James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1891

CRICKETIN 1890. 9 wickets they had proved themselves to be an exceptionally dangerous lot of run- getters , and as they had in addition bowling on the whole of a better quality , under anycircumstances in all likelihood they would have shown to the greater advantage . Even as the game went, on a wicket spoiled by rain , and with all the worst of the luck in losing the toss , the result was only for a very short time at any period of the gamereally in doubt ; although hadit not been for Mr. F. G. Ford's well-hit score of 32 not out at the close, the finish might havebeen very interesting . Asit was, rain prevented any play on the first day, and, owing to the same cause , not a ball was bowled after luncheon on the second . As a consequence , there was no chance for the batsmen at all , and, indeed , there was only one individual score of over thirty -that of Mr. Ford above referred to-in the match. In fact , the aggregate numberof runs in the match was only 301 for thirty -three wickets , which only gives an average of a fractionoverninerunsfor eachb a t s m a n. Thoughthe wet weather during the early part of the season interfered sadly withthe tuition of the various elevens, there wasstill a gooddeal of cause for satisfaction in the general outlook of public school cricket . As the form of the different teams has been closely analyzed by an old Oxonian in another part of theANNUAL, it would be a workof supererogation if I were to spend anytime in going over the same ground. One noteworthy feature was the composition of the Eton eleven , which, owing to the illness of the captain , G. P. Gosling , was actually left without an old choice -an experience unique , I should fancy, in public school cricket . Inspite of this great disadvantage ,however, the Etonians madeamuchbetter show at Lord's than was expected ; and though they had all the worst of the draw with Winchester , would in all probability have beaten Harrowhadthe gamebeen completed . Winchester on paper had a good all -round side , and Marlborough too . Clifton would, I think , have come well out of a contest with manyof the schools of a higher reputation . A. C. MacLaren, the Harrowcaptain , wasone of the best public school batsmen of the year, and he morethanmaintained his promise by the excellent all -round cricket he showedfor Lancashire later in the season . C. M. Wells , of Dulwich College , whois nowat Cambridge , was extraordinarily successful , both with bat and ball ; andBathurst the Radley captain , was very muchabove the average as an all -round player . Thefrequent rainfall throughout the season wasof course more in favour of the bowlers than the batsmen. Still , in spite of the generally slow wickets , the batting averages in the more important matches were in manynotable instances remarkably good . Shrewsbury commenced the season in exceptionally bril- liant form, and it looked as if he would be credited with a phenomenal average . As it was, however, he did not seem to be in anything like the best of health during the latter part of the summer, and in Augusthe was obviously out of form altogether . Still , even then his figures were remarkably good, con- siderably in advance of the most successful of the other batsmen of the year. G u n n, though not able to vie with his mate, had no other superior , and the batting of the two Nottingham men, Gunnand Shrewsbury, wasoneof the most noteworthy incidents of the season . Unfortunately the former, whoplayed with consistent brilliance in June andJuly, was out of luck, and therefore his average of 34 must be accounted of the greater value . Gunn's 1621 was the highest aggregate , but it must be stated that he took part in more innings in first -class cricket than any amateur or professional , with the two exceptions of Mr. W.G. Graceand Ulyett. Mr. Grace, though he did not begin the season very well, finished up in grand style , and there was no notable sign of any material diminu- tionofpower,in spite of his morethan a quarter of a century of participation in important matches. Mr. Cranston added considerably to his reputation , and in fact heis fully entitled to be considered in the front rank of batsmen. Abel, a little out of luck in the early matches , madeup the groundhe hadlost byseveral big scores in August, andwas about on a level with Messrs . Grace andCranston . Inthe early part of the season Mr. A. J. Webbebatted with remarkable success , and notwithstanding his comparative failure in August, was in the first flight . Mr. W . W. Readwason the whole hardly up to his best form of someprevious