Cricket 1913
390 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J uly 12, 1913 together and doing a magnificent dash several yards faster than evens.” He supposes that “ time and bitter experience will eventually bring to the South Australian members of the team a better appreciation of Sydney’s pre-eminence in everything, human or otherwise ! ” T h e y had a rough trip after leaving Auckland, “ and for once there was no delicate (?) aroma of cigar to be found in the vicinity of Edgar Mayne.” But E. R. M. maintained that he was quite well— quite. Asked if he had had any luncheon he replied heartily, “ Yes, rather ! ” Pressed further, he admitted that it had consisted of a couple of apples. The ship's apples were “ about the size of a well-nourished gooseberry.” T h e r e was a 24 hours’ sea-sickness endurance contest between Diamond and Campbell. “ Diamond’s persistency had its reward, and he was finally left in undisputed possession of the field, clinging with great vigour to the side of the vessel. Eventually the game was given up, this being the only thing left that hadn’t already shared that fate ! ” T h o s e who pin their faith to the printed word and chance to be collectors of cricket records may be inclined to give an honoured place in their scrap-book to the marvellous feat achieved (according to the Manchester Courier) by F. Farrelly, of Stonyhurst College, playing v. M.C.C. Here is the line in the score-sheet which baldly chronicles a feat to which half a column could scarcely have done justice : Smith, st and b F. Farelly . . . 3 I t used to be said that the only thing the late E. M. Grace could not do on the cricket field was to keep wicket to his own bowling. The Stonyhurst representative goes one better : he can ! Or— a horrid doubt assails me— is it possible that the Courier is wrong ? The Tonbridge School eleven includes two brothers of Percy Sherwell, the best leader South Africa ever had. Another brother— there are nine or ten of the clan altogether, I believe— is O. W. Sherwel^, who makes lots of runs for South Hampstead. I chance to know that the father of the brotherhood was at one time in the habit of keeping an album of cuttings referring to his sons’ doings in the world of sport. If he has continued to do this, the albums by now must occupy a pretty big space on a shelf. M y notes about Iremonger’s management of the Notts bowling were written before Alletson was put on against Kent, and were in type when he helped to win the game for his side. It was not a matter of being wise after the event. I saw Alletson bowl at Hove a couple of years ago, and I have believed ever since that in some county elevens he would be a stock bowler. H .P.-T.’s amusing verses, by the way, were rather put out of date by the Trent Bridge failure of the White Horse brigade. We all love Kent. I have cause to hold it dear. But it is not for the good of the game generally that any county should be unbeatable ; and though one would have liked to see John Mason carry his side to victory, and regretted that Dillon’s injury should have handicapped that side so greatly, yet the Nottingham result undoubtedly gives new interest to the County Championship struggle. “ C r i c k e t is a loafing game, quite opposed to the spirit of speed, which is so essential a factor in the world of to-day.” . . . . “ Cricket has, in my opinion, a bad moral influence on those who play it.” . . . . “ Cricket, when played in the form of half-day and one- day matches, is a good game for boys, but should be left behind at school.” T h e s e are choice extracts— Wisdom While You Wait— from an article in Pearson’s Magazine by “ A Member of the M.C.C.” Why he is a member of the M.C.C. I cannot imagine— unless M.C.C. means Muddle- headed Croakers’ Club, and not Marylebone Cricket Club ! How can “ a loafing game,” with “ a bad moral influence,” be “ a good game for boys ” ? Certain statements made in the article have a substratum of truth ; but cricket is not dying, and it is not likely to die through losing the half-hearted support of such gentlemen as the writer of this article. It can get along better without. Lloyd's of Sunday last had “ Sussex Martinets ” 291, Gatton 87. Mr. A. F. Somerset captained the Martlets at Gatton on Saturday. Was it in compliment to him that they were rechristened ? T h e South African Cricket Association has approved of the following guarantees for the M.C.C. tour : £1000 for two Test matches at Johannesburg ; ' £900 for two Test matches at Durban ; £450 for one Test match at Cape Town ; £450 for two Western Province matches at Cape T ow n ; £500 for two Transvaal matches at Johannesburg; £225 for one Transvaal match at Pretoria ; £150 for a match at K imberley; £150 for Bloemfontein; £150 for Port E lizabeth ; £120 for Grahamstown ; £150 for East London ; £150 for King Williamstown ; £120 for Oudtshoorn ; £50 for Mossel Bay ; £225 for one Natal match at Durban ; £175 for one Natal match at Pietermaritzburg ; £100 for a match at' Ladysm ith; £100 for Potchefstroom; £300 for Bulawayo; and £300 for Salisbury. Total, £5,675. The heavy expenses of travelling are responsible for the big guarantees asked of the two Rhodesian towns. T h e estimate of expenses for a side consisting of six amateurs and eight professionals is £5,517, which is £1,102 more than in 1909-10. The pros, are to have £250 each against £200 then, and the amateurs more liberal out-of-pocket expenses— £75 each, which is not too much, one would say. Some of the other items of the estimate may be of interest : Steamer fares, £840 ; railway fares, £300 ; hotel accommodation and meals on trains, £1,150 ; washing, £110 (six amateurs, £60 ; eight professionals, £50) ; tips, £150. The side is expected to take out its own manager this time. T h e Australian Team in America has offered to play a match free of any charge whatever against 21 colts of Victoria— or of British Columbia, possibly; I am not clear which— with Crawford Coates as captain. The game will take place just before the team sets sail, in
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