James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1890

1 4 LILLYW H I T E ' SCRICKETERS' A N N U A L. most wanted . In the Brighton match Richards failed utterly , and could get neither runs nor wickets , but he was really most dependable , and his innings at Tonbridge, where he scored 137 not out in a total of 208, was specially note- worthy. W eshall watch his future career with great interest , and we have every hope that he will prove himself something more than a good school cricketer. 4 0 The Malvern boys maderather a poor show at Repton, and yet it was evident that several of the team had cricket in them, and we shall be much surprised if they do not give a better account of themselves this year. Further , w emustnot judge them by this performance alone ; indeed , in estimating the merits of the team, it would be far better to shut out this match altogether from our minds. Apart from this match the performances of the eleven were, on the whole, very fair ; they madea close fight with Rossall , and in one or two of their other matches showed considerable powers of scoring . Early in the year Pike played two long innings , but Corbett wasthe chief run-getter of the team, and is easily first in the averages . H ewas not, however, as good a cricketer as Latham, who deserves the highest praise for his pluck and perseverance . Lathamwill be at school for two more seasons at least , and ourfirm belief is that, with the support and advice that he has at hand, he will be able to restore the prestige of Malvern cricket . Thegreatest praise is due to W o o dfor his energetic captaincy during the last two seasons at Marlborough . His example, and the uniform success of the eleven last year, have done a great deal to revive the interest in cricket , which had for some time been at rather a low ebb. The '89 teamwas strong at all points , the fielding safe and smart, Chambers being really brilliant , the wicket- keeping good , while in Hill and Etlinger they had a pair of most useful bowlers . Addedto this there was batting power right through the side , so their unin- terrupted successes were due to good all -round play. Rugbyand Cheltenham were easily beaten , the former by six, and the latter by nine wickets . In these matches Collins was seen to great advantage , his 124 against Cheltenham especially being an almost faultless display . Hehas developed into a very good bat, but unluckily does not go to the 'Varsity , and, as he belongs to Berks, his chances of getting into good cricket are somewhatlimited . W o o dalso did well in the school matches, and though rather shaky at starting , is a fine free hitter after the first few overs . Hill heads the averages , and has great punishing powers , but a tendency to pull straight balls often proved fatal to him. He was probably the best all-round m a nin the team, though Etlinger might dispute the proud position with him. The latter is still at school and ought to dogreat things this year with bat and ball . He will have to work hard to keep upthe reputation of last season , as there will be eight or nine vacancies to be filled ; still , success is probable , promising youngsters abound, and the keenness whichW o o dso largely engendered is boundto bear fruit . Therewasno one of the class of Beresford or Badcley in the Oundle eleven of last year ; and, to judge by the averages , they cannot have been very formidable opponents . Reade was , however , a good and promising bowler , and was doubtless the pick of the team ; his batting improved as the term advanced , and as he is a capital field we think he mayfairly be placed in the class of useful cricketers. TheRadley boys were not nearly so successful as in the previous year , though their lob -bowler, Wright, by taking 11 wickets for 59 runs , wonthem their match against Bradfield . Their only other victory was against Reading , when Sich made77 not out, the one long score of any Radleian during the entire season . Bathurst did not improve, his figures both in batting and bowling comparing unfavourably with those of '88 . Still he was the best player in the team, and, if he can only gain power, he mayyet redeem his early promise . Orlebar and Theobald , a pair of younghands, showed some scoring ability , and with six or seven of the old teamat hand, the eleven ought to do better this year. Theseason at Repton was entered on with mingled hopes and fears ; hopes, that the trio of old choices might be equal to their responsibilities , and that the