Cricket 1911

5G6 RUGBY FOOTBALL AND CRICKET. O c to b e r 28, 1911. Abou t Sh e rb o rn e Cricket. B y a n O l d S h ir b u r n ia n . Although Sherborne cannot compare very favourably with some of the great cricketing schools, down in Dorset they nevertheless play the game better than most, and apparently the chief reason they have not made much of a reputation is because they do not meet very strong opponents. The majority of the matches are with local clubs, and only one school—Tonbridge—is met. For some years Clifton were encountered, and later Bradfield and St. Paul’s, but one by one the fixtures have been allowed to drop. O lempora ! But Sherborne have turned out some splendid crick­ eters. Their strongest period was between 1867 and 1870, when they had A. F. E. Forman, who afterwards played for Derbyshire and Dorset ; F. W. Bennett, of K en t; E. Sainsbury, who helped Somerset for a year or two, and, later, Gloucestershire ; and W. H. Game. The last-named was probably the most brilliant cricketer the School ever possessed. He was in the Eleven from 1868 to 1872 inclusive : in 1871, when he made 281 v. Motcombe School in four and a-half hours, his average was 82 ; in 1872 it was 105. So far as I am aware, only C. D. Mclver M r. R . B . R IC K M A N . — for Forest School, in 1901—besides Game, can claim an average of over a hundred whilst at school. Moreover, Game was the first Sherborne boy to obtain a cricket blue at either University. On going down from Oxford he played fairly regularly for Surrey. When Game left we were fortunate in possessing so fine a batsman as E. W. Wallington, who played for Oxford at Lord’s in 1877, and is now Private Secretary to the Queen. He has taken part in the game in many parts of the world, and did much to make cricket popular in Fiji. In the mid-seventies we were strong again. A. B. and H. S. Crosby, who afterwards played for Durham, were a tower of strength ; W. Trask, the Somerset batsman and golfer ; and F. E. Lacey, the present Secretary of the M.C.C., were all there together. The last-named was the first Shirburnian to obtain a cricket blue at Cambridge. A. O. Whiting was also in the School Eleven: he played for Oxford in 1881 and 1882, and has done grat things in his time in Ceylon. The next to become at all prominent in the cricket- world was the late E. W. Bastard, who was in the School Eleven from 1879 until 1881. He was an Oxford Blue, and for several years was a valued member of the Somerset team. In 1882 and two following seasons the late E. A. Nepean, of Oxford and Middlesex fame, was representing the School. The present captain of Surrey 2nd X I., A. W. F. Rutty, was in the Sherborne X I. in 1890 and 1891, and about the same time J. E. Stevens, the brilliant Wilt­ shire batsman, figured conspicuously on the side. C. F. Stanger-Leathes, who has often made good scores for Northumberland, headed the School averages in 1897. R.B. Rickman, of Derbyshire, was a member of what proved to be one of the best school teams of the year. This was in 1899, when Sherborne went through the season without sustaining a single defeat : in 1900 they lost only one match. By way of evidencing the excellence of the team in the former year, it may be stated that as many as half- a-dozen members of it played for second-class counties whilst still at the School. In 1902-3 R. J. Bamberger (who is, perhaps, better known as a boxer than as a cricketer) performed creditably with the ball, and in 1905 and two following years assisted Devonshire occasionally. R. W. F. .Tesson, of whom great things were expected, received his colours in 1903. But, although given a good trial at Oxford, he failed to secure his blue : still, he has played from time to time for Hamp­ shire, and may yet fulfil his early promise. The brothers Cole—G. L. and C. H.—who were in the Eleven from 1903 to 1906, were disappointing also, for they did very little at Cambridge. In 1907, 1908 and 1909 ,T. R. Tayler was the best cricketer at Sherborne, and if he can find time to keep up the game it is quite possible that he may make a name for himself. He played four times for Wiltshire in 1910 and had a batting average of 22. In this year’s Eleven there were, in I. N. Mason and A. W'. Carr, two players of exceptional possibilities. The former took part in one or two games last year for Dorset, but has now settled down in Surrey, and is a member of the Beddington C.C. He is a useful batsman and well above the average as a wicket-keeper. Carr is Surrey-born, but is associated cricketically with Notts. In 1909, when he was fifteen years of age, his average for Notts. 2nd X I. was 48. This year, against the Bruton Nomads, he ran up 224. To all except the sixth-form cricket is compulsory. M. B. Elderton, who kept wicket for Cambridge once or twice in 1907, looks after the First Eleven, whilst G. M. Carey, the old Rugby Blue and International, and himself an Old Shirburnian, brings out talent in the youngsters. They do things pretty thoroughly at Sherborne, and in most branches of sport they are a force to be reckoned with. RUMOURED RETIREMENT OF MR. P. W. SHERWELL. “ Sherwell informed os yesterday that he will be unable to assist South Africa in the triangular Test-matches of 1912 in England, either as captain or as a member of the team. He does not intend to assist his old club (the Pirates) in League cricket this season—and, as a matter of fact, he considers himself already in retirement so far as serious cricket is concerned. Unless Sherwell changes his mind South Africa will not be in a happy position next May. Schwarz would in the ordinary course of events take his place as captain, but it is not certain that he will be on the active list 8ix months hence. Neither Faulkner, Snooke, nor Sinclair, whose Test-match days are perhaps not yet over, possesses the qualifi­ cation of the ideal captain, and there is certainly nobody who could lead the team according to the standard set up by Sherwell. Every effort, of course, will be made to get him to reconsider his decision. Sherwell’s reason for retirement is his inability to get any practice, due to the demands made on his time by his profession. South Africa’s prospects in the tests are not improved by the fact that Gordon White may not be able to play regularly in England. White states that he will not go to England with the team. Leave of absence is due to him at the time, and he will probably go to England for a holiday, in which case he will offer his services to the team, provided he considers himself justified in doing so. White also does not intend to play regularly in Johannesburg this season for the Pirates .”—The Post , Johannesburg. Books Received. Tom Brown's Schooldays .—By Thomas Hughes. Illustrations by Louis Bhead. London : J. M. Dent & Co., 10 to 13, Bedford Street. Price, 5s. The late Mr. M. H. Stow left estate of the value of £11,109. The Kev. C. E. M. Wilson, of Uppingham, Yorkshire and Cambridge University, has been appointed to the Bectory of Eccleston, Cheshire.