James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1891

T H ES E V E N T HA U S T R A L I A NT E A M. 2 1 OxfordandCambridge are not likely to forget the athletes which they owe to the training of Fettes andLoretto. In 1890 the race of Scotch school cricketers showedno deterioration what- ever, andthey numbered in their ranks some boys whom a ybe looked to to distinguish themselves if they get a chance . Blair Lodge would have probably fought a tough fight with any school eleven in Great Britain . Theytriumphed over almost everything that came against them, andheld, as wehave said , an advantage in their unfinished match with Fettes . Of Maclaren , as a bowler, the critics speak very highly ; he is fast , and on his day most difficult to stop . Manypeople , who are competent to judge, considered him last year the best fast bowler in Scotland ; and certainly , to judge bythe success which he met with , this praise is not unduly great . But the merits of Blair Lodge cricket did not end with Maclaren ; for in Solbé they hada wonderfully good batsman. H e plays , we understand , a most sound game, being careful and patient to a noticeable degree ; but, though his strong point is his defence , he hits cleanly whenopportunity offers . He made a suc- cession of fine innings for his school . In addition , he is a fast under-hand bowler; and whenthe fashion which encourages the round-armmethod changes , hewill probably be in great request . At present he surprises by his novelty , andfound his w a yto manya good wicket-an aim which should , after all , govern a bowler's conduct more than any question of detail . W ehave not, to our regret , been able to learn whether either of these boys meanto come to an English University . At all events , we hope that they will not be lost to cricket inyears to come, for their school careers give promise of unusual excellence . T w oyears ago a phenomenal average of 77 was obtained at Fettes by Jar- dine, of Oxford, andthis year they seem to have another very good player in Campbell, whocomes out with a colossal aggregate , and who must have been quite a terror to the cricketers in the neighbourhood . H e very seldom went in without leaving his markon the score - sheet , and against the Academyhe scored 185. Doubtless some of these mammoth innings were played against weak bowling ; but there is no question about the batting ability of Campbell . He is avery powerful and commanding player , hitting hard on both sides of the wicket ; but, unfortunately , wethink we are right in saying that he is not going to an English University , so that we shall not have a chance of seeing him figure in the highest class of cricket . At Fettes he will long be remembered as oneofthe mostbrilliant and successful players they have had. Loretto werenot a particularly formidable side , but their fielding redeemed themfrom a good deal of censure , for in this department they certainly ex- celled . The catching was sure , the picking -up clean , and the return quick and straight . In Gedge, their captain , they hada player who, besides being per- haps the best amongmanygood fieldsmen , was in addition a punishing and dangerous, though not a very sound, batsman. As a bowler, too, he was fast , andhadan action of such a threatening nature , as to have a most lowering effect on the nerves of weak-mindedbatsmen. Against Fettes they were unsuc- cessful , Campbell getting 82 for their rivals , and none of the Lorettonians coming off to any great tune ; but when they met Rossall , on a very slow wicket . they manifested a very decided supremacy to the Lancashire boys in a small scoringmatch. C H A P T E R I V. T H ES E V E N T HA U S T R A L I A NT E A M. B YP E R C YC R O S S T A N D I N G. TOWARDSthe close of 1889 and in the early days of 1890 reports reached this country touching the strength of the coming Australian T e a m, that were calculated to arouse public interest to the highest pitch . The very name of its