James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1894

2 6 LILLYWHITE'S CRICKETERS' ANNUAL. was dissimilar in style to the others , and of whomthe manager of the team had a high opinion , was so rarely utilised . Owing to an attack of influenza at the com- mencement of the tour C. T. B. Turner was not able to play for some time , and, evenwhenhe did, he was never really quite himself . He had, apparently too , lost a good deal of his pace , and, without him, there was, at least of the regular bowlers , no one of any speed . Moreover , the comparative failure of the bowling was emphasised by the disappointing exhibition of the side in the field . In more than one important match , to dropped catches and generally slovenly fielding , was attributable , in a very great measure , their ill success . That they were seen at their best few will believe . As a team, they were , it will be admitted by those who followed their play at all closely , a better all round lot than their per- formances would appear to indicate . B y this we mean that the utmost use of their several talents was not made. Good judge of the game, as he undoubtedly is, it is open to doubt whether Blackham himself was quite strong enough for the post of captain , a position requiring force of character as well as self -reliance . În saying this , of course , no reflection is intended on an estimable and deservedly popular cricketer . None the less , we are inclined to think that the Selection Committee would have been wiser in their generation had they secured the ser- vices of such a capable captain and thorough disciplinarian as Mr. W. L. Murdoch had proved himself to be. Wise, and withal firm captains , are not easily to be found , and if report spoke truly the moral effect of a captain of Mr. Murdoch's independence and determination might have exercised a salutary effect in arousing the latent energies of more than one memberof the team. In more than one respect they were undoubtedly unlucky . Owing to the reasons already given Turner was not seen quite at his best . George Giffen's leg wasnot equal to the severe strain of continuous cricket , and troubled him at times very much. Blackham's hands , moreover , prevented him taking the wicket with quite the same success , though on occasions he was as reliable , if not quite as smart , as of old . Still , in his place at the wicket , Jarvis was undoubtedly good , and though an utter failure as a bat, in his capacity as a wicket -keeper hewas distinctly the right manin the right place . There was little to find fault with in the batting . With Lyons , Bannerman , Bruce , Gregory , Trott , Trumble , G. Giffen , McLeod , Graham , Turner , and Blackham , there was , on the contrary , a very strong combination . Anyone of the eleven , even to the last man, might fairly be counted on for a respectable score . In the earlier matches W. Bruce hardly upheld his reputation as the best batsman in the Colonies . Even on the whole, though he played several good innings in that easy and graceful style whichhas made him facile princeps among left -handed batsmen , he was just a bit disappointing . Lyons again proved himself to be one of the finest hitters of the day. His brilliant second innings in the great match against M.C.C. and Ground at Lords fairly electrified the spectators , and was described by the best judges of English cricket as the finest display of punishing cricket they had ever seen . Bannerman's watchful cricket , if at times wearisome , was generally of use. Trott also showed himself to be a sound and reliable batsman. Of the younger players Trumloe showed a marked advance as an all -round cricketer . Several times he played particularly good cricket , and towards the last was one of the most useful run-getters . The greatest successes in batting , though , were two young players , Gregory and Graham. Gregory had already proved himself to be a really promising batsman in 1890. With more experience he had naturally gained increased confidence , and his plucky cricket on several impor- tant occasions proved invaluable to the side . Graham's brilliant debut in English cricket was one of the most notable features of the tour . For a first trial in England , on grounds and under conditions to which he was quite new, his consistent success was remarkable . He has all the qualities for a great bats-