John and James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1882

10 they were defeated by the Cambridge Eleven must be taken not as d, predatory of the form of the Counties, but as enhancing the merits of the University Elevens of the year. Mr. A. N. H ornby , who has repre. sented the County from its very birth, and, as its Captain, has raised it to its present position, deserves the congratulations of all cricketers, and all the more by reason of the fact that, having been for so many seasons before t-lie public as one of the most brilliant of batsmen, 1881 has shown him in more brilliant form than ever. Y orkshire won ten of sixteen matches, and might have done still better but for unfortunate accidents which for a time deprived the Eleven of the services of their best batsman, U lyett , and their best fast bowler, H ill . The all-round form of the County representatives was far better than they have shown for some years, and, with the large number of Colts always bidding for places, the prominent positions still occupied by E mmett , L ockwood , and H ill afford a satisfactory proof of the endurance and toughness of York- shiremen. P eate ’ s bowling was marvellously successful, and some of liis feats on hard run-getting wickets fairly astonished every one. G lou ­ cestershire suffered from a want of first-class bowling, Mr. \Y. G. G race not being so deadly as in many previous seasons, and W oof failing to train on. The batting was good ; Mr. W. G. G race and Mr. M ulisklt were pre-eminent, but the former was hardly so consistently successful as he was wont to be. Mr. C ranston showed great improvement with the 1at, and the eleven fielded well together as usual. M iddlesex , under Mr. I. I). W alker , had a very fair season, and with the services of the Messrs. L yttelton , L eslie , and S tudd more often available, the Metro­ politan County would have made a bold bid for championship honours. B urton , C larke , and Mr. C. T. S iudd have all been useful with the ball, but a really reliable first-class bowler has yet to be found. The batting strength of the County is undeniable. The causes which, brought about the fall of N otts have already been alluded to. In the absence of the recalcitrants the County was unable to bring a representative eleven into the field, and though one or two of the new hands showed fair form, the results of the season were unsatisfactory in more ways than one. h is hoped, however, that a definite understanding between the Committee and the Professionals will be arrived at, and all chance of disruption put an end to before next season’s matches begin. S urrey at length adopted the suggestions which Mr. E. G ale has more than once placed before the readers of the Companion , and set to work systematically to try the