coming on, R. D. Pank seems the most promising at present; he is a very useful medium-fast bowler. J. H. Mansfield can bowl well at times, but is a better (left-handed) batsman, W. H. G. Grey and H. 0. Minchin are both batsmen with whom it may be well to persevere, whilst C. J. Coker, is a batsman with style who is expected to do well. He is also a very fair slow bowler. London and Pank will probably open the attack with Coker,Mansfield and Crofton as changes. If all goes well they should be a very effective quintet and it will be sur­ prising if they experience the same difficulty in disposing of their opponents as they did last year. To sum up, a distinctly good school eleven may be expected this year at Wellington. W INCHESTER . 'Winchester seem to have struck a bad patch, for not since 1907 has their eleven reached the standard of the Winchester sides of former years. It has been rumoured that golf is played throughout the summer term, and if that is the case the cause of the recent deterioration in Winchester cricket is not far to seek. There are five of last year’s Eleven still in residence, one of whom, M. Woo mam, is the captain. They do not seem likely to shine in any paiticular department of the game, for the batting, with the exception of Woosnam, is only moderate, whilst scarcely as much can be said of the bowling, although R. B. Beart might be depended on at a pinch. N. W. Wells-Cole, who was so successful with the ball last year— he took sixty-three wickets for 11-71 runs apiece— will be greatly missed. The captain is by far the most useful member of the side. As a batsman he is in quite a different class from the others and his doings will be followed with the keenest interest. Last year he finished with the excellent average of 38, though it must be confessed that his figures were largely helped by his not out innings of 113. One hears a good account of Critchley-Salmonson, who is still quite young, and it is likely he may be the ‘ star ’ man of the team. He did nothing out of the way for the College last year, but Somerset gave him a trial at the end of the season. He is a very smart field one hears. T. N. Hone, quite a youngster, should improve each year until he becomes a really sound batsman. R. G. .Johnston will probably keep wicket; he is the son of the late R. H. Johnston, the old Cliftonian of Scottish cricket fame. J. A. L. Stewart is a slow bowler who will most likely act as first change to Beart and Salmonson, whilst G. E. Law should find a place in the Eleven for his batting. Eton is the only school which Winchester play—a great pity, for inter-school cricket is always keener and decidedly more interesting than fixtures with clubs and scratch teams. {To tie continued.) ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. S.A.B.M .—We know nothing about bee-hives. J. M.—No such sheets are published. THE BOARD OF CONTROL. A meeting of the Board of Control of Test Matches was held at Lord’s on Tuesday. Lord Harris presided, and among those present were Lord Lichfield, P. J. de Paravicini, H. D. Murray-Anderdon, H. D. G. Leveson-Gower and W . H. Patterson, representing the M.C.C , and W . B. Pattison (Kent), J. Shuter (Surrey), P. F. Warner (Middlesex), J. Horner (Lancashire), W. E. Denison (Notts), Dr. Russell Bencraft (Hampshire), Colonel Bruce (Sussex), Lord Hawke (Yorkshire), A. Darnell (Northants) and C. Marriott (Leicestershire), representing the first ten counties. It was decided to ask Lord Hawke and Messrs. P. F. Warner and G. L. Jessop to act as a selection sub-committee for the Trial matches this season. The charges of admission at such matches is to be 6d. With regard to the arrangement of dates and places for the Test matches in 1912 it was decided that before any decision was come to South Africa and Australia would have to be consulted. * ----------------------------------- THE ADVISORY COUNTY COMMITTEE. Following the meeting of the Board of Control the Advisory County Committee assembled. Lord Harris again presided for a time, and later Lord Lichfield. Yorkshire put forward the following proposals : (a) That in view of the proposed visit of the Australians and South Africans in season 1912, all first-class county cricket matches for that season be of only two days’ duration. (&) That the payment to professionals be a matter for each County Committee to decide, (r) That the payments to umpires be left in the hands of the Advisory County Cricket Committee. (<l) That should the first resolution be carried into effect, the championship scheme be so amended as to allow of points being awarded for a win on the first innings. (<■) That the whole question be reopened for discussion in September, 1912. These proposals were lost, the senior counties’ representatives not voting, not considering the subject of sufficient interest to them to justify them doing so. Somerset’s proposed addition to the resolution for scoring points in the County Championship passed by the Committee on Febru­ ary 24th, that the side behind on the first innings in an unfinished match should score one point, was carried, so that the rule will now read:— “ Should a match not be completed, the side leading on the first innings shall score three points and its opponents one point.” Lancashire’s motion for the appointment of a Committee to formulate a scheme to place the County Championship on a logical basis was lost. Warwickshire proposed that it be an agreement among the counties to decide the choice of innings in the fiist match by tossing, and to give the choice of innings in the return match to the side that loses the toss in the first match. This was carried, and will have to be formally approved by the M.C.C., the new rule to come into force this season. Mr. Miller proposed the following motion, which was carried:— “ That it be an agreement among the counties that the in-side have the option of rolling the wicket should they so desire for five minutes before the commencement of play and for five minutes before the commencement of play on the next day, instead of ten minutos before the commencement of play on the next day.” This regulation will come into force this season. Mr. John Shields has been appointed captain of Leicestershire for the coming season. C R I C K E T R E P A I R S . If your favorite bat is broken post it to us and we will return it to you repaired or rebladed in first-class manner at a low cost. ODD 6 SONS, Repair Experts, 55, North End, Croydon. S P O B T S GOODS L IS T S P O S T F R E E .