James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annaul 1897

P U B L I CS C H O O LC R I C K E TIN 1 8 9 6. 7 especially being superb . W ehave seldom seen anything finer than his fielding during Eton's long innings at Lord's . Henley was as a rule very fair behind the wickets , but fell off when his hands got sore . The eleven could play a capital up-hill game, and in no match did they give a better example of this than in the great encounter at Lord's . Of the twelve matches played they won five , drew two, and lost five . They inflicted on Haverford the severest defeat the Americans sustained in England , while the losers were all exceptionally strong teams , against which very few schools wouldstand any chance. A s there are six or seven of this year's team staying on, Harrow ought to be able to put an exceptionally strong side into the field next year . Loretto had an extremely good season , the cricket championship of Scotland falling to them, and judging by the success that attended them in their school matches they must have been a good all -round side . Of the seven school matches they won five , the remainder being drawn. Kerr and Glenny were very useful with the bat, and, judging from his figures , Orr must havebeen an extremely good bowler . It must, however , be remem- bered that the wickets in Scotland are distinctly favourable to the bowler , so Orr's average of eighty -six wickets for seven runs apiece is not, perhaps , quite as good as would appear at first sight . Henderson , the wicket -keeper , wasextremely smart , and Ritchie is spoken of as being one of the best deep fields that Loretto has ever produced . Doubtless the great success that attended the Loretto boys last season was in no small measure due to the keen interest shewn in their cricket by the headmaster , the Rev. Η. Η. A l m o n d . Fettes got through a great many matches last season , no fewer than nineteen engagements being entered on. Of these only six ended in victory , and as Blair Lodge, Merchiston , and Loretto all proved superior to them, the season cannot be called successful . It is only fair , however , to point out that the margin against them in the school matches was never very great , whilst in some of the drawn games Fettes would assuredly have proved suc- cessful had a definite issue been possible . Mitford was most useful with bat andball , andwas the best all-round m a nin the eleven . Of the bowlers Lindsay and Lumsdendid well , but in comparing their figures with those of English schoolboy bowlers last summer the calibre of their opponents and the assistance they derived from the groundmust be taken into consideration . Therewas one particularly fine cricketer at Rossalllast year in the person of G. P. Wilson . This player had a batting average of forty -one , andabowling average of eleven for the capture of thirty -four wickets . As h ewas, too, an excellent field , he m a ybe classed as one of the best public school cricketers of the year. Hisachievements were by no meanslimited to the school matches ; on the contrary he performed in excellent style against several of the best clubs in Lancashire . The season , onthe whole, was rather a disappointing one for Rossall -only one match was won, that against Shrewsbury , who were easily defeated . The Loretto match was drawnin favour of the hometeam, notwithstanding the fact that G. P. Wilson was absent . Of the others Adkins proved an excellent fast bowler , and got through a great amount of work; while Gordon was often useful withthe bat. W ehave not heard whether Wilson is going to either 'Varsity , but if he does he should come to the front , as he is certainly a cricketer of great ability . A 2