CRICKET IN THE VICTORIAN ERA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1321, 24 June 1897, Page 41

CRICKET IN THE VICTORIAN ERA.

She still stays at the wicket, and waits tho Umpire's call, No Prince, no Grace deposes her—no foe, no hostile ball ; Our faith in her increases—we hear All England " shout I When the scoring-board announces— The' Queen" —GO—not out. The reign of Her G-racious Majesty has seen a marvellous development iu the great national game, which stands preeminent amongst modern sports and pastimes. The battle of the bowlers had been fought and practically won when Queen Victoria ascended the throne of England. A revolution had been made in the game. The bat had obtained a complete mastery over the ball, despite the twists,spins, &c, of the underhand bowlers of the time. To Fennex is credited the discovery of the forward stroke, which helped the batsmen to conquer the bowling. Up till then no one appears to have had any idea of reaching in to the pitch to stop, or jumping out to hit, slow bowling, and when Fennex started the practice one of the chief patrons of the game observed, "You do frighten me there jumping out of your ground/' while Fennex himself states that when he played forward to smother the ball on the pitch his father said he "had,never seen the like in all his days." But with the invention" - of round-arm. bowling the game was revolutionised, and when Lilly white (whose name must ever remain amongst cricketers as one of the three great men who in their time have caused a revolution in the great English pastime) and Broadbridgo, playing for Sussex against All England at Sheffield, adopted the new style, they fairly staggered the , tykes. This pair of " demons" of that age also secured another victory for Sussex over All England. The cricket world was taken by storm, and then began a controversy as to tho fairness of tho style. Several prominent players declined to play again if this " throwing " was permitted, while the critics, whose prophecies time has proved went very wide of the mark, declared that the days of cricket were doomed, owing to the " singular, norel and unfair style of bowling by the overcast from the arm instead of the graceful underhand of the old school." Lilly white, however, defied critics, cricketers and umpires, and eventually he succeeded, and the new bowling which has made the game what it is was allowed, perhaps with a slight alteration in the style of delivery. BOUND-ABM VERSUS UNDEBHAND. The controversy, however, had been a keen one, and, in spite of j of the new method being in a decided minority, they included so many influential patrons of the game that it was agreed to subject the matter to the test of three trial matches for 1000 guineas a-side, in which Sussex, with the license of the new bowling, was to be pitted against All England, who were to rely on the old-fashioned underhand. The first of these was played at Sheffield, and, although All England had undoubtedly the stronger batting side, the round-arm boivling of Sussex gained her the victory by seven wickets. The second match was played at Lords, and again the round-arm bowling was iu the ascendant, this time by three wickets, notwithstanding that the England batting had been strengthened from the previous match. Between the second and the third match feeling ran very high on the subject, and at one time it looked probable that the last of the trial games would fall through, as the following protest was signed by nine of the leading professionals of the day :—" We do agree that we will not play the third match between All England and Sussex, which is intended to be played at Brighton in July or August, unless the Sussex bowlers bowl fair, that is, abstain from throwing." This protest was afterwards withdrawn and the match played as arranged, at Brighton. The strongest batting that England contained was arrayed against Sussex, and it included five of the finest amateurs of the day, Ward, Budd, Knight, Kingscote and Osbaldiston. Despite this formidable side the new bowling at one time appeared as if it would again get the upper hand, I England going down in her first innings for 21. In the second, however, the batting showed to greater advantage, and Sussex were finally beaten by 24 runs. In spite of the actual result of the match, however, the experience gained in it, like the two contested previously, was considered favourable to the new bowling, as in tho second innings of Sussex Mr Knight, who played for England, but was one of the keenest advocates for round-arm, adopted that style when put on to bowl, and was the most successful bowler on his side. But the opposition to the innovation continued t o be as strong and as bitter as ever, and the objectors finally achieved a victory, although not gaining all they contended for, when Mr Knight's proposed law was submitted to the Marylebone Club. This law, "that the ball shall bo bowled, if it be thrown or jerked, or if any part of tho hand or arm be above the shoulder at the time of delivery the umpire shall call 'no ball,'" was discussed at Lords, when the word "shoulder" was struck out tind "elbow" substituted- for it. But Lillywhite, Broadbridge and their imitators practically defied the law, and continued to bowl as before. Public opinion had

Veered round greatly in their favour, and the vmipires of that time did not care apparently any more than those of to-day to damage the prospects of fellow-professionals by "no balling" the doubtful delivery. In this way they got a practical license, and their style became eo widely prevalent that the Marylebone Club was compelled to adopt the law. There the matter rested, notwithstanding that occasional excesses compelled the emphatic re-enactment of the law against above the shottldsr in 184-5, until the advent of Edgar WWsher, whose exploits are within living memory.- The height of the arm Md been a subject c:? grumbling for a considerable period, and matters came to a. height when in the match between Surrey and England, at the Oval, in 1862, John Lilly white "no-balled" Willsher six times in succession. The settlement of this troublesome case, which came a year or two later, swept the last restriction as to, the height of the arm from the Cricket Statute Book., and bowlers were allowed to deliver the ball from whatever altitude they could attain.

THE STAKES THE™ PLAYED FOE.

There was a tremendous amount of betting over these matches, and someenormous stakes were lost and won over the annual match between the representatives of the M.C.C, then, as now, recognised* as the parliament of cricket, and Kent. Th& Earl of Thanet was behind Kent, while Lord Frederick Beauclerk was equally sweet upon the M.C.C. lads, whom he captained. Kent won by two runs. Fred Gale, better known as "Old Buffer/' who was credited with knowing more of cricket history than any other manithen living, tells of a match in 1842 between Kent and England. He says " when we made 278 one of the Kentish farmers offered 30 to 1 in sovereigns on Kent, and an officer at Canterbury took him four times over, and old ' top boots' did sigh when he went home for his canvas bag to pay up. Yet these farmers were not content unless they had from ono to five pounds on their own county." Single-wicket matches were very common, and the stake generally played for was a tripe supper or boiled leg of mutton with turnips. The last great match of this- description, which really settled the Championship of England fox* the year, was that between " Alfred the Great" (tho previously mentioned A. Mynn, Eso.) and Felix at Lords in June, 1846, whim Mr Mynn won easily.

PUBLICATION OE AVERAGES

' The popularity of the game was increased, in fact a new era dawned with the year 1844, when the editor of Bell's Life published an annual statement of the results achieved by the leading players of tho season (" batters " and bowlers). Mynn was still at tho head of the bowlers, Lillywhite and Hillyer well up. The averages are rather eye-openers for present day trundlers. Slynn took 81 wickets for an average of 3 1-9, Lilly white 88 for 2J, and Hillyer 90 for 2 1-11. A list of on- ■ gagemen'ts of the M.C.C. and Kent, the 1 principal clubs, was published for the - first time. One of tho most select of cricket clubs, the I Zingari, was formed in 1845. In this year Hillyer's average as a , bowler was 2| for 116 wickets. ; THE FIRST ALL ENGLAND ELEVEN. I The first accredited All England Eleven L was formed in 1846, William Clarke, a , celebrated- underhand trundler, having [ been instrumental in its initiation. The team included Hillyer and Mynn. One of . the most important features of the " get up" was the " top hat " worn by [ several members of the team. In [ 1549 there . were three Lillywhites in [ the field, William, James and John, and in 1850 tho latter, playing for the North i against the South, bowled every wicket in \ the second innings. <>. Parr scored the [ greatest number of runs in this season, s namely 1287. Ho held tho same position two years later, in which year the veteran ' Lillywhite had scored 1510 runs, and was j 79 times noc out. In 1854, Parr, Caffyn > and Caesar are spoken of as obtaining enormous batting averages. The next few j years saw tho rise of such men as V. E. ■ Walker, the Griffen of Lis time, T. Uayward, Carpenter and Wiltshire. THE ENGLISHMEN- VISIT AUSTIIALIA. In 1862 tho enterprising firm of caterers, ; Messrs Spiers and Pond, risked a large sum of money in bringing over tho first team of English cricketers to Australia. I (They wore " top hats " and played in braces.) The firm actually guaranteed .£7OOO for the expenses of the tour. Tho pluck and enterprise of these two gentlemen, who practically laid the foundation of Australian cricket, should never be forgotten. CKICKET IN THE SUNNY SOUTH. The game, however, was not 'unknown in the Sunny South. Six years before Stephenson's band of Englishmen crossed the seas intercolonial cricket had been played. These contests began in this way : The Melbourne Club had challenged to play any eleven m the Australian colonies, and the Sydney Club took up the challenge. The Victorians,, it is said, had challenged New South- Wales to play a match for <£2oo a side, but the Cornstalks had not accepted, preferring to play "for the honour of the game." Anyway, the match was played, and New South Wales won by three wickets. Thbse intercolonial matches have continued ever since. THE SECOND ENGLISH TEAM. The year 1864 was a memorable one. The M.C.C. altered tho rules so that the bowler was allowed to deliver the ball with his arm above the shoulder —a most important concession, for which Lillywhite had fought so hard—and the second team of Englishmen, including the best batsI men of tho day, amateur and professional, j visited the colonies under tho captaincy of ; Parr. j THE ADVENT Of GKACE. j In 1807 W. G-. (inic-J cause to tho front, : and for '■'>'•> years be has maintained lUv'. • position of being ono <>z it.'O gxisMti:-35 j cricketers tho world has ever seen. Stages ! might be filled with accounts of .the j doughty deed;: of tho Grand Old Mail of * English cricke't.

THE PROGRESS OF THE GAME. In the year 1868 the English lion was bearded in his den by a team of Australians under the captaincy of Charles Lawrence. The game was now spreading to the four corners of the earth, and •wherever Englishmen were to be found the great national game was played. To loyal Canada belongs the honour of haying inaugurated international cricket —if contests between the Mother Country and her Colonies can be so designated. In 1859 Parr captained a twelve for the journey across the big drink. Five matches were played, three in Canada and two in the United States, the Englishmen winning all the matches. English county cricket, the backbone of the game in the Old Country, had been instituted. AUSTRALIAN CRICKET.

A great sensation was created in the world of cricket in 1878 by the first accredited Australian team to England. A tremendous bound had been made in Australian cricket, a Combined Eleven of Australians having actually succeeded in lowering England's flag at Sydney, 1877. by 45 runs. On this visit, the Australians gave English cricketers their first great blow in their own soil, a magnificent "batting team representing M.C.C. Club being beaten by nine wickets. Thenceforth English cricketers knew that they no longer had the game to themselves—a formidable rival had sprung up in the far South. Australians can never forget the deed of the " Demon " Spofforth and Boyle, " the • old-everlasting " of Australian cricket, in this memorable match. Prom this year there has been a great struggle for the cricket supremacy of the world between the Mother Country and her stalwart progeny from the Antipodes. . The supremacy still rests with the players of the Old Land, but they have found in the Australians foemen worthy of their iS "best steel, and Englishmen will freely admit that the rivalry of the Colonials, who have more than once threatened to wrest the laurels from them, has brought English cricket to its present state of perfection. The Australians have taught her many lesson3inthe game (the sturdy Southerners taught the Englishmen how to hit), and if an honours list of the greatest cricketers the world has ever seen was prepared, places would have to be found for J. M. acknowledged by English and Australian to be the prince of wicketkeepers; E. R. Spofforth, W. L. Murdoch, who at his best was very little, if at all, inferior to the mighty Grace as a batsman; George Giffen, the Australian champion; the late Percy McDonnell, who showed England what could be done by a batsman on a bowler's wicket; and the diminutive Alex. Bannerman, whom Grace said a world's eleven would not be complete without. Then there have been such masters of the game (who in their time hare put the best and bravest of England's players on their mettle) as Moses, Lyons, Horan, C. Bannerman, Scott, Bruce, Trott, Bonhor, Midwinter, H. Gregory, Palmer, Jarvis, Turner, Ferris, Garrett, Allan, and Evans. Nine Australian teams have visited England, and two or three of them have covered themselves with undying glory by defeating the flower of England's cricketers on their own soil. Thirteen English teams have visited Australia, and on one or two occasions they have had to return to the Old Country-with those "ashes" behind them. Even in our own little islands the game has made wonderful strides during the past 20 years. Its best deeds were the victories gained over teams representing New South Wales and Queensland, and the defeats of Australian Eleven by provincial teams.. Volumes might be written of the progress throughout the Empire of the game which still stands unrivalled amongst field sports as «' the grandest o' them a'."

PROMINENT PLAYERS ENGLISHMEN.

Batsmen.—Taylor, Buckley, Pilch, Felix J. Lilly white, Grimstone, Roby, Adams, Heath, Sampson, Chatterton, Brookes, Lee, Sewell, Barry, Lord Burghley, Bacon, Milles, Gardener, Berry, Veron, Rev Cres-pio-ny, Rev Bradshaw, Maule, Lockyer, Parr, CafEyn, Ceaser, Dupins, Hon Spencer Ponsonby, Mackinson, Burbridge, Cotterill, Norman, Hall, Walker, Hayward, Carpenter, E. M. Grace, Lyon, Faber, Hon C. G. Lyttelton, Leigh, W. G. Grace, Mitchell, Andersohy Smith, James A. Lillywhite, Stephenson, Leigh, Money, Daft, G. F. Grace, Selby, Oscroft, W. W. Read, Barlow, F. M. Buckland, Ulyett, A. G. Steel, W. Barnes, Hon Ivo Bligh, A. N. Hornby, C. T. Studd, E. Lockwood, Hon A. Lyttelton, Lord Harris, W. Gunn, A. Shrewsbury, K. J. Key, M. Read, R. Abel, Bean, S. W. Scott, H. Hewett, Stoddart, Jackson, Brockwell, Brown, McLaren, Ward, Captain Wynyard, O'Brien, Woods, Ranjitsinghji, E. Lockwood, E. Lyttelton, Shuter, Bainbridge, Scotton, F. Penn, Palairet, Hayward, Sug", Quaife, Marchant Lucas, Newham, Cranston, Patterson, Flowers, Hall, Jupp, Webbe, Hawke. Bowlers. Hellyer, Lilly white, Mynn, Clarke, Dean, Wisden, James Lillywhite, Buttress, Bickly, Grundy, Wills, Kempson, Marsham, Drake, Jackson, Stephenson, W G Grace, T. Hearne, Hickson, Freeman, A. Shaw, Powys, Willsher, Southerton, Ulyett, Mclntyre, G. Hearne, Mvcroft, A. Shaw, JA. G. Steel, Bates, Peate, Morley, C. T. . Studd, Watson, Barratt, Einmett, Attewell, Lohmann, Beaumont. Wotten, Briggs,. Peel Mold, Martin J. T. Hearne, Lockwood 5 , Woods, Tyler, Wainwright, Richardson, Townsend, Mead' Wright, Sharpe, Humphreys, Woof, Christopherson,Bylott, Pougher. AVicket-keepers.—E. Pooley, E.F. lyiecato 4 Lyttelton, R. Pilling. H. Phillips, j" Hunter, M. Sherwin, M. C. Kemp, •Phillipson, H. Wood, G. McGregor, D. Hunter, Storer, Lilley. C. W. Wright, .. Board, Lockyer, Wild, Pender.

AUSTRALIANS. Batsmen.—N. Thompson, C. Bannerman, D W Gregory, Meilwraith, Bailey, W. h. Murdoch, Bruce, A. Bannerman, Koran, Massie,' McDonnell, Scott, Gilfen, Jones, Boanor,** Trott, Barrett, Graham, Lyons,

S. E. Gregory, Darling, Hill, Moses, Iredale, Midwinter, Reedman, McLeoad, A. Trott, Alexander, Moule, Groube. Bowlers. —Cosstick, Boyle, Garrett. Spofforth, Palmer, Kendall, Allen, Giffen, Turner, Ferris, Trott, Charlton, McKibbin, Trumble, Jones, Evans, Garrett, Callaway, Cooper. "Wicket-keepers. Blackham, Jarvis, Murdoch, Kelly, Johns.