James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1887

2 4 2 LILLYWHITE'SCRICKETERS' ANNUAL. C H A P T E R V I I I. T H EA V E R A G E S ( F I R S T- C L A S S ) O F 1 8 8 6 .* [T H Efigures which follow are taken fromthe chief fixtures of the MaryleboneClub, the University matches, all fixtures against the Australians, the principal representative contests , andthe matches played by Notts , Yorkshire , Lancashire , Derbyshire , Gloucestershire , Surrey , Middlesex , Kent, and Sussex .] T H EB A T S M E N . REMARKABLEas the year 1885 was for high batting averages , they have been surpassed in the past season . This is the more noteworthy whenthe wet weather and consequent run of bad wickets experienced in the month of M a yare taken into account . In 1885 seven batsmen (Bates , Gunn, Dr. W .G. Grace, Read(M.), W. W. Read, Shrewsbury, andUlyett) scored over 1000 runs , and it is interesting to note that all these (except Gunn) have again achieved a like success . This year they are joined by Abel, Hall (L.), and Hearne (G. G.) ; and right well have all three deserved the proud distinction . The chief honours practically resulted in a deadheat between W. W. Read and Shrewsbury. The former maintained his brilliant form of last season , but is ousted from his position of highest aggregate by the Champion (Dr. W . G. Grace), a title which he most deservedly still holds , notwithstanding that this washis twenty-first year of first -class cricket . A. G. Steel , A. J. Webbe, and C. Wilson are well to the front , though they played comparatively but seldom . M. Readcomes next with a slight improvement of the excellent average he obtained last season ; while Lord Harris , S. W . Scott , and G. K e m p follow him closely with good averages of over 30. A ninspection of the following tables will speak for the remainder , though mention should be made of the improvement shownbyAbel, Hearne (G. G.) , Hall (L. ) , Hon. M. B. Hawke, A. N. Hornby, Humphreys(W.) , F. Marchant, A. E. Stoddart, andL. Wilson. SCORERSOF 1,000R U N SA N DU P W A R D S. Inns. T i m e s n o to u t. M o s tin R u n s. a nI n n s. Average. A b e l 4 7 5 1 2 2 1 1 4 4 2 9 . 3 B a t e s 4 4 1 1 0 1 8 1 3 6 23.29 Grace, Dr. W .G.. 5 5 3 1 8 4 6 1 7 0 3 5 . 2 6 Hall,L. 4 1 4 1 0 0 5 9 2 2 7 . 6 Hearne,G.G. 4 5 6 1 1 2 5 1 2 6 28.33 R e a d,M . 4 3 4 1 3 6 4 1 8 6 3 4 . 3 8 Read, W .W . 4 6 3 1 8 2 5 1 2 0 42.19 Shrewsbury, А. 3 8 5 1 4 0 4 *2 2 7 42.18 Ulyett 5 2 0 1 0 0 5 7 8 19.17 A V E R A G E SO F 2 5 R U N SA N DU P W A R D S . T i m e s M o s tin I n n s. n o to u t. R u n s. a nI n n s Average G u n n Harris, Lord. Hornby, A. Ν. Humphreys, W . K e m p, G. I... Lucas, F. M..... 3 1 3 7 5 2 8 3 2 6 . 2 4 2 0 0 6 4 4 7 6 3 2 . 4 3 2 0 8 4 2 1 6 1 26.10 3 5 8 7 3 5 *6 8 2 7 . 6 1 8 2 4 9 7 1 2 5 31.1. 1 7 1 4 7 4 1 2 1 29.10 * N o batsmanis included w h ohasa n average lower than10 runs, or has played less thanfive innings.