James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1890

2 2 LILLYWHITE'SCRICKETERS' A N N U A L. indeed , Mr. Smith found his menhandicapped to a great extent by the glare of the grounds ; and at Kimberley, in particular , the local players made such a goodshowthat they came to the conclusion that they would be able to compete with the Englishmen on even terms . That they were not equal to such an ambitious task was fully proved at the close of the tour, both atPort Elizabeth andlater on at Cape Town, in which latter case the English team w o nby no less thanan innings and 202 runs . Still , the cricketers of South Africa hadno reason to be dissatisfied with their bold experiment , and the lesson they learned is not likely to be thrown away. Altogether the tour has, as we have already stated , realized the expectations of the promoters . Abel's consistently brilliant batting , the remarkable bowling of Briggs, and the wicket -keeping of Mr. Bowdenand Wood, who fairly electrified the locals , were the best features on the English side . The main interest though of the tour was in its probable effects in the developmentof the g a m ein SouthAfrica. That immensegood will accrue , and in the near future , seems certain . Cricket itself has already received a great fillip in the stimulus given by this first visit of English players . Notonly have the players themselves learned the weakpoints in their play b u tthe clubs h a v ederivedmaterialbenefitf r o mtheincremento theirfunds by the large attendances , and improvements have been thus effected on the grounds, which will be of permanent use. The quality of SouthAfrican cricket generally did not belie the expecta- tions of those whohadhad an opportunity of testing it recently . Thefielding was, perhaps , the best feature , at times brilliant , though a long innings had a demoralizing effect . Lieut . Stewart , in the long field , was brilliant , and generally the average wasgood. Thewicket -keeping was like X, anunknownquantity , and the deficiency in this respect made the form of Mr. Bowdenand W o o d appear the more extraordinary . A capable stumper was the great need. Mr. W .H. Milton , the old Marlburian , was perhaps the best all -round cricketer the English team met during their tour. In the opening match he showed very good form all round, but later on washardly seen at his best owing to a slight sunstroke . There were manyother capable batsmen though, and amongthem the old Oxonian, Mr. O. R. Dunell , Messrs . Giddy of Grahamstown, Hutchinson of Natal, and Tancred of Kimberley. The last -namedwas,by general consent , the best batsmanmetduring the tour. O fthe bowling there was nothing that could be really defended as first- class . OfTheunissen , a fast bowler, great things were expected . Hehas a natural break from the off , but deficient in pitch , and was at times very erratic , proving , in fact , a great disappointment . Innes , of Port Elizabeth , madea muchbetter impression . Mediumpaced left hand, with a break from either direction , anda very good length , he was at times very destructive for a few overs . H eis , how- ever, young and not of very strong physique , so that he tired soon , a defect whichwill be remedied with increasing strength . Ashley of Cape Town, also a left handmediumbowler, did good service for his side , and at times put in a ball good enough to puzzle the best batsmen, though all round he could not be described as more than an average bowler. O nthe whole the form, as our remarks have, we fancied , foreshadowed , was of a fairly good standard . A tthe sametime there is any amountof enterprise , as well as enthusiasm , for the game in South Africa , and with the experience of this tour and the benefit of the example of good cricketers like Messrs . Smith and Bowden, whoare temporarily settled with them, and of the instruction to be got from the professional players w h oare sure to visit them, it is certain that a representative eleven of South Africa will render a thoroughly good account of itself in England in the near future . Throughout the tour the greatest kindness and hospitality wasshownto every memberof the English team, and all speak very highly of the reception metwith everywhere . The travelling was the only inconvenience , and in proof of the workthey had to do in this wayit will be interesting to show the mileage theycoveredfromthe time they left Englandupto their return. Distances travelled byMajorWarton's Teambetween 22nd November, 1888 , and 15th April , 1889 .