John and James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1882

65 Middlesex, and Nottingham. Looking at Lancashire cricket as a whole, and allowing for the very high averages obtained by Mr. Hornby and Mr. Steel, we consider that the great strength of the team was in bowling. In support of this opinion two notable facts can bo brought forward, Barlow, Watson, Nash, and Mr. Steel took between them 200 wickets, at an average cost of little more than 10 runs each, and the highest total made against the County was only 185. Of Crossland’s bowling we will say nothing, the fairness of his delivery being open to grave question; but it is worthy^of remark, that though Mr. Appleby played in four matches he was onlv once required to bowl. Even at this late period of his career how welcome his services w'ould be to Surrey, Gloucestershire, Kent, Sussex, or Middlesex. There is still another bowler, Mr. II. Miller (right-hand fast), and of him Mr. Hornby is understood to think very highly. A line must be sufficient here in speaking of Robinson and Briggs, though much might be said of their batting and fielding. Briggs is, perhaps, tho smallest o f cricketers, but his right to a place in the eleven there could be no disputing. Mr. II. Wood—a left-handed batsman of first rate powers—would always be chosen, but cannot often get awray from business. On each of his two appearances he played an innings of 50 runs. Apart from the County matches, which alone come under notice in this review, Lancashire played the M.C.C. at Lord’s, and Cambridge University on the new ground at Liverpool. Despite the absence of Mr. Hornby, they beat a very strong M.C.C. team, but the result of the Cambridge engagement was a defeat, Mr. A. G. Steel playing against his County, and taking II wickets. Had its arrangement been in any way practicable, a match between Lancashire and England would have furnished an appropriate and interesting wind-up to the season. The batting of a representative England team would probably have been strong enough to secure success, but we are convinced that the county would have made a creditable fight. As a fitting reward for his long and valuable services, the committee gave William McIntyre the Gloucestershire match for his benefit, and headed his subscription list with the handsome sum o f £ 100 . May 19.—Lord’s.—Lancashire v. M.C.C. and Ground .—(See M .C .C . Review ,) let Inns. 2nd Inns. Total. May 26, Lancashire 299 — 299 Manchester. Derbyshire 102 G 2 164 Lancashire won by an innings and 135 runs. In this match Mr. Hornby made 188, the highest innings of the season In first-class matches. His hitting was terrific, among his figures being no fewer than twenty-three fours. Up to a certain point he played splendid cricket, but towards the close of his innings he became reckless, and stepped out of his ground to nearly every ball. With a little more care he might have reached 200. The Derbyshire men could do little or nothing with the first-rate bowling brought against them. In their first innings Barlow took 5 wickets for 48 runs, and in the second Nash took 6 wickets for 26 runs, and Watson 4 for 35 runs. let Inns. 2 nd Inns. Total. June 2 , Lancashire 239 5 244 Manchester. Notts 67 175 242 Lancashire won by 10 wickets. It was just before this engagement that the Nottingham dispute became an open rupture, and a scratch team hastily got together had of course a poor