James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annnual 1881

5 0 LILLYWHITE'SC R I C K E T E R S' A N N U A L. than the success of their owncricketers , it wouldbethat of the sons of Old England in the cricket field . He wished them a prosperous voyage and every success in the future . Mr. W. L. Murdoch , the Captain of the Australian Team,' said , the pleasures of a pleasant visit had been greatly enhanced by the honour the Lord Mayorhad done themby inviting them, on the eve of their departure , to dine at the Mansion House of London. It was an honour they all greatly prized , andone whichwouldbe felt and appreciated by everyone in Australia . It would be regarded there as a kindly welcome to the whole of the Australian colonies , and he thanked the Lord Mayor very heartily indeed for his kind expressions of goodwill towards them, and also for kindly wishes for their future . Lord Harris replied for the ' Cricketers of England.' A ttwenty minutes to eight , on the following morning, the team left Charing Cross for Dover, on their homeward journey , and a large company attended at the station to wish them' Godspeed.' C H A P T E RII. The Marylebone Club in 1880. OFFICERS FOR 1880 .--- President , W. Nicholson . Treasurer , Hon. Spencer Ponsonby Fane. Secretary , H. Perkins . Trustees , Earl of Dudley, Earl of Sefton , H o n. F. Ponsonby, R. Broughton, W. Nicholson. Committee , Lord Lyttelton , R. C. Antrobus , J. M. Heathcote , V. E. Walker, S. Bircham , F. Lee, T. Ratliff , A. W. Ridley , Earl Winterton , H o n. R. Grimston, H. M. Marshall, A. Rutter, E. L. Bateman, Lieut.- Col. Kenyon-Slaney , G. F. Vernon and Rev. A. R. Ward. Auditors J. Ward, Rev. J. Randolph , E. S. E. Hartopp . A P R O G R A M M Eof 95 matchesw o u l db e sufficient were there n o other evidence to prove how thoroughly the Marylebone Club fulfils its mission as the chief supporter of English cricket . Each succeeding year , indeed , sees the Marylebone eleven extending their area of operations , and the good that is done by these visits of the premier club cannot be over- estimated . Fortunately in the most important matches of the year the weather was favourable , and Lord's , though at times suffering from the early rains the same as other grounds , was generally in good playing order . O f the ninety-five matches played, forty -two were won, thirty -six drawn, and only seventeen lost , so that there was no possible reason for complaint with regard to the results , though with such an array of bowling talent to constitute ' the ground ' the club ought generally to be secured from defeat .