James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1882

3 8 LILLYWHITE'SCRICKETERS' A N N U A L. P A R T I I. C H A P T E R I. The Marylebone Club in 1881 . OFFICERS FOR 1881. -President , Lord George Hamilton . Treasurer , Hon. Spencer PonsonbyFane. Secretary , H. Perkins . Trustees , Earl of Dudley, Earl of Sefton , Earl of Bessborough, R. Broughton, W. Nichol- son . Committee , Sir W. Hart Dyke, C. E. Boyle , Hon. A. Lyttelton , E. Hume, S. Bircham , F. Lee , T. Ratliff , A. W. Ridley , Earl Winterton , Hon. R. Grimston , H. M. Marshall , A. Rutter , E. L. Bateman, Lieut.- Col. Kenyon- Slaney , G. F. Vernon , and Rev. A. R. Ward. Auditors , Rev. J. Randolph, E. S. E. Hartopp, R. C. Antrobus. THE COMMITTEEof the Marylebone Club were so far lucky that most of the principal matches in its programmewere decided while the weather was fairly settled . The almost continuous rains of Augustwere of comparative unimportance, as the last monthof the cricket at Lord's is mostly occupied withminorfixtures , so that the M.C.C., though some of its engagements wereinjured by the weather, suffered to nothing like the sameextent as the majority of the county clubs . In commentingon the results of the season of 1880, wecalled attention to the great care and judgment required to carry through that year's programmeof 95 engagements. Of that numberonly 17were lost , but a reference to the elaborate list which follows will show that in 1881 as manyas 117 matches were played , and without a perceptible hitch , showing an increase of 22 on any previous card . Of these 117 as m a n yas 55 were won, 51 drawn, and only 11 lost . Of the principal coun- ties Yorkshire , Lancashire , Derbyshire , Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, and Somersetshire all opposed the Marylebone Club. Of these only one-to wit, the championshire of the year, Lancashire -was able to carry off the honours , and then only by the barest possible majority of two wickets . Thematchbetween M.C.C. and GroundandEnglandwas instituted with a goodobject , but as it was played last year it proved to be a complete farce , andunless a fairly representative Eleven of Englandis to be got, it would be advisable to substitute some contest likely to be more attractive even if it be called by a less imposing title .