James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1896

CRICKET IN 1895. 15 determining the result. Nor should the excellent stand of Leveson-Gower and G. O. Smith during the latter part of Oxford’s first innings be unnoticed. Both the matches between Gentlemen and Players were marked by high scoring. At Lord s, where the sides wTere more representative, the Players won by thirty-two runs, after a singularly interesting game throughout. The wicket was not of the best, but this made the high scoring more remarkable, as 1,156 runs were made in the match. At the Oval the Players would also have won easily had there been only half-an-hour more of time, although the Gentle­ men, who were without W. G., began with an innings of 320. Here 1,062 runs were scored, but only thirty-five wickets had fallen, so that the average was better than at Lord’s. The match was noticeable for the reappearance of George Lohmann, after an absence of two years from first-class cricket. It was also noteworthy for the appearance of the Irish amateur, L. H. Gwynn, wdio celebrated his debut in London with a finely-played first score of 80. The long succession of dry weather had the effect of reducing the number of completed matches at the Public Schools materially. As a rule drawn games represented an unreasonable proportion, and the bowlers had no chance of showing to advantage while the Schools were up. Eton were generally thought to have a good side, and justified this belief by beating Winchester and morally beating Harrow. Charterhouse were far too much for West­ minster, and scored heavily, as did Rugby against Marlborough. Cheltenham had, it would appear, a pretty good all-round side. In F. H. Bateman- Champain, in spite of his failures for Gloucestershire, and E. M. Barrett it had two very likely youngsters. A mention of 1895 would obviously be incomplete without reference to the tours of English cricketers. Mr. F. £5. Mitchell’s Oxford and Cambridge team in the autumn had a good time of it in the United States, though their cricket was a bit disappointing. The visit of Mr. Stoddart’s team to Australia was a brilliant success from every point of view. Three of the five test matches were won by the Englishmen, which of itself made the tour successful. But, besides that, the team made a very favourable impression in every way, and the good name of English cricket was more than upheld in their hands. More than all, the visit gave a new impetus to cricket in Australia, and finan­ cially benefited the Melbourne Club and the Trustees of the Sydney Associa­ tion Ground, who took the joint risk. A new* field, too, was opened to English cricketers in the visit of Mr. R. S. Lucas’s team to the West Indies. The English amateurs had a hearty reception, and all spoke highly of the beauties of the Islands and the delightful climate. That the visit will do good to cricket in the Islands there can be no doubt. The [death-roll of cricket was unusually high. Among the most distin­ guished representatives of a generation long passed was taken away the Earl of Bessborough, a fine player in his time, and one of the foundors of I Zingari and the Old Stagers, as well as of the Surrey County C.C., and a life-long benefactor to Harrow cricket.