James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1878

PART II. C H A P T E R I. THE MARYLEBONE CLUB IN 1877. O fficers for 1877*— President , Duke of Beaufort. Treasurer , T. Bur- goyne. Secretary ,H. Perkins. T the Earlo Setton, Hon. F. Ponsonby, W . Nicholson, R . Broughton. iv. Forster, Hon. R . Grimston, A . H. S. Barry, C. Marriott, Lord Harris, Hon. S. P. Fane, Col. Taswell, Captain KLenyon-Slaney, Viscount Lewisham, C. E. Boyle, Hon. E. C. Leigh, G. H. Wood, Lord Lyttleton, R . C. Antrobus, V . E. Walker, J. M. Heathcote. Auditors , S. E . Hartopp, R . J. Ward, and Rev. J. Randolph. That the season of 1877 was far more interesting to the members of the M.C.C. may be attributed to the accession of the Middlesex County Club on its removal from Prince’s. For some years there had been a complaint that there was not so much first-class cricket at Lord’s as the revenues and position of the Club warranted, and beyond all doubt with the exception of the two fashionable meetings of the season, there had been for some time to the out­ side world, an air of monotony and apathy about the cricket at Lord’s. The addition of the Middlesex fixtures filled a decided blank in the Marylebone programme, and there was certainly more life in the appearance of matters at head-quarters, than in the previous year. Mr. Henry Perkins, who had acted as temporary Secretary on the retirement of Mr. R . A . Fitzgerald, at the generameeting was appointed to undertake the office permanently, and under his care the affairs of the Club showed no deterioration. Sixty-five matches were played during the year and of this number, an increase of five on the list of 1876, only 11 were lost, which may fairly be considered a very creditable bud­ get. The ground was in fine condition, thanks to the care of Pearce the head man in charge, the wickets were good, and altogether the management was judicious as well as successful. Rumour was busy during June with the Eton and Harrow match, and it was stated that another year would either see its removal from Lord’s or its postponement until the close of the London season, but which alternative will meet with the approval of the governing bodies of the two schools, remains to be seen. MARYLEBONE CLUB. Results of Matches. (The numbers attached to the several contests show the order in which they are treated in the Critical Notes.) Matches Played , 65 ; Won , 27 ; Drawn , 27 ; Lost , II. Club. Opponents. Where When ist 2nd 1st 2nd Played. Played. Inn. Inn. Inn. Inn. Opponents. Matches Won (27). I Hampshire . . . . . . 3 England................. R . M. A . Woolwich 5 Oxford University . Lord’s May 3-4 107 149 202 *55 M May H-15 n 4 3 6 100 26 5 J May 18-19 85 128 29 T4 Oxford May 24 124 — 12 35 ! Won by 9 wkts *1 w d 24 runs