James Lilllywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1880

P A R T I I. C H A P T E R I. T H EM A R Y L E B O N E C L U BI N 1879. OFFICERS FOR 1879.- President , W. Nicholson . Treasurer , T. Burgoyne . Secretary , H. Perkins . Trustees , Earl of Dudley , Earl of Sefton , Hon. F. Ponsonby , R. Broughton , W. Nicholson . Committee , C. E. Boyle , Hon. E. Chandos Leigh, Viscount Lewisham, G. H. Wood, Lord Lyttelton , R. C. Antrobus, J. M. Heathcote , V. E. Walker, S. Bircham, F. Lee, T. Ratliff , A. W. Ridley . Earl Winterton , Hon. R. Grimston , H. M. Marshall , and A. Rutter . Auditors , J. Ward, Rev. J. Randolph , E. S. E. Hartopp . THATthe committee of the Marylebone Club acted nobly upto the high standard that is expected of them will be proved by a glance at the liberal programme , they were able to carry through in spite of the many difficulties that must have been experienced during such a cheerless season . An elaborate list of fixtures , arranged for every part of the country , must, to be brought off success- fully , require judicious as well as energetic management , and the records will bear a very favourable comparison with those of 1878 , in every possible way. The fact of only seven matches lost out of such an extensive list is strong testi- mony, too , of the ability with which the various elevens were selected ; and cricketers everywhere will recognise with satisfaction the evident desire of the executive of the Premier Club to enlarge its sphere of utility with each succeeding year. At the annual meeting in May last , the muster roll of members mounted to 2,408 , with 570 candidates craving for admission ; and , with the ground free from incumbrances , the M.C.C. will be the most wealthy , as well as most influential , society in the cricket world. The condition of the ground at Lord's gave rise to considerable uneasiness , as , owing to the continued rain and apparently defective drainage , the turf was hardly ever in a fit state for play during the three months that form the cricket year of M.C.C. This wasthe only drawback to a very prosperous season , but it is a matter of con- siderable interest to the entire body of cricketers , as well as to the club , that the remedy should be decisive . The ground staff for 1879 at Lord's consisted of T. Hearne , A. Shaw, Wild, Morley , Rylott , Randon , Farrands , Flanagan , Clayton , West , Nixon , W. Mycroft , T. Mycroft , G. G. Hearne , Sherwin , Wheeler , W. Price , Flowers , W, Hearn, Barnes , Pilling , and Steele . E