James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1879

5! batsman. Moncrciife was a useful man, as he was very active in the field and oceasionallyv got wickets. The school match at Lord’s was the chief victory of the Eleven, and it was won chiefly by goo<l ficlding antl careful steady cricket. Like all other schools Harrow suffered from the continuecl cold anti wet weather. “llxct-ncs'l'J-tR had a better team than they have had for some years, and certainly talte rank as almost, if not quite, the best School Eleven of the season. This was in no sliglit degree owing to the careful coaching of G. llowitt. He looked especially after‘ the promising,r bowlers, and was rewarded byi a success over litoii by s wickets. There was no especial star among the Eleven, and no great brilliancy, but they were a useful hard-working team, and -took a lot of beatinrvl Tlie fielding (as is nearly always the case) was excellent. Foi't proved himselfa reliable bat, and as captaitt showed good judgment, \Veatherby who succeeds to the post of honour, promises well in battiiig and bowling. Gutteres was perhaps the best bat, being very free, autl with fair defence; he is hardly to be excelletl as a cai‘ei130int, with avery quiclc return. Hickley, a medium left bowler, uses his head, and with good command of the ball, promises to be very good. Thriug, fast with high action, bowled well in the school match; Eyre and Moon were brilliant hitters, but uncertain, and should practise defence. of RUGBY I can give a very fair report. They are under the disadvantage of not having a chular “ coach." A11 Oltl “Rug” tells me that they had the makings ofa good Eleven. Evelyn, the captain], was obliged. to leave during the sc'tsort from illness, and this was a great loss, as he had shown considerable promise the p vious year of becoming a real good bat. Leslie is a line punishing hat. hitting well all round, with very fail“ defence, and was, perhaps, the best school but of the year; he was useful at times as a change bowler, and keeps wicket decently. Capron, with a little more steadiness, would have been a very dangerousliat; hehits to legexeeedingly well, and is good in the field. Fi .gerald showed considerable improvement, and with rather more freedom should train air to a first-class hat. Gaddum, a left» ha.nd slow bowler with a Spill from leg, was above the usual school form. Legga tt, on his (lay wn very good fast bowler with a great deal of spin; he bowled excellently agaitist .‘\ arlbomugh, and is very gootl field. Fletcher antl Prevast were butli very tine fields, the former being also a very fair bowler with n brcahback. Smith prmni s to turn into a goat] bat next year. On the whole they were a gootl hard-working every-day team. ‘ In batting,CH H.\.\t were a gootl school team,rather (leficieiit in dasli and power, but playing in gootl form all through. Oliver is every dangerous left- hand hat, hitling well to all parts, especially to the oil‘; is at times a brilliant field, but apt to be c'u'eless. Tonge plays in capital forni, and has excelletit derelicc. \\'heu he gets more strength and hits more freely he should be a line bat; is a good fielrl working hand, Francis was perhaps the best of all, playing in 0x *llent style and with rather more power. JacliSQlt was also a {mud bat, cutting beautifully, but he seldom came off when wanted; he is a very fair wicltet-liecper on slow ground. Forrest, the captaiti, is a high fast bowler, but'VCry. uncertain ; is a very fair hat, but much too nervous to do himselfjustice; is agood held; as a captain wanting decision and judgment,aud was apt to lose heart when things were going against him. Newton was at times a Vel‘y (llfi'tcult bowler, being,7 fast arid high, but tan uncertain. Brown- law was a gootl but disappointing hat; a slow bowler but not a. geodetic. It will be seen from these remarks that there was, so to speak, no bowling in the Eleven, and the fielding was lifeless and ffll‘ helow school form. There was a general want of energy and spirit throughout the whole season. Tlie two school matches were in great part lost by faint-heartcdness, antl showed want