John and James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1882

84 ( t action was taken by the Surrey Club, a special committee being appoint to report on the matter, and opinions being solicited from several first-rat authorities. As the upshot of these winter deliberations, it was resolved t° pay the expenses of all colts who would go up to the Oval, and submit under Jupp’s supervision, to a test of their abilities. The plan was altogetho’ admirable, and the fact that no players of promise were brought to lbrJ cannot be used as an argument against its utility. Practice went on f0r several days, wickets being pitched and sides chosen as for regular matched Two of the colts were at once thought worthy of a place in the County team—Richards and Wingfield. Unfortunately, however, they proved worse than useless* Richards—a very plain fast bowler—lost more runs in the field than he was ever likely to score, and Wingfield, though he hatted well in small matches, failed utterly when he found himself in first-class company. It is possible, however, that Wingfield may be heard of again lie is quick and safe in the field, and his inability to make runs may have arisen from nervousness. Three other young professionals were tried at different times—Abel, Caffarey, and F. Read (a brother of the Thames Ditton batsman)—hut it cannot he said they were of much value. Abel however, is not destitute of promise, either as batsman or howler. Unsuc­ cessful as they were, however, in finding new professionals, the Surrey Committee took two steps which were attended with most gratifying results. They gave Mr. W. W. Read an engagement as assistant secretary, thereby securing his services in all matches, and they restored Jones to his place in the eleven. Mr. Read more than fulfilled the most sauguine anticipations. Playing always with abundant confidence, he was the mainstay of the team, and too much cannot be said in his favour. While fully retaining his defence, he was a faster run-getter than in previous seasons, his innings of ICO at Maidstone being one of the most remarkable displays of driving we remember to have seen. Jones often loses his pitch when he is being knocked about, hut for all that he is a good howler, getting plenty of spin on the hall, and developing at times a really formidable break. Against Kent, both at Maidstone and the Oval, and against Sussex, at Brighton, he was especially successful. With ordinary care lie should be a valuable man to Surrey for several years to come. Mr. A. P. Lucas batted as finely as ever/but only took part in five of the fourteen engagements. He went away on the Uppingham Rovers’ tour for the first three weeks in August, and apparently did not care to play on hi? return. It was unfortunate for Surrey that so great a batsman should not have appeared in more matches. Mr. Lindsay played whenever his private engagements permitted, and, in the absence of Mr. Lucas, there was only one better bat in the eleven. Without making any sensational scores, be could nearly always be trusted for runs. Morris Read began badly, but in July and August he more than sustained the reputation he had acquired during the previous season. We hope before long to see him as a repre­ sentative of the Players against the Gentlemen. Of the newr amateurs, Messrs. Pontifex, Parfitt, and Roller were certainly worth playing. The first-named gentleman is at a disadvantage in having to wear glasses, but in several matches he proved himself a dangerous batsman, his hitting in tbc return with Nottingham being really brilliant. Mr. Parfitt is a useful fast bowler, and Mr. Roller, though be only made one good score, struck us ^ giving considerable promise. As the first five matches all ended in disaster* Surrey’s record for the season of four wins, nine defeats, and one draw, i*