James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1892

CRICKET IN 1891 . 5. reason of their totally different methods , consequently of the greatest value . After them, with the exception of Watson, however, there was no one of any great account . Thewonderful precision which still characterises Watson's pitch makeshim even nowone of the most useful bowlers of the day. Still every year for a m a nof his age reduces his powers as a cricketer , and he can hardly be expected to do the same amout of work as of old, wiry as he is , and careful as hehas been in making the most of his physical resources during a long and arduous career . Mr. Steel's presence in the eleven would supply the one defect whichLancashire would, to judge by present appearances , need to remedy, the lack of a thoroughly reliable change bowler to fill the place of Barlow and W a t s o n; otherwise there is little fault to be found with the composition of the Lancashire eleven on paper . In Mr. S. M. Crosfield the county will have a captain in manyrespects well qualified to act as a successor to Mr. Hornby. Thoughit wouldhardly be possible for any one to take the high position which the latter occupied in public estimation , still Mr. Crosfield has many recommen- dations . A keen and enthusiastic cricketer with plenty of pluck, and very popular withal with professionals as well as amateurs , he has in him, at least , every credential to justify a confident belief in his capacity for the post . In any case he has been already grounded in the workas one of Mr. Hornby's chief lieutenants , in fact as his under -study . He will undertake the position , too , with the best wishes of all whohave had personal experience of his devotion to countycricket . Theexcellent all -round form shown by the Middlesex eleven was distinctly one of the most conspicuous features of the year's cricket . It is noteworthy , however, that little or no stress has been placed in the reviews of the doings of the Middlesex eleven on the exceptional luck which followed them throughout the year in the matter of the toss . Whatwas sauce for the Surrey goose one wouldthink would have been sauce for the Middlesex gander. Yet in some prominent papers , at all events , there was no mention of the latter's good fortune , while that of Surrey was proclaimed from the housetops . Asa matter of fact , Middlesex won the toss as often as their neighbours and dear friends of Surrey . If any one has any doubts on the matter they can be easily satisfied . But, all the same, there was muchcause for congratulation in the manifest improvement in Middlesex cricket . Thoughthe earlier matches were not b y anymeans suggestive of the brilliant successes in store , they were regarded throughout as a county team that would have seriously to be reckoned with . Always favoured with a superfluity rather than a lack of good batsmen , the weakpoint of Middlesex has always been its out-cricket . In their discovery of J. T. Hearne they have been fortunate enough to find the bowler for w h o m theyhave been praying for manyyears . Nor is it too muchto say that the young professional who had such a wonderful record for practically a first season in important matches bids fair to have a great future before him. With an easy delivery , a pace that does not tire , plenty of judgment , and just enough workon the ball to beat the bat, he is certainly the most likely youngbowler cricket has produced since Lohmann'sadvent. Rawlin, Mr. Nepean, andPhillips , were at times useful as changes , but they were in no wayto be compared with Hearne. The latter , in fact , has forced himself at one bound into quite the front rank of bowlers , andhis future will be watched with the greatest interest . Unfortunately for Middlesex the out -cricket otherwise was anything but satis- factory . Bad fielding was accountable in a very great measure for some of the defeats of the team. It was unfortunate that J. E. West, the wicket -keeper, should have been prevented by injuries from taking part in two matches . A n y one else , excepting the bowlers , of course , can as a rule be replaced in the field without serious difficulty . A wicket -keeper, though, is not to be had ready- made, and the inability to find a fitting substitute behind the sticks has been responsible for many of the reverses which have befallen sides as a rule thoroughly well equipped . Though there were some good performances , still the batting was on the whole muchless satisfactory than might have been expected . It was not , of course , generally a batsman's year , indeed far from it .