James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1885

%e fljilabtlplriait to r . B y W. EDMUND BOX. HERE CAN BE BUT LITTLE DOUBT that, taking into consi­ deration its object, the visit of the first American Cricket team i. to the United Kingdom was highly satisfactory to its participators 4 as well as to those with whom it originated. From the admitted fact a that the game has of late years improved considerably in America, came i the wish that a Philadelphian team should visit England and oppose j some of our moderately powerful Amateur Elevens, thus enabling a com- I parison to be drawn between the merits of the sides, and, in addition—and 1 this was a very prominent desire—giving the Americans the benefit of in- 1 struction from their opponents. It was decided that they should meet no I professional bowler's. A sum of money was, I believe, soon subscribed to 1 defray the expenses of the tour, and a fairly representative team got ! together, under the captaincy of Mr. R. S. N ewham . It was at one time thought that Mr. D an N ewiiall would have accompanied them, but business kept him back, while the absence of Mr. V an R ensslek left 1 the men without a really competent wicket-keeper. Just before their I departure from New York they defeated Twelve of the District by nine I wickets, and on May 25 they arrived at Liverpool in excellent health i and spirits. During the following week the team practised daily on the I Aigburth ground at Liverpool, which the Liverpool Club had kindly I placed at their service, and it was during this practice that Mr. C. A. I N ewham met with an accident which prevented him taking part in any match until June 27. This was especially to be regretted, as Mr. jI N ewhall was considered to be America’s best fast bowler, and, in the I principal contest on their programme—that against the Gentlemen of M.C.C. at Lord’s—when the American bowling was found to be so weak, it was very bad luck for them to be deprived of his services. A thoroughly" satisfactory list of matches had been arranged for them, although, owing to the uncertainty of the date of their departure, some slight alterations had to be made, and, I believe, one or two fresh matches were added to the original programme. Of course the wisdom of their visit during a season not only bristling with the usual county and other first-class matches, but also rendered more busy and attractive hy the tour of the Australians, is open to doubt. Still, as the Americans came purely for educational purposes, and as they had no wish to oppose our best sides, we can only hope that their expectations have been realised, and that the improvement in the game which they haye lately shown may go on rapidly increasing.