James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1882

2 3 8 L I L L Y W H I T E ' SC R I C K E T E R S ' A N N U A L . C H A P T E R V I I. The Averages in 1881 . T H EB A T S M E N . TAKINGeverything into consideration , there was little to find fault with in the performances of the Chief Cricketers with the bat during the past season . Ill -health , accidents , and other causes necessitated the absence of some of the most prominent players , notably Lord Harris , Hon. Ivo Bligh , Mr. Frank Penn, and Hill , from many of the most important engage- ments. Yet, on the whole, the figures will compare favourably with previous years . The almost continuous rains of August interfered consider- ably with some of the averages , particularly in county cricket ,but generally the wickets were in order for run-getting ; and not only did most of the old favourites sustain their fame, but in some cases high reputations were won byyoungand comparatively untried players . For the first time for m a n y years Mr. W. G. Grace has had to give up the place he has held so long at the head of the batting averages ; and, as will be seen from the numberof his innings , he confined his attention chiefly to first -class cricket . His average , creditable as it is, shows a falling off in comparison with former years , but he still had one superior in 1881 , and that the one other cricketer w h ocould be consideredto equal h i min devotionandenthusiasm to the game. Of Mr. Hornby's achievements pages might be written , but w emustcontent ourselves with calling attention to his figures , which are far ahead of any other amateur or professional of the year. Ulyettwas handicapped slightly by a strain , which kept him out of a few matches about the middle of the season , but his hitting was at times more powerful than ever , enabling him to make a better show than his old comrade, E. Lockwood, with all his stubborn defence . Barnes, who was in ill- health during the whole of the summer, was not so successful as in 1880 ; but Barlow, Bates, Emmett, Midwinter, and Selby , all came out well ; and Alfred Shaw played such good cricket during May that in all probability he would have surpassed any of his previous achievements but for his unexpected secession . Amongthe amateurs, the Hon. E. Lyttelton and Mr. Moberly played rarely , but on the few occasions on which they appeared their form was very conspicuous ; and the fine free cricket shown by Mr. Frank Penn at Lord's , for Kent, and in Jupp's benefit at the Oval , madehis absence from illness the more disappointing . Mr. Ellis , the Sussex Captain , failed to fulfil the hopes formed by his effective batting in 1880, but Sussex found a very valuable addition in Mr. Bettesworth , a sounder player ; and Surrey was fortunate in securing the entire services of Mr. W. W. Read, who proved himself , with the benefit of increased practice , one of the very best amateur batsmenof the day. Neither Messrs . I. D. Walker nor A. J. Webbewere quite as successful as in former years , but Messrs . W. H. Patterson , A. G. Steel , C. T. Studd, G. B. Studd, Vernon, and Cranston can all point to very creditable figures ; and two newplayers of very great promise cameprominently before the public in the persons of Messrs . Leslie , of Oxford , and L. C. Docker , of Derbyshire ,