James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1885

wonderfully good, was less consistent than in 188-3. At Brighton and the Oval lie batted magnificently. Barnes began the season with a series of remarkable innings, but from the middle of June to the.end of July he was thoroughly off bis game, and for this reason his county record is not so good as in the previous year. Gunn, unlike Barnes, began badly and finished up well. In the last few weeks of the season he certainly- showed better cricket than he had ever previously exhibited. Flowers’ batting showed a considerable falling off in the county matches, but that his play had not really deteriorated was conclusively proved in the last two matches played against the Australians at the Trent Bridge. Then his batting was in advance of anything he had ever done. A word of heartiest praise must be given to Alfred Shaw, who captained the side with excellent judgment, and bowled so remarkably well that his (14wickets only cost him 9£ runs each—a wonderful performance indeed for a cricketer who has passed his forty-second birthday. In addition to the County matches, Nottingham beat a very weak team of the M.C.C., and twice met the Australians. The first of the two encounters was* Avon by the colonists, after a splendid struggle, by three wickets, and the second was a very good draw, Notts having, on paper at least, a slight advantage. The Australian matches showed, perhaps even more than the County engagements, the great excellence of the Nottingham team. 4 0 W * ’ ' ’ ' t ' t % X „ * , . . 1 st Inns . 2nd Inns. Total May 15, - * Notts • • v , 271 ' — ,271 Nottingham. Sussex ' 7G 44 120 Notts won by an innings and 151 runs. The Nottingham men could scarcely have opened their season more successfully. They bad the best of the wicket, and with this advantage they out-played their opponents at all points ot the game. It is neces­ sary to state, however, that Sussex did not have anything like a l-epre- sentative team, Messrs. Newham, Whitfeld, Blackman, McCormick, and Wyatt being all away. For Nottinghamshire, Barnes scored 98, Selby 42, Shrewsbury 36, Seotton 22, and Walter Wright 20. For Sussex, the best scorer was Payne, with 11 and 18. Shaw and Wright bowled throughout the first innings of Sussex, and Flowers and Atteweli throughout the second. Shaw took Gwickets for 22 runs, Wright 4 wickets for 51 runs, Flowers 2 for 22, and Atteweli—best of all—8 for 22 . May 2G.—Lord’s.—Notts v. Middlesex.—(See Middlesex Review.) June 2, Nottingham. 2nd Inns. 84 • 199 Total. 371 370 *• ; 1st Inns. Notts . . 287 Surrey 171. Notts won by 7 wickets. A capital match, played on one of the finest wickets seen at tlxe Trent Bridge Ground last season. The winners were at their best, and the Surrey men, though easily beaten at the finish, showed some first-rate cricket. For Nottinghamshire,, Barnes scored 78and G(not out), Seotton 71 and 3, Selby 54, Flowers 47 and 5 (not out), and Gunn 4 anil 44. A long stand on the first day by Barnes and Seotton secured an advantage that was never lost. Each man gave a chance early in his innings, but the subsequent batting was very fine indeed. For Surrey, Mr. W. W. Bead made 70 and 48, Mr. Bowden 6 and 52, Mauriee Bead 45 and 14, and Mr. Shuter 11 and 45. Mr, Bead played superbly for liis 70, but